T-Birds face uncertainty
The beat goes on for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Well, at least for this season anyway.
The two-time reigning champions have continued their winning ways this 2016-2017 campaign, having clinched first place in the West Division.
But the future beyond this season is somewhat uncertain for the Thunderbirds, who have been the NOJHL’s most-successful team over the past half-dozen years.
The Tech 1921 Ltd. took over ownership of the Thunderbirds during the last off-season but the group has not committed to operating the franchise beyond the completion of the ’16-17 campaign.
No one from The Tech 1921 Ltd. has made an on-the-record comment about its involvement beyond this season leading to speculation about the future of the Thunderbirds.
One person who is confident — emphatic, as a matter of fact — that the Thunderbirds will continue to be a part of the NOJHL is league commissioner Robert Mazzuca.
“On any given day of the week, no matter what time of the year, I hear all kinds of rumors and reports,” Mazzuca told HockeyNewsNorth.com. “But what I can say and will say is the Soo Thunderbirds are not going anywhere. They will be staying in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario and playing in the NOJHL for the 2017-2018 season. ”
Before The Tech 1921 Ltd. took over ownership of the Thunderbirds prior to this ’16-17 season, Soo businessman Albert Giommi of the National Supply Group operated the franchise for a number of years. In fact, Giommi had been on board as a major sponsor and investor in the Thunderbirds since they entered the NOJHL in 1999.
A generous individual and community supporter, Giommi is on record as saying that he does not want to see the Thunderbirds fold. And while Giommi added that he does not want to be the sole operator of the Thunderbirds should The Tech 1921 Ltd. not carry on after this season, he would be willing to be part of a new group of investors.
“If it comes down to a change in operation, I would be willing to help out financially provided there are other local businesses who would help out,” Giommi told HockeyNewsNorth.com. “Right now, it’s a wait-and-see approach until the season is over and the future direction of the franchise is determined.”
Meantime, sources have told HockeyNewsNorth.com that the owner of the Highland Ford car dealership in the Soo also sits as a potential buyer/investor in the Thunderbirds.
One area that does not sit well with some supporters who have an interest in the Thunderbirds is the decline in the number of local players on the team.
From the days of the Thunderbirds being a virtual all-local team, this edition of the Soo squad has only eight hometown players on it.
At any rate, on the ice, the Thunderbirds are again one of the top teams in the NOJHL.
Off the ice, it would appear that a change in operation is imminent.
When you play games at the enormous Essar Centre and raise ticket prices than you’ll make up the lowest attendance in the league. The Thunderbirds should just move back to the Rhodes.
Check your facts before you pos,t they do not have the lowest attendance in the league. Ticket prices are in line with the rest of the league. As for the number of Soo born players , the TBIRDS continously lead year after year in that stat.
Actually, Rayside-Balfour has more local players than the Soo. Check your facts before you post.
How come I see empty seats and lots of them whenever I see game photos? That’s all the facts I need
T birds will never fold. To many people with ties to this team from the past won’t let it happen. Kudos to Albert. The amount of money not only him but past owners have lost is quite substantial. I’ll always the utmost respect for anyone operating this team past or present. Not only have they given kids a chance to play at home basically for free they have also gone out of their way to help former players with job opertunitys when they didn’t have too. I’ve never met Albert but when I played he was more behind the scenes but I’ll never forget him helping me out with future job contacts long after my time with the birds was done. And that goes for al Jones and Pat Egan . All class acts. Hopefully things work out and the birds stay in the soo. Classy organization from day 1. Would love to see them move back to the Rhodes.
They have been playing quite a few games at the Rhodes as of late. Saw 3 games there within the last week, including last night.
Your counting every player from the amalgamated towns that makeup Sudbury to backup your statement. Players listed from Lively, Whitefish, Chelmsford , are not from Rayside Balfour.
It is called Greater Sudbury.
Lively, Whitefish and Chelmsford all pay their taxes to the greater City of Sudbury. Therefore these boys are all Hometown Boys. Besides the small town of Chelmsford is within the township of Rayside and the small town of Azilda is within the township of Balfour. The two small communities of Chelmsford and Azilda Amalgamated a lifetime ago creating the Municipality Rayside-Balfour. So saying this Spangler before you post get your facts straight
Facts are straight , those towns you mention except for Chelmsford did not amalgamate until Jan. 1 , 2001 and any player listed as being born before 2001 has his hometown listed correctly since Greater Sudbury did not exist before 2001.
Chelmsford amalgamated with Balfour in 1988 .So the player from Chelmsford born in 2001 is from greater Sudbury.
Val Caron, Whitefish, were also amalgamated. In 2001. There are no players listed from Rayside. Balfour
Actually Chemlsford is in the township of Balfour and Azlida is in the township of Rayside back in the day. So sorry for the mistake on that one. Rayside-Blfour was a municipality way before 2001 and 1 player born in the 2000 year was actually raised in Rayside Balfour and went to Chelmsford public school until11 years of age. Can he now be allowed to say he is from Rayside-alfour. Just to let you know Chelmsford was part of the 2001 amalgamation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayside-Balfour
Do your homework!
I am wondering what has happened to all the hockey fans in RS. This place used to be a hotbed of hockey and now they are lucky to get 100 fans a game?
If the Birds are going to continue to play at the Essar Centre, I’d like to see the NOJHL arrange a schedule so there could be some afternoon/night doubleheaders with the Hounds. Make some marketing/ticket deal to see both games. Call it a Hockey Day in SSM. I think the added exposure would open some eyes to the calibre of the hockey.