Anyone interested in resurrecting the local Borderland Thunder Junior ‘A’ hockey team should attend a meeting this coming Wednesday (Feb. 1) at 7:30 p.m. at the Adventure Inn.
The Thunder folded after the 2004-05 season because of financial difficulties and differences with the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
“We want to hear from the public and hear where their heads are at,” said meeting organizer Brent Tookenay. “We want to see what kind of interest is out there.”
Although Tookenay said it’s unlikely the team will be revived anytime soon, if at all, the point of Wednesday night’s meeting is to see what options are available.
“That’s what the meeting is for—to see if people have other ideas,” he remarked.
Tookenay said it’s too much of a financial burden for one single business or individual to take on responsibility of the team.
“We’re thinking the team should be publicly-owned. That would be the best way to do it,” he added, which means people would have the option to buy into the team or purchase shares.
If the team was to come back, ideally it would join the Manitoba Junior Hockey League instead of dealing with the SIJHL, Tookenay said.
Basically, the reason behind Wednesday’s meeting is to keep people who care about the team informed.
“We want to let people know who have been involved with team. It’s information we want to share with everybody,” Tookenay said. “People miss it [Thunder hockey] and it’s good for the community.
“If it were to come back, it would be a great opportunity to allow local kids to play big-time hockey,” he added.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
