Thunder Bay Bandits
CityThunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
LeagueLakehead Junior Hockey League
Founded2009
Home arenaThunder Bay Tournament Centre
ColorsBlack, Orange, and White
     
Owner(s)Derek Geddes
Franchise history
2009–2017Thunder Bay Stars
2017–2020Thunder Bay Fighting Walleye
2020Kam River Pickerel
2020–presentThunder Bay Bandits

The Thunder Bay Bandits are a Canadian junior B ice hockey team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They play in the Lakehead Junior Hockey League eligible to compete for the Keystone Cup Junior B championship of Western Canada.

History

The Thunder Bay Stars joined the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League in 2009. The team was formed after the K&A Wolverines accepted an invitation to play Junior A in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.

In both 2010 and 2011, the Stars finished third in the regular season, but managed to upset the second place Nipigon Elks in the league semi-finals to earn entrance into the league finals. In both cases, the Stars were defeated by the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks.

At the end of the 2016–17 season, long-time Stars owners Dave and Scott Simpson sold the franchise to Derek Geddes. The team was rebranded as the Thunder Bay Fighting Walleye.

For the 2018 season British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan elected not to participate in the Keystone Cup. As a result, the tournament was reorganized to feature the LJHL and KJHL champion and runner-up. Although the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks won the LJHL championship, the new format allowed the Fighting Walleye make their first Keystone Cup tournament. They returned to the Keystone Cup the following season as well, and then were awarded hosting duties for the 2020 tournament.[1] However, the 2020 tournament would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the 2020–21 season the team rebranded once again as the Kam River Pickerel, but was instead sold and rebranded again as Thunder Bay Bandits.

Season-by-season standings

SeasonGPWLT OTLPtsGFGAResultsPlayoffs
2009-10306240 ---121232223rd of 3Won Semifinals, 3-1 vs Elks
Lost Finals, 0-4 vs Northern Hawks
2010-11309174 ---221231613rd of 4Won Semifinals, 3-1 vs Elks
Lost Finals, 0-4 vs Northern Hawks
2011-123215170 ---301491713rd of 5Lost Semifinals, 2-3 vs Elks
2012-133214171 ---291401433rd of 5Lost Semifinals, 3-4 vs Elks
2013-143016122 ---341231042nd of 4Won Semifinals, 4-1 vs Elks
Lost Finals, 1-4 vs Northern Hawks
2014-153015150 ---301491322nd of 4Won Semifinals, 4-1 vs Elks
Lost Finals, 0-4 vs Northern Hawks
2015-16322750 ---54210811st of 5Won Semifinals, 4-0 vs Falcons
Lost Finals, 2-4 vs Northern Hawks
2016-17304224 ---121142313rd of 4Lost Semifinals, 1-4 vs Elks
2017-18281684 ---362121091st of 4Won Semifinals, 4-0 vs Falcons
Lost Finals, 1-4 vs Northern Hawks
2018–193017104 ---38187962nd of 4Won Semifinals, 4-0 vs Elks
Lost Finals, 1-4 vs Northern Hawks
2019–20 27 17 8 1 1 36 143 104 2nd of 4 Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19
2020–21Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021–22181701 ---35111511st of 4Won Semifinals, 4-2 vs (Elks)
WON Finals, 4-1 (Northern Hawks)
LJHL CHAMPIONS
2022–23245172 ---1257975 of 5Lost 1st Round, 0-2 vs (Elks)

Keystone Cup history

Central Canadian Jr. B Championships (Northern Ontario to Saskatchewan)

YearRound-robinRecordStandingGold medal gameBronze medal game
2018[lower-alpha 1]W, 7–2 vs. Peguis Juniors
L, 1–3 vs. St. Malo Warriors
L, 3–9 vs. Thunder Bay Northern Hawks		1–2–03rd of 4---L, 3–6 vs Peguis Juniors
in semifinal - Bronze medalist
2019[lower-alpha 1]L, 3–4 vs. Thunder Bay Northern Hawks
W, 6–2 vs. Cross Lake Islanders
W, 6–0 vs. Peguis Juniors		2–1–02nd of 4L, 2–4 vs Thunder Bay Northern Hawks
Silver medalist		—
  1. 1 2 British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan did not send teams to Keystone Cup

References

  1. ↑ "Fighting Walleye to host Keystone Cup 2020". Keystone Cup. August 22, 2019.
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