The Thunder Bay Bulldogs were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from the Port Arthur section of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
| Thunder Bay Bulldogs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| League | Superior International Junior Hockey League |
| Operated | 2001-2008 |
| Home arena | Port Arthur Arena |
| Colours | Burgundy, Blue, and White |
| General manager | Jason Stajkowski |
| Head coach | Greg Batters |
History
editThe Thunder Bay Bulldogs, sometimes referred to as the Port Arthur Bulldogs, were founded with the inception of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
Both the 2001-02 and 2002-03 season were winning seasons for the Bulldogs, with the 2002-03 season having them finish in second place overall. Despite a record of 31 wins, 15 losses, 3 ties, and 3 losses in overtime, the Bulldogs were unable to displace the Fort Frances Borderland Thunders for the 2003 Bill Salonen Cup.
In 2003, their crosstown rivals, the Fort William North Stars, started picking up momentum. For two seasons, the Port Arthur squad dominated while Fort William tried to keep up. In 2003, the Bulldogs fell apart while the North Stars began a season that would leave them in 2006 as three-time defending league champions.
From 2003 until 2008, the Bulldogs never had more than 15 wins in a season.
In 2008, it was decided that the Bulldogs should fold into the Thunder Bay Bearcats franchise. Dropping from three to two Thunder Bay clubs was done in an effort to resurrect the Thunder Bay Kings Midget AAA program that had to cease in 2007.
Season-by-season results
edit
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 2001-02 | 48 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 216 | 198 | 51 | 4th SIJHL | |
| 2002-03 | 52 | 31 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 257 | 207 | 68 | 2nd SIJHL | |
| 2003-04 | 48 | 15 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 165 | 236 | 38 | 4th SIJHL | |
| 2004-05 | 48 | 2 | 40 | 2 | 4 | 72 | 361 | 10 | 5th SIJHL | DNQ |
| 2005-06 | 52 | 9 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 138 | 340 | 20 | 5th SIJHL | DNQ |
| 2006-07 | 50 | 13 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 193 | 309 | 29 | 5th SIJHL | DNQ |
| 2007-08 | 50 | 9 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 111 | 212 | 21 | 6th SIJHL | Lost quarter-final |
Playoffs
edit- 2002 Lost semi-final
- Fort Frances Borderland Thunder defeated Thunder Bay Bulldogs 4-games-to-3
- 2003 Lost final, lost Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin
- Thunder Bay Bulldogs defeated Fort William Wolves 4-games-to-1
- Fort Frances Borderland Thunder defeated Thunder Bay Bulldogs 4-games-to-1
- Fourth and eliminated from Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin
- 2004 Lost semi-final
- Fort William North Stars defeated Thunder Bay Bulldogs 4-games-to-none
- 2005 DNQ
- 2006 DNQ
- 2007 DNQ
- 2008 Lost quarter-final
- Thunder Bay Bearcats defeated Thunder Bay Bulldogs 3-games-to-none