Albert Lea Thunder
Encyclopedia
The Albert Lea Thunder was a Tier II Junior A ice hockey
team in the North American Hockey League's
Central Division. The team was an expansion franchise for the 2008-2009 season and played their home games at the Albert Lea Ice Arena in Albert Lea, Minnesota
.
independent Junior teams the Findlay Grrrowl
and defunt Pittsburgh Cougars, as well as the former owner of the ECHL
Toledo Storm
and CHL Nashville Nighthawks.
On November 18, 2009, reports came out that the Thunder were engaging in "pay to play," or taking money to guarantee players' spots on the team. A total of 8 players where named. The organization was facing a $400,000 fine from the NAHL
On December 7, 2009, the NAHL issued following statement:
Despite the scandal, the Thunder mounted a late-season comeback and made the playoffs for the first time in team history in 2010.
On May 11, 2010, it was reported that the team had found new owners and would relocate to Texas
for the 2010-2011 season. Their roster was officially sold to the expansion Amarillo, TX franchise, the Amarillo Bulls
, on May 26, 2010.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in the North American Hockey League's
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
Central Division. The team was an expansion franchise for the 2008-2009 season and played their home games at the Albert Lea Ice Arena in Albert Lea, Minnesota
Albert Lea, Minnesota
Albert Lea is a city in and the county seat of Freeborn County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census....
.
History
The Franchise joined the North American Hockey League for the 2008-2009 season with Chicago businessman Jim Perkins and Barry Soskin as owners. Soskin is the owner of NJHLNorthern Junior Hockey League
The Northern Junior Hockey League was an independent regional junior ice hockey league based in Jamestown, New York. The league's first and only season was the 2009-2010 season it included 7 teams including former UJHL teams....
independent Junior teams the Findlay Grrrowl
Findlay Grrrowl
The Findlay Grrrowl was a Junior "A" ice hockey team and a member of the Northern Junior Hockey League. The team played home games at Huntington Bank Arena at the Hancock Rec Center in Findlay, Ohio, USA.-Franchise History:...
and defunt Pittsburgh Cougars, as well as the former owner of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
Toledo Storm
Toledo Storm
The Toledo Storm was a minor league professional ice hockey team in the ECHL from 1991 to 2007. The Storm played their home games at the venerable Toledo Sports Arena along the southern banks of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The team colors were red and white, similar to the Detroit Red Wings,...
and CHL Nashville Nighthawks.
On November 18, 2009, reports came out that the Thunder were engaging in "pay to play," or taking money to guarantee players' spots on the team. A total of 8 players where named. The organization was facing a $400,000 fine from the NAHL
On December 7, 2009, the NAHL issued following statement:
- The North American Hockey League’s Board of Governors today voted to terminate the Albert Lea membership. The league is now involved in addressing a number of transition issues regarding the future operations of the team. The league will work to stabilize the team as quickly as possible.
Despite the scandal, the Thunder mounted a late-season comeback and made the playoffs for the first time in team history in 2010.
On May 11, 2010, it was reported that the team had found new owners and would relocate to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
for the 2010-2011 season. Their roster was officially sold to the expansion Amarillo, TX franchise, the Amarillo Bulls
Amarillo Bulls
The Amarillo Bulls are a Junior A Tier II ice hockey team based out of Amarillo, Texas. A member of the North American Hockey League's South Division, the team play their home games in the Amarillo Civic Center...
, on May 26, 2010.
Regular season records
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Finish |
| 2008-09 | 58 | 4 | 49 | 5 | 13 | 112 | 309 | 1,497 | 5th, Central Division |
| 2009-10 | 58 | 19 | 34 | 5 | 43 | 153 | 231 | 1,345 | 4th, Central Division |
Playoff Records
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | PIM | Finish |
| 2009 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 68 | Lost in 1st Round |