Thessalon Flyers
Encyclopedia
The Thessalon Flyers were a Junior "A" ice hockey
team from Thessalon
, Ontario
, Canada
. This defunct hockey team was a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
and also the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League
.
, which otherwise would have probably fatally crippled the NOJHL.
In 1990, the Flyers inexplicably folded.
In 2003-04, the Flyers came back and entered the NSHL under owner Domenic Sacco, but that season ended up being the last in NSHL history. The Flyers were good enough to make the finals, but lost out the defending champion Wawa Travellers
. After the season, the Flyers and the Aguasabon River Rats
left the league, leaving the Wawa Travellers
and the Marathon Renegades
and the league to fold. They were coached by Vic Duguay (fired before season started), Ryan Leonard (asst. coach/head coach), Roy Iachetta Sr. (asst. coach), Chad Vresk (asst. coach) and Jeff Williamson (trainer). The Flyers only ever season in the NSHL saw them led in scoring by Lucas Bedell with 48 points in 17 games played, this was good for the league lead.
playing out of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
, Sault business man Domenic Sacco knew that surrounding communities would jump at the chance of seeing high-calibre hockey in their hometowns on a regular basis. Thus the reintroduction of the Thessalon Flyers in the small farming community of Thessalon, Ontario
. With a competitive talent pool being sought by teams such as the Thunderbirds and nearby Soo Indians
and Blind River Beavers
, Sacco knew that drawing a competitive team would be difficult. Offering to cover transportation costs to and from surrounding areas, players from all over the north shore of Lake Huron combined to make the 2003-2004 Thessalon Flyers. Of these players included former Great North Midget League players Lucas Bedell and Thessalon native Jason Bird. Failing to pay for ice fees in Thessalon, coupled with failed sponsorhip deals, left the coffers of the team nearly empty and players left town, leaving the team not nearly as competitive as originally anticipated. Despite this setback, the Flyers went on to the NSHL final, losing four games to one to the Wawa Travellers. Players upset with the lack of team travel for the first two games of the series in Wawa sent management a message by refusing to report to practice the following week and neglected to show up for the next two games of the final series resulting in forfeiture of the title, and a hefty suspension levied on team owner and general manager Sacco by the Northern Ontario Hockey Association
. The team has yet to return to Thessalon, as a league to play in no longer exists.
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 from Thessalon
Thessalon, Ontario
Thessalon is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located at the junction of Highway 17 and Highway 129. It is surrounded by but not part of the municipality of Huron Shores, and is part of the District of Algoma....
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. This defunct hockey team was a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, and Hockey Canada. The winner of the NOJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario...
and also the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League
North of Superior Junior B Hockey League
The North of Superior Junior B Hockey League is a defunct Junior "B" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The league used to be a part of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The league at one point was called the North Shore Junior B Hockey League.-History:The...
.
History
The Flyers played in 3 seasons in the NOJHL. The addition of the Flyers helped break the league from an interlocking schedule with the OHA Jr. "A" LeagueOntario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The league dates back to 1954 as the Central Junior B Hockey League. In 1993, the Central Junior B Hockey League was promoted to the...
, which otherwise would have probably fatally crippled the NOJHL.
In 1990, the Flyers inexplicably folded.
In 2003-04, the Flyers came back and entered the NSHL under owner Domenic Sacco, but that season ended up being the last in NSHL history. The Flyers were good enough to make the finals, but lost out the defending champion Wawa Travellers
Wawa Travellers
The Wawa Travellers were a Junior "B" team based out of Wawa, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
. After the season, the Flyers and the Aguasabon River Rats
Aguasabon River Rats
The Aguasabon River Rats were a Junior "B" ice hockey team based out of Terrace Bay, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League and the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
left the league, leaving the Wawa Travellers
Wawa Travellers
The Wawa Travellers were a Junior "B" team based out of Wawa, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
and the Marathon Renegades
Marathon Renegades
The Marathon Renegades are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Marathon, Ontario. They are currently members of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.-History:They were members of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League from 1996 until 2004...
and the league to fold. They were coached by Vic Duguay (fired before season started), Ryan Leonard (asst. coach/head coach), Roy Iachetta Sr. (asst. coach), Chad Vresk (asst. coach) and Jeff Williamson (trainer). The Flyers only ever season in the NSHL saw them led in scoring by Lucas Bedell with 48 points in 17 games played, this was good for the league lead.
Controversy
With the Soo Greyhounds and Soo ThunderbirdsSoo Thunderbirds
The Soo Thunderbirds are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:The Soo Thunderbirds will host the 2010 Dudley Hewitt Cup....
playing out of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, Sault business man Domenic Sacco knew that surrounding communities would jump at the chance of seeing high-calibre hockey in their hometowns on a regular basis. Thus the reintroduction of the Thessalon Flyers in the small farming community of Thessalon, Ontario
Thessalon, Ontario
Thessalon is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located at the junction of Highway 17 and Highway 129. It is surrounded by but not part of the municipality of Huron Shores, and is part of the District of Algoma....
. With a competitive talent pool being sought by teams such as the Thunderbirds and nearby Soo Indians
Soo Indians
The Soo Eagles are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.-Eagles era:...
and Blind River Beavers
Blind River Beavers
The Blind River Beavers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Blind River, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
, Sacco knew that drawing a competitive team would be difficult. Offering to cover transportation costs to and from surrounding areas, players from all over the north shore of Lake Huron combined to make the 2003-2004 Thessalon Flyers. Of these players included former Great North Midget League players Lucas Bedell and Thessalon native Jason Bird. Failing to pay for ice fees in Thessalon, coupled with failed sponsorhip deals, left the coffers of the team nearly empty and players left town, leaving the team not nearly as competitive as originally anticipated. Despite this setback, the Flyers went on to the NSHL final, losing four games to one to the Wawa Travellers. Players upset with the lack of team travel for the first two games of the series in Wawa sent management a message by refusing to report to practice the following week and neglected to show up for the next two games of the final series resulting in forfeiture of the title, and a hefty suspension levied on team owner and general manager Sacco by the Northern Ontario Hockey Association
Northern Ontario Hockey Association
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association is minor and junior level ice hockey governing body. The NOHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The major league run by the NOHA is the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League...
. The team has yet to return to Thessalon, as a league to play in no longer exists.
Season-by-Season results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 1987-88 | 39 | 13 | 24 | 2 | ||||||
| 205 | 274 | 28 | 4th NOJHL | |||||||
| 1988-89 | 41 | 5 | 33 | 3 | ||||||
| 187 | 332 | 13 | 5th NOJHL | |||||||
| 1989-90 | 40 | 13 | 23 | 4 | ||||||
| 201 | 257 | 30 | 5th NOJHL | |||||||
| 2003-04 | 24 | 9 | 14 | |||||||
| 1 | 114 | 139 | 19 | 3rd NSHL | Lost Final |