Tillsonburg Thunder

The 2014-2015 Champion Tillsonburg Thunder are a Senior ice hockey team based in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League.

Tillsonburg Vipers player in 2007-08 season.
Tillsonburg Thunder
CityTillsonburg, Ontario
LeagueWOAA Senior Hockey League
DivisionSouth
Founded2001 (2001)
Home arenaTillsonburg Community Centre
ColoursBlack and Gold
General managerBill Ryan
Head coachDave Mclaren
Franchise history
2001-2008Tillsonburg Vipers
2008-PresTillsonburg Thunder

History

The Tillsonburg Vipers were founded in 2001 as a Senior "AAA" team in the Ontario Hockey Association's Major League Hockey.

In the 2003–04 season, the Vipers reached the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals, but lost to the Aylmer Blues 4-games-to-2.[1]

Tillsonburg's improved on their 2003-04 record in the 2005-06 season. After finishing the regular season in second place with 17 wins in 30 games, the Vipers knocked off the Cambridge Hornets 4-games-to-3 to make the league finals. In the league final, the Vipers fell to the Dundas Real McCoys 4-games-to-3.

The MLH fell apart in 2008, just after the Brantford Blast won the league's first ever Allan Cup. The team filled the gap when the disgruntled Cambridge Hornets left the MLH, the collegiate Windsor St. Clair Saints, walked away from the league. The Vipers decided it was their time to leave as well and applied to join the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League. The WOAA is an independent league with no connections to the Ontario Hockey Association. It classifies itself as Senior "AA", and allows for both a Senior "AA" and Senior "A" championship come playoff time. On May 14, 2008, the WOAA granted expansion to the Tillsonburg Vipers.[2]

The first ever Tillsonburg WOAA game took place on October 4, 2008, as the Thunder defeated the Goderich Pirates 6-5 in overtime in Tillsonburg. The Thunder had a successful first season in the WOAA, earning a record of 11-7-2, registering 24 points, and fifth place in the South Division. Tillsonburg would lose to the Clinton Radars in the "AA" qualifying round, being sent to the "A" playoffs. In the "A" quarter-finals, the Thunder were upset by the Exeter Mohawks in six games, ending their season.

Season-by-season standings
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
2001-023262321128241155th SWSHL
2002-0332111821150174254th OHA Sr. ALost Semi-final
2003-0432171122159129384th OHA Sr. ALost Final
2004-0532161501141129344th MLHLost Semi-final
2005-063017904135129382nd MLHLost Final
2006-07301412-4149146324th MLHLost Semi-final
2007-08301117-2108147244th MLHLost Semi-final
2008-0920117-210084245th WOAA SouthLost "A" QF
2009-1020164-09762321st WOAA SouthLost "AA" QF
2010-1126169-1134114334th WOAA South
2011-1224167-113095332nd WOAA South
2012-1324146-412796324th WOAA South
2013-1424213-012870421st WOAA SouthLost Div. Final
2014-1524185-015292371st WOAA SouthWon "AA" Championship
2015-1624912-395137215th WOAA SouthWon "A" Championship
2016-1720118-19576237th WOAA SrLost "AA" QF
2017-18
2018-1922111100100104229th WOAA SouthLost "A" Semifinal[3]

References
  1. "Senior Series". Ontario Hockey Association. 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  2. "(no title)". Cite uses generic title (help)
  3. "2018 - 2019 W.O.A.A. Senior Hockey Play-offs - "A"" (PDF). Western Ontario Athletic Association. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
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