Mitch Calvert
The Thunderhawks senior men’s hockey team hoping to reclaim Allan Cup glory for Fort Frances is beginning to take shape.
The team opens its exhibition schedule Oct. 31 with the first of two road games against the Thunder Bay Twins that weekend.
A pair of home games may follow on Nov. 7-8, but an opponent is still pending.
The team officially is scheduled to host the Kenora Thistles on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
“Everyone is shaking the rust and cobwebs out,” organizer Dean Bruyere said.
“It’s going to be a little higher tempo than the beer league they have been used to,” he noted. “But I think it’ll open some people’s eyes here when teams come in to play us.”
The team features a crop of district talent, including former Borderland Thunder players Ian Lockman, Dennis Morrison, Tyler Barker, Kevin Webb, and Clayton “Beef” Windego.
Other locals, including Brian White, Taylor Jorgenson, Brady Caul, Jamie Davis, Joe Sinclair, Cody Wood, Andrew Easton, and Jeff Savage, also have committed at this time.
The Thunderhawks have four goalies currently in camp, including Chris Medicine, Jason Green, Jason Flatt, and Wade Friesen.
The squad also was pursuing the services of goalie Tyler Gordon of Sioux Lookout, who won an Junior ‘A’ national championship with the Aurora Tigers in 2007, but he’s likely to suit up for Kenora’s team.
“We’re lacking defenceman but we’ve got a lot of good forwards,” Webb noted.
“It’ll be a bit of a change playing contact again.”
Other potential players mentioned include Eric Olson, Tom Biondich, Bucky Morrison, and Roger Morrison.
The Thunderhawks also will benefit from the experience of International Falls resident Bruce Elson.
“He’s played in like seven Allan Cups and won three of them,” Bruyere said of the phys. ed. teacher.
“He’s going to help us out as far as what to expect, and he’ll definitely be a help out there on special teams and that.”
Looking further down the road, Fort Frances will host the Thunder Bay Twins for a two-game set Dec. 4-5 at the Ice For Kids Arena before travelling back to Thunder Bay for a pair of games Dec. 19-20.
The team then will play a road game Dec. 22 against the Kenora Thistles.
“In January and February, we’re looking at playing some Manitoba teams,” Bruyere noted.
The team practices weekly each Tuesday at 10 p.m.
The Allan Cup, which was won by the former Fort Frances Canadians back in 1952, has a 101-year history in Canada, with the next five hosts already secured until 2015.
The 2011 championship will be in Kenora, meaning two representatives from this area will compete in it.
The Bentley Generals from British Columbia won last year’s Allan Cup in Steinbach, Man. with a 4-3 double-overtime win over the Southeast Prairie Thunder (Grunthal).
The 2010 national championship will be held in Fort St. John, B.C.
The Fort Frances-based team would have to beat out squads from Kenora and Thunder Bay for a spot in that tournament as the Northern Ontario qualifier.
“I’m sure I’m missing a few guys, I’m bad with names, but we’re looking okay so far,” Bruyere remarked.
“It’d be nice to have more older guys who played hockey in college three or four years ago,” he admitted.
“We’re waiting on a couple cuts from the Central Hockey League,” Bruyere added. “Some guys have mentioned they wouldn’t mind coming out and skating with us if they don’t make the [CHL].
“I went and watched Thunder Bay skate and they look good,” Bruyere said. “But I’m sure we’ll be adding players as the year goes on.”
