Thompson King Miners
Encyclopedia
The Thompson King Miners were a Canadian
junior ice hockey
team from Thompson
, Manitoba
, Canada
. The King Miners were members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League
and the NorMan Junior Hockey League
.
in 1975. After three rough seasons, the King Miners folded in 1978. One of the big problems for the team was that they were fairly remote compared to the rest of the teams in the MJHL due to their distance from Winnipeg
, the central-point of the MJHL.
In the summer of 1978, the people of Thompson did not want to lose their Junior team, so along with the people of Flin Flon
(who just dropped out of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League) formed a Junior B league (NorMan Junior Hockey League
) with The Pas Huskies and the Snow Lake Spartans. Flin Flon would be the first league champion and eventually win the Manitoba Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship
in 1979. In the summer of 1979, based on the strength of the Flin Flon and Thompson clubs, the league was promoted to Junior "A" to compete for the Centennial Cup. That first season of the NorMan League, the team would be known as the "Nickel Knights", but the name was soon dropped.
3-games-to-none. They then faced the MJHL Champion for the Turnbull Cup, the Manitoba Junior Championship. The MJHL Champion Selkirk Steelers
defeated them 3-games-to-none (6-2, 13-2, and 7-4) to move on to the Anavet Cup
against the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
champion.
4-games-to-2, despite finishing second to them in the league standings. In the Turnbull Cup, the MJHL's St. Boniface Saints defeated them 3-games-to-none (6-4, 11-4, and 9-2) to move on to the Anavet Cup
.
of the MJHL defeated them (8-3, 5-0, and 6-3) to move on to the Anavet Cup
.
in 1984, the NorMan League with Thompson, The Pas, and Snow Lake folded unceremoniously at the end of the 1984-85 season. Although there were attempts to expand the league into Saskatchewan, the league never able to comeback from the lack of teams and never played another season. This would be the end of Junior hockey in Thompson.
Note a: Withdrew from League Jan 9, 1978. 19 games were counted as default losses.
NJHL Years
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...
junior ice hockey
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 Thompson
Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, 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...
. The King Miners were members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League
Manitoba Junior Hockey League
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The MJHL is one of eleven Junior 'A' Hockey Leagues in Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League ....
and the NorMan Junior Hockey League
NorMan Junior Hockey League
The NorMan Junior Hockey League was Junior A hockey league in Northern Manitoba, Canada from 1978 until 1985. The NJHL was a member of the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association, a part of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association...
.
History
The Thompson King Miners joined the Manitoba Junior Hockey LeagueManitoba Junior Hockey League
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The MJHL is one of eleven Junior 'A' Hockey Leagues in Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League ....
in 1975. After three rough seasons, the King Miners folded in 1978. One of the big problems for the team was that they were fairly remote compared to the rest of the teams in the MJHL due to their distance from Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, the central-point of the MJHL.
In the summer of 1978, the people of Thompson did not want to lose their Junior team, so along with the people of Flin Flon
Flin Flon
Flin Flon is a Canadian mining city located on the border of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with the majority of the city located within Manitoba.- Founding :...
(who just dropped out of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League) formed a Junior B league (NorMan Junior Hockey League
NorMan Junior Hockey League
The NorMan Junior Hockey League was Junior A hockey league in Northern Manitoba, Canada from 1978 until 1985. The NJHL was a member of the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association, a part of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association...
) with The Pas Huskies and the Snow Lake Spartans. Flin Flon would be the first league champion and eventually win the Manitoba Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship
Manitoba Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship
The Baldy Northcott Trophy or Manitoba Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship is a Canadian ice hockey series to determine the Manitoba seed of the Keystone Cup - the Western Canada Junior "B" Hockey Crown.-History:...
in 1979. In the summer of 1979, based on the strength of the Flin Flon and Thompson clubs, the league was promoted to Junior "A" to compete for the Centennial Cup. That first season of the NorMan League, the team would be known as the "Nickel Knights", but the name was soon dropped.
1979-80
The King Miners would win the first ever NorMan Junior "A" title by defeating the Flin Flon BombersFlin Flon Bombers
The Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and current member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League , and are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team moved and became the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1978, but the Flin Flon Bomber name was retained...
3-games-to-none. They then faced the MJHL Champion for the Turnbull Cup, the Manitoba Junior Championship. The MJHL Champion Selkirk Steelers
Selkirk Steelers
For the American football team, see Pittsburgh Steelers. For other uses, see Steelers .The Selkirk Steelers are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada...
defeated them 3-games-to-none (6-2, 13-2, and 7-4) to move on to the Anavet Cup
Anavet Cup
The Anavet Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won through a best-of-7 series, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The series is played between the Turnbull Cup champions of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and the Credential Cup champions of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League...
against the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Open to North American-born players 20 years of age or younger, the SJHL's 12 teams play in two divisions: the Bauer and Sherwood conferences...
champion.
1980-81
The King Miners take their second straight NJHL crown by defeating the Flin Flon BombersFlin Flon Bombers
The Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and current member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League , and are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team moved and became the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1978, but the Flin Flon Bomber name was retained...
