T’hawks won’t be hitting the ice this season

Players being
urged to play

for Kenora
Those who have enjoyed watching the Fort Frances Thunderhawks play for the last couple of seasons will have to look elsewhere for their senior men’s hockey fix as the local squad won’t be taking to the ice this winter.
However, some players from the Thunderhawks will be suiting up this winter as the Kenora Thistles is welcoming all-comers as the only senior men’s squad in Northwestern Ontario.
“Since there won’t be a team here this year, and with Thunder Bay not putting a team in before the Aug. 15 deadline, the Thistles are looking to have as many players come in to join up with their local players to have a pretty good lineup,” said Dean Bruyere, who has been involved with the Thunderhawks in the past and is an assistant general manager with the Thistles this season.
“Right now, there are a couple of young guys from here that will be playing for the Thistles in Cody Mosbeck and Jordan Davis, and Ross Johnson and Tom Biondich from the Falls will also be coming up,” he noted.
The Thunderhawks, who reached the Allan Cup semi-finals in 2011, played three games last season against the Fort Frances Lakers and the Thistles before folding in early March due to a lack of available players, which forced them to withdraw from the Gary Cook Cup.
With no other competition, the Thistles claimed the regional senior men’s crown and then swept the Dundas Real McCoys to win the Renwick Cup as the top senior men’s team in the province, earning a spot at the Allan Cup in the process.
Kenora went winless during the tournament, falling 3-2 to the Rosetown Red Wings of Saskatchewan in the quarter-finals.
The orientation camp for the Thistles will take place Saturday, Nov. 10 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Kenora Recreation Centre, followed by a red-and-white game at 7 p.m. that night.
“The cost for the camp itself will be $25,” Bruyere said.
“I know that everyone involved is looking forward to the season as they [the Thistles] have a couple of games already lined up with Dakota College at Bottineau and Williston State,” he noted.
“Plus, they are also looking to schedule a couple of games with the South East Prairie Thunder team that won the Allan Cup last year.
“Also, the Thistles will be hosting the Renwick Cup on March 29-31 to determine who will represent Ontario at the 2013 Allan Cup in Red Deer,” Bruyere added.
Those interested in playing for the Thistles, or attending the orientation camp, are encourage to contact general manager Bryan Booth at 1-807-467-2839 or via e-mail at bbooth@kmts.ca