Niagara Falls Thunder
Order classic Niagara Falls Thunder tees, hoodies, crewnecks and mugs. In their first season at Memorial Arena, 1988 to 1989, the Thunder won 41 of 66 games and reached the league finals, and they made the playoffs in seven of eight seasons with Keith Primeau and Brad May among their alumni. Celebrate hockey at the Falls by browsing all of our Thunder gear, then read the team history below. Vintage Ice Hockey is a small American business that keeps the designs and history of forgotten hockey clubs alive.
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Niagara Falls Thunder History
The Niagara Falls Thunder started play at the Memorial Arena in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in 1988-89 after relocating from Hamilton where they were the Steelhawks. The team spent eight seasons in Niagara Falls and were successful on the ice, making the playoffs in seven of eight seasons.ย
Their first season in Niagara Falls, 1988-89, was arguably their most successful as they won 41 of 66 games and made it all the way to the finals before losing to Peterborough. Their first five seasons there were successful, with 39+ wins three times and five playoff appearances. By 1996, the success on the ice had cooled and so did attendance. The team did make the playoffs their last two seasons in Niagara Falls, but those were 18 and 29 win campaigns. With attendance lagging the team crossed the border to Pennsylvania in 1996.
The Thunder produced a number of NHL alumns including Stan Drulia, Brad May, Ethan Moreau, and Keith Primeau.ย ย