4-games-to-2, despite finishing second to them in the league standings. In the Turnbull Cup, the MJHL's St. Boniface Saints defeated them 3-games-to-none (6-4, 11-4, and 9-2) to move on to the Anavet Cup
Anavet Cup
The Anavet Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won through a best-of-7 series, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The series is played between the Turnbull Cup champions of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and the Credential Cup champions of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League...
.
1984-85
After not winning the league for three straight seasons, the King Miners won what would be the last ever NJHL championship in 1985. At the Turnbull Cup, the Selkirk SteelersSelkirk Steelers
For the American football team, see Pittsburgh Steelers. For other uses, see Steelers .The Selkirk Steelers are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada...
of the MJHL defeated them (8-3, 5-0, and 6-3) to move on to the Anavet Cup
Anavet Cup
The Anavet Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won through a best-of-7 series, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The series is played between the Turnbull Cup champions of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and the Credential Cup champions of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League...
.
The End
With Flin Flon moving to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey LeagueSaskatchewan Junior Hockey League
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Open to North American-born players 20 years of age or younger, the SJHL's 12 teams play in two divisions: the Bauer and Sherwood conferences...
in 1984, the NorMan League with Thompson, The Pas, and Snow Lake folded unceremoniously at the end of the 1984-85 season. Although there were attempts to expand the league into Saskatchewan, the league never able to comeback from the lack of teams and never played another season. This would be the end of Junior hockey in Thompson.
Season-by-season standings
| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs | ||
| 1975-76 | 52 | 14 | 38 | 0 | 188 | 300 | 28 | 5th MJHL North | DNQ | ||
| 1976-77 | 49 | 19 | 28 | 2 | 201 | 252 | 40 | 4th MJHL North | Lost Div Semi Final | ||
| 1977-78 a | 52 | 7 | 45 | 0 | 134 | 219 | 14 | MJHL (Folded) | - | ||
| 1978-79 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 108 | ||||||
| 14 | 2nd NJHL | Lost Semi-final | |||||||||
| 1979-80 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 0 | -- | -- | 58 | 1st NJHL | Won League | ||
| 1980-81 | 42 | 24 | 12 | 6 | -- | -- | 54 | 2nd NJHL | Won League | ||
| 1981-85 | Statistics Not Available | ||||||||||
Note a: Withdrew from League Jan 9, 1978. 19 games were counted as default losses.
Playoffs
MJHL Years- 1976 DNQ
- 1977 Lost Quarter-final
- Dauphin KingsDauphin KingsThe Dauphin Kings are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. They are members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League , a part of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League and Hockey Canada...
defeated Thompson King Miners 4-games-to-none- 1978 Did Not Complete Season
NJHL Years
- 1979 Lost Final
- Thompson King Miners defeated Snow Lake Spartans 13-goals-to-2 in 2 games
- Flin Flon BombersFlin Flon BombersThe Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and current member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League , and are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team moved and became the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1978, but the Flin Flon Bomber name was retained...
defeated Thompson King Miners- 1980 Won League, Lost Turnbull Cup
- Thompson King Miners defeated Snow Lake Spartans 3-games-to-2
- Thompson King Miners defeated Flin Flon BombersFlin Flon BombersThe Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and current member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League , and are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team moved and became the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1978, but the Flin Flon Bomber name was retained...
3-games-to-none NJHL CHAMPIONS - Selkirk SteelersSelkirk SteelersFor the American football team, see Pittsburgh Steelers. For other uses, see Steelers .The Selkirk Steelers are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada...
(MJHL) defeated Thompson King Miners 3-games-to-none- 1981 Won League, Lost Turnbull Cup
- Thompson King Miners defeated Snow Lake Spartans 4-games-to-none
- Thompson King Miners defeated Flin Flon BombersFlin Flon BombersThe Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and current member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League , and are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team moved and became the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1978, but the Flin Flon Bomber name was retained...
4-games-to-2 NJHL CHAMPIONS - St. Boniface Saints (MJHL) defeated Thompson King Miners 3-games-to-none
- 1982 Lost Final
- Thompson King Miners defeated Snow Lake Spartans
- Flin Flon BombersFlin Flon BombersThe Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and current member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League , and are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team moved and became the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1978, but the Flin Flon Bomber name was retained...
defeated Thompson King Miners 4-games-to-none- 1983 Possibly DNQ
- 1984 Lost Final
- Flin Flon BombersFlin Flon BombersThe Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and current member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League , and are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team moved and became the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1978, but the Flin Flon Bomber name was retained...
defeated Thompson King Miners 4-games-to-3- 1985 Won League, Lost Turnbull Cup
- Thompson King Miners defeated Snow Lake Spartans 4-games-to-1 NJHL CHAMPIONS
- Selkirk SteelersSelkirk SteelersFor the American football team, see Pittsburgh Steelers. For other uses, see Steelers .The Selkirk Steelers are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada...
(MJHL) defeated Thompson King Miners 3-games-to-none