Drayton Valley Thunder


The Drayton Valley Thunder is a junior ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The Thunder are members of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and are eligible to compete for the Doyle Cup and National Junior A Championship. They play in Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada, at the Drayton Valley Omni-Plex.

History

In 1998, The Drayton Valley Thunder were awarded as an expansion franchise in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and began play in the South Division for the 1998–99 season. One year after finishing sixth in the South, ahead of only their fellow expansion team Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves, the Thunder improved in their second season and won the division. The addition of other expansion teams shifted the Thunder into the North Division in 2000–01, where they won another division title.
In 2002, the Thunder captured the Rogers Wireless Cup as AJHL champions. The Thunder lost to the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League in the Doyle Cup Pacific Junior A Championship.

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
SeasonGPWLT/OTLSOLPtsGFGAFinishPlayoffs
1998–99622036—6461812846th SouthDid not qualify
1999–00644018—6862682041st SouthWon Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Bow Valley Eagles
Lost Semifinals, 3–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2000–016442193—872931941st NorthWon Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Won Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Olds Grizzlys
Lost Finals, 1–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2001–026444173—913001982nd NorthWon Preliminary series, 3–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
Won Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
Won Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Olds Grizzlys
Won AJHL Finals, 4–0 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
Lost Doyle Cup, 2–4 vs. Chilliwack Chiefs
2002–036437207—812401993rd NorthLost Preliminary series, 2–4 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
2003–0460272310—641651775th NorthWon Preliminary series, 3–0 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
Lost Quarterfinals, 1–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
2004–056439196—841981463rd NorthWon Preliminary series, 3–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
Won Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
Lost Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
2005–066038166—822031582nd NorthWon Preliminary series, 3–0 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats
Lost Quarterfinals, 3–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2006–076030264—641992114th NorthLost Preliminary series, 1–3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
2007–086212446—301512808th NorthDid not qualify
2008–09627505—191223188th NorthDid not qualify
2009–106012426—301392698th NorthDid not qualify
2010–116013398—341642508th NorthDid not qualify
2011–126027276—601872246th NorthWon Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2012–13603023—7671781776th NorthLost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
2013–14602233—5491482057th NorthLost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
2014–15602424—12601611916th NorthLost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
2015–16602333—4501502426th NorthLost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats
2016–17601739—4381602526th of 8, North
11th of 16, AJHL		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2017–18601740—3371782988th of 8, North
16th of 16, AJHL		Did not qualify
2018–196024306—541551916th of 8, North
12th of 16, AJHL		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2019–205826257—591721895th of 8, North
9th of 15, AJHL		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Postseason cancelled

Notable alumni