It sounds great, a new multi-purpose arena, and a return to minor pro hockey for Thunder Bay. The Ice Edge group, which includes Thunder Bay investors Keith McCullough and Anthony LeBlanc is in the process of trying to acquire an expansion franchise in the ECHL. But, they also made it quite clear, it is only a possible with a new arena built to replace the aging Fort William Gardens.
We had a pro team centred out of the Gardens for most of the '90s. The Thunder Hawks, and then Senators won several Colonial Cup championships in the Colonial League, and also the United Hockey League. The impact of the extremely low value of the Loonie, combined with the physical restraints on seating in the Gardens eventually resulted in that team being sold off to US investors.
Over the last decade, hockey fans have had their appetites whetted with a success Lakehead University Thunderwolves program, and also the Tier-Two Superior International Junior League. There is no doubt that a minor pro team in the ECHL would be a step-up. The question is, are we finally ready as a community to put the Gardens to rest, and move on to a modern facility? It's interesting this comes about, as we prepare for the 2010 Municipal election.
