St. Thomas Wildcats
Encyclopedia
The St. Thomas Wildcats were a professional ice hockey
team in the Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League
, now known as the International Hockey League. They played at the St. Thomas-Elgin Memorial Centre
in St. Thomas, Ontario
. The team was a founding member of the league and was owned by Doug Tarry, Sr. and later by Doug Tarry, Jr., who went on to purchase the London Knights
in 1994. The team moved to nearby London, Ontario
in 1994 and became the London Wildcats
. After playing in London for the 94-95 season, the franchise suspended operations for 1 year before moving to Dayton, Ohio
and becoming the Dayton Ice Bandits
. The Bandits suspended operations after the 96-97 season.
The Wildcats were Colonial Cup runners-up both in 1991-92 (losing to the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
) and 1992-93 (losing to the Brantford Smoke
). The team's NHL affiliations were the Buffalo Sabres
and St. Louis Blues.
During the 92-93 season, the Wildcats were involved in 2 major incidents. The first was during the 2nd round of the playoffs, when the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
players went into the stands after their coach was doused with beer by a fan. Players involved included Mel Angelstad
and Bryan Wells
. During the final round of the playoffs, against the Brantford Smoke
, the 2 teams engaged in a bench clearing brawl after the 2nd game of the series. The brawl was started after Kent Hawley of the Wildcats was speared when he went to pick up the game puck after the final whistle. All players were involved, including all 4 goaltenders.
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 Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
, now known as the International Hockey League. They played at the St. Thomas-Elgin Memorial Centre
St. Thomas-Elgin Memorial Centre
The St. Thomas-Elgin Memorial Centre is a multi-purpose arena in St. Thomas, Ontario. It has a capacity of 2,600 and was built in 1953. It hosted the St. Thomas Wildcats of the United Hockey League and until recently the St. Thomas Stars of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League....
in St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
. The team was a founding member of the league and was owned by Doug Tarry, Sr. and later by Doug Tarry, Jr., who went on to purchase the London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
in 1994. The team moved to nearby London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
in 1994 and became the London Wildcats
London Wildcats
The London Wildcats were a Colonial Hockey League team from 1994-1995 which played in London, Ontario. They were formerly the St. Thomas Wildcats, and later became the Dayton Ice Bandits....
. After playing in London for the 94-95 season, the franchise suspended operations for 1 year before moving to Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
and becoming the Dayton Ice Bandits
Dayton Ice Bandits
The Dayton Ice Bandits were a Colonial Hockey League team that played from 1996-1997 in Dayton, Ohio.-St. Thomas & London:The franchise was originally the St. Thomas Wildcats, one of the original franchises in the Colonial Hockey League. The team eventually moved from St. Thomas, Ontario to...
. The Bandits suspended operations after the 96-97 season.
The Wildcats were Colonial Cup runners-up both in 1991-92 (losing to the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
The Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time...
) and 1992-93 (losing to the Brantford Smoke
Brantford Smoke
The Brantford Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League, now known as the International Hockey League. They played in Brantford, Ontario from 1991-92 until 1997-98, playing home games at the Brantford Civic Centre.They won the Colonial...
). The team's NHL affiliations were the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
and St. Louis Blues.
During the 92-93 season, the Wildcats were involved in 2 major incidents. The first was during the 2nd round of the playoffs, when the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
The Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time...
players went into the stands after their coach was doused with beer by a fan. Players involved included Mel Angelstad
Mel Angelstad
"Mad" Mel Angelstad is a former professional ice hockey player. He played two games in the NHL, both coming in the 2003–04 NHL Season with the Washington Capitals during which he became the first player to wear #69 in a regular season game. Throughout his career he was known as a feared enforcer,...
and Bryan Wells
Bryan Wells (ice hockey)
Bryan Wells is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and ice hockey coach. He coached the Wichita Thunder from 1996-2001.-Career statistics:-External links:...
. During the final round of the playoffs, against the Brantford Smoke
Brantford Smoke
The Brantford Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League, now known as the International Hockey League. They played in Brantford, Ontario from 1991-92 until 1997-98, playing home games at the Brantford Civic Centre.They won the Colonial...
, the 2 teams engaged in a bench clearing brawl after the 2nd game of the series. The brawl was started after Kent Hawley of the Wildcats was speared when he went to pick up the game puck after the final whistle. All players were involved, including all 4 goaltenders.