Creston Valley Thunder Cats

The Creston Valley Thunder Cats are a junior 'B' ice hockey team based in Creston, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Thunder Cats play their home games at Johnny Bucyk Arena. Michael Moore is the team's president, Brad Tobin is the general manager and coach.
The Thunder Cats joined the KIJHL in 2000 as an expansion team, after they played junior 'A' in the RMJHL from 1992-99.
The Creston Valley Thunder Cats were named hosts of the 2017 Cyclone Taylor Cup, being the first time that the Creston Valley hosted the Junior B Provincial Championships.
==History==
Before the Thunder Cats, Creston also had a junior 'B' team in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), the Creston Clippers, before folding in 1985.
The Creston Thunder were founded in 1992 as a junior 'A' team in the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League. By the 1998-99 season, the RMJHL had fallen to four teams and was playing a lot of interleague with the America West Hockey League. The Creston Thunder could not afford the travel and opted to leave the RMJHL, effectively forcing the league to fold, at the end of the 1999 playoffs. The team sat out for the 1999-00 season to reorganize. Prior to the 2000-01 season, the team was renamed the Creston Valley Thunder Cats and joined the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
In the 2007-2008 season, Joe Martin and Mike Young were hired as co-coaches, with Joe Martin becoming the Head Coach and General Manager at the start of the 2008-2009 season. After each season of continuing to build a strong hockey program in Creston, and improving the team on the ice, at the end of the 2010-2011 season Joe Martin moved on to the Merritt Centennials of the BCHL as an assistant coach.
The start of the 2011-2012 season seen former Castlegar Rebels Head Coach Brent Heaven take over the Head Coach / General Manager role. The team played a strong competitive season, but lost in the divisional semi-finals against the Kimberly Dynamiters. At the end of the season, Brent assumed the role of Assistant Coach of the Trail Smoke Eaters in the BCHL.
The Creston Valley Thunder Cats hired new comer coach Josh Hepditch upon his retirement of semi-pro hockey. Although the Thunder Cats played a high tempo competitive brand of hockey during the 2012-2013, the team fell short of making the playoffs. With Josh Hepditch returning for a second season, the Creston Valley Thunder Cats brought an exciting line up of new and returning players that finished first in the Eddie Mountain Division with 80 points, and setting a team record of 39 wins during the campaign. In the first round, the Creston Valley Thunder Cats disposed of the Columbia Valley Rockies in 4 straight games, to meet the Kimberly Dynamiters in the second round. This round went to a thrilling game seven where the Thunder Cats made up a three-goal deficit in the third period and take the lead with less than 2 minutes in the third in front of a sell out crowd at the Johnny Bucyk Arena. Unfortunately, the Thunder Cats only won the first game of the Conference Finals to lose to the eventual KIJHL Champions Beaver Valley Night Hawks.
With a successful year in the 2013-2014 season, including winning the KIJHL Coach of the Year, Josh Hepditch moved onto the Head Coach / General Manager of the Amherst Wranglers, a Junior A team in the MHL. For the third time in four years, the Thunder Cats were looking for a head coach and general manager, bringing in Jeff Dubois, former Head Coach / General Manager of the Selkirk Saints of the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League. Jeff Dubois had built coach the Selkirk Saints to two back to back championships bringing solid coaching credentials to his new role in as a head coach of the Thunder Cats. In his first two seasons, the teams made the playoffs, losing to the eventual KIJHL Champions the Kimberly Dynamiters in the first round in 2014-2015, and then again to the Kimberly Dynamiters in the second round. Kimberly Dynamiters played in the KIJHL finals losing to the 100 Mile House Wranglers in the 2015-2016 championship round.
The Creston Valley Thunder Cats organization put together a bid to BC Amateur Hockey in the spring of 2016 to host the Cyclone Taylor Cup, the Provincial Championship for Junior B hockey in British Columbia. The present format of the tournament has the league champions of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL), the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL), the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) and the host team play a round robin format to determine placement in the Gold and Bronze Medal games. In May 2016, BC Amateur Hockey announced that the successful bid for hosting the 2017 Cyclone Taylor Cup was to the Creston Valley, making it the first time the Provincial Championship tournament is played in Creston. The tournament will play April 6th to April 9th, 2017.
==Season-by-season record==
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Records as of March 14, 2018.KIJHL.ca, Final 2013-14 regular season standings.KIJHL.ca – Year end standings.
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OL 	Pts 	GF 	GA 	Finish 	Playoffs 	
1992-93	52 	5 	47 	― 	0 	10 	161 	399 	4th, Kootenay 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Smoke Eaters) 	
1993-94	52 	25 	26 	― 	1 	51 	260 	277 	3rd, Kootenay 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Colts) 	
1994-95	52 	25 	24 	― 	3 	53 	303 	268 	4th, Kootenay 	Lost in Division Finals, 0-4 (Colts) 	
1995-96	58 	19 	33 	― 	6 	44 	227 	272 	5th, Kootenay 	Did not qualify 	
1996-97	60 	28 	27 	― 	5 	61 	267 	279 	5th, RMJHL 	Lost in Quarterfinals, 3-4 (Leafs) 	
1997-98	54 	11 	40 	― 	3 	25 	204 	323 	6th, RMJHL 	Did not qualify 	
1998-99	45 	16 	26 	― 	3 	35 	166 	192 	4th, RMJHL 	Lost in Semifinals, 0-4 (Dynamiters) 	
1999-00	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate
2000-01	58 	11 	41 	5 	1 	28 	184 	318 	6th, Neil Murdoch 	Did not qualify 	
2001-02	50 	16 	25 	4 	5 	41 	190 	249 	3rd, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 3-4 (Dynamiters) 	
2002-03	50 	23 	22 	1 	4 	51 	184 	192 	3rd, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 3-4 (Dynamiters) 	
2003-04	50 	19 	28 	1 	2 	41 	169 	206 	3rd, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Dynamiters) 	
2004-05	50 	21 	25 	4 	0 	46 	170 	195 	3rd, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 2-4 (Rockies) 	
2005-06	50 	7 	43 	― 	0 	14 	132 	291 	5th, Eddie Mountain 	Did not qualify 	
2006-07	52 	25 	25 	― 	2 	52 	190 	211 	2nd, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Finals, 0-4 (Ghostriders) 	
2007-08	52 	28 	19 	― 	5 	61 	172 	177 	2nd, Neil Murdoch: East 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-3 (Dynamiters) 	
2008-09	52 	30 	12 	― 	10 	70 	210 	165 	1st, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Dynamiters) 	
2009-10	50 	28 	18 	0 	4 	60 	196 	163 	2nd, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Finals, 0–4 (Ghostriders) 	
2010-11	50 	26 	19 	3 	2 	57 	169 	170 	2nd, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Finals, 3-4 (Ghostriders) 	
2011-12	52 	30 	17 	0 	5 	65 	247 	188 	3rd, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 2-4 (Dynamiters) 	
2012-13	52 	17 	28 	0 	7 	41 	170 	196 	5th, Eddie Mountain 	Did not qualify 	
2013-14	52 	39 	11 	1 	1 	80 	282 	161 	1st, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Conference Finals, 1-4 (Nitehawks) 	
2014-15	52 	28 	18 	1 	5 	62 	172 	157 	3rd, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Dynamiters) 	
2015-16	52 	33 	15 	2 	2 	70 	208 	141 	2nd, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Finals, 0-4 (Dynamiters) 	
2016-17	47 	36 	9 	1 	1 	74 	224 	118 	1st of 5 Eddie Mountain3rd of 20 KIJHL 	Lost in Division Finals, 2-4 (Dynamiters)Cyclone Taylor Cup as HOST	
2017-18	47 	32 	12 	2 	1 	67 	225 	120 	2nd of 5 Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Finals, 1-4 (Dynamiters) 	
2018–19	49 	10 	35 	0 	4 	24 	128 	219 	5 of 5, Eddie Mountain 	Did not qualify 	
2019–20	49 	22 	20 	1 	6 	51 	168 	193 	4 of 5, Eddie Mountain 	Lost in Division Finals, 1-4 (Dynamiters) 	
2020-21	3 	0 	3 	0 	0 	0 	5 	18 	N/A 	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 	
2021-22	42 	19 	22 	1 	0 	39 	128 	219 	3rd of 5 Neil Murdoch12th of 19 KIJHL 	Lost Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Nitehawks) 	
2022-23	44 	19 	23 	1 	1 	40 	147 	189 	5th of 5 Neil Murdoch14th of 19 KIJHL 	Lost Division Final 	
2023-24	44 	21 	18 	4 	1 	47 	146 	146 	4th of 5 Eddie Mountain11th of 20 KIJHL	Lost Div. Semifinals, 1-4 (Ghostriders) 	
===Playoffs===
KIJHL.ca, Current playoff bracket. KIJHL.ca – 2013-14 playoff standings.KIJHL.ca, League champions.
Season 	1st Round 	2nd Round 	3rd Round 	Finals
1992–93	L, 0-4, Trail 	— 	— 	—
1993–94	L, 1-4, Cranbrook 	— 	— 	—
1994–95	W, 4-0, Nelson 	L, 0-4, Cranbrook 	— 	—
1995–96	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify
1996–97	L, 3-4, Nelson 	— 	— 	—
1997–98	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify
1998–99	L, 0-4, Kimberley 	— 	— 	—
1999–00	Did not participate 	Did not participate 	Did not participate 	Did not participate
2000–01	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify
2001–02	L, 3-4, Kimberley 	— 	— 	—
2002–03	L, 3-4, Kimberley 	— 	— 	—
2003–04	L, 1-4, Kimberley 	— 	— 	—
2004–05	L, 2-4, Columbia Valley 	— 	— 	—
2005–06	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify
2006–07	W, 4-3, Kimberley 	L, 0-4, Fernie 	— 	—
2007–08	L, 1-3, Kimberley 	— 	— 	—
2008–09	L, 1-4, Kimberley 	— 	— 	—
2009–10	W, 4-2, Kimberley 	L, 0-4, Fernie 	— 	—
2010-11	W, 4-2, Golden 	L, 3-4, Fernie 	— 	—
2011-12	L, 2-4, Kimberley 	— 	— 	—
2012–13	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify
2013-14	W, 4-0, Columbia Valley 	W, 4-3, Kimberley 	L, 1-4, Beaver Valley 	—
2014–15	L, 1-4, Kimberley 	— 	— 	—
2015-16	W, 4-0, Columbia Valley 	L, 0-4, Kimberley 	— 	—
2016-17	W, 4-0, Columbia Valley 	L, 2-4, Kimberley 	— 	—
2017-18	W, 4-2, Columbia Valley 	L, 1-4, Kimberley 	— 	—
2018–19	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify 	Did not qualify
2019–20	L, 1-4, Kimberley 	— 	— 	—
2020-21	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22	L, 3-4, Beaver Valley 	— 	— 	—
2022-23	W, 4-1, Grand Forks 	L, 3-4, Beaver Valley 	— 	—
2023-24	L, 1-4, Fernie 	— 	— 	—
=== Cyclone Taylor Cup ===
Season 	Round Robin 	Record	Standing	Bronze Medal Game 	Gold Medal Game
2017HOST	W, Aldergrove 3-0L, Campbell River 2-6L, Beaver Valley 2-5	1-2-0 	4th of 4	W, Aldergrove 2-0Bronze Medalists	did not qualify
; Notes
# The RMJHL playoffs had three playoff rounds.
# The final 1998-99 RMJHL playoffs had two playoff rounds.
==Awards and trophies==
Coach of the Year
*Rob Boyd: 2003-04 (Divisional)
*Shane Lukinchuk: 2006-07 (Divisional)
*Joe Martin: 2010-11 (Divisional)
*Josh Hepditch: 2013-14 (Divisional and League)
Most Sportsmanlike
*Keven Cann: 2009-10 (Divisional)
*Jesse Collins: 2013-14 (Divisional)
*Carson Cartwright: 2014-15 (Divisional)
*Carson Cartwright: 2015-16 (Divisional and League)
Most Valuable Player
*Wade Waters: 2007-08 (Divisional)
*Cole Yurkowski: 2008-09
*Jesse Collins: 2011-12 (Divisional)
*Trevor Hanna: 2013-14 (Divisional)
Rookie of the Year
*Chris Kostiuk: 2001-02 (Divisional)
*Andrew Wasmuth: 2003-04 (Divisional)
*Trevor Forward: 2011-12 (Divisional)
*Logan Styler: 2013-14 (Divisional)
Top Defenseman
*Colton Grolla: 2008-09
Top Goaltender
*James Patterson: 2004-05 (Divisional)
*Wade Waters: 2007-08 (Divisional)
*Kyle Michalovsky: 2013-14 (Divisional and League)
Top Scorer
*Darryl Adams: 2001-02 (Divisional)
*Aaron Jakubec: 2003-04 (Divisional)
*Cole Yurkowski: 2008-09
*Jesse Collins: 2013-14 (Divisional)
==See also==
*Creston Clippers
== References ==
==External links==
*Official Website of the Creston Valley Thunder Cats
*Official website of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
*Official website of the Cyclone Taylor Cup
*Official website of the Keystone Cup
Category:Ice hockey teams in British Columbia
Category:established in 1992
Category:Kootenay International Junior League teams
Category:Canadian ice hockey teams
Category:Established in 1976