1996-97 Thunder Bay Thunder Cats Roster
Team Record: 43-23 (SO: 0-8) - 94 points
in the COHL's West Division
Lost in 2nd Round
Coach: Tom Warden (43-23, 8 OTL)
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Attendance: 81,030, Avg. 2,190 in 37 home dates
The Thunder Bay Thunder Cats of the Colonial Hockey League ended the 1996-97 season with a record of 43 wins and 23 losses, with a 0-8 showing in shootouts for 94 points in the COHL's West Division.
The Thunder Cats scored 333 goals and yielded 266. Brant Blackned netted 49 goals for Thunder Bay, while Barry McKinlay, Jason Firth and Forbes MacPherson each tallied 30 or more as well. Jason Firth contributed 83 assists. Bob Bell topped the squad with 22 wins, plus J.F. Rivard added 15 or more wins, too. J.F. Rivard recorded a 3.3 goals against average, leading goaltenders with enough qualifying appearances.
Tom Warden coached the team. The 1996-97 Thunder Bay Thunder Cats lost in the in 2nd Round of the playoffs.
Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Pos. | Birth Date | Height | Weight | S/C | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Andre | C | July 28, 1972 | 5'9" | 185 | R | Ottawa, ONT Canada |
| Mel Angelstad | L | October 31, 1972 | 6'2" | 214 | L | Saskatoon, SK Canada |
| Bob Bell | G | May 28, 1971 | 5'10" | 185 | L | Vancouver, BC Canada |
| Mark Bell | F | February 3, 1975 | 5'11" | 195 | New Westminster, BC Canada | |
| Brant Blackned | LW | April 4, 1974 | 6'0" | 220 | L | Weminji, QC Canada |
| Nicolas Cantin | L | October 26, 1972 | 5'10" | 180 | L | Ste. Foy, QUE Canada |
| Jason Disher | D | May 28, 1975 | 6'3" | 209 | L | Bells River, ON Canada |
| Robert DuBois | LW | March 19, 1976 | 6'0" | 220 | R | Chemlsford, ON Canada |
| Mike Figliomeni | LW | May 3, 1972 | 5'5" | 154 | L | Thunder Bay, ON Canada |
| Jason Firth | C | March 29, 1971 | 5'11" | 185 | L | Dartmouth, NS Canada |
| Pat Hanley | D | November 14, 1971 | 6'1" | 196 | L | Terrace Bay, ON Canada |
| Peter Helesic | RW | November 8, 1966 | 6'3" | 209 | L | Graz, AUT |
| Kevin Holliday | D | May 6, 1975 | 6'2" | 225 | L | Red Lake, ON Canada |
| Mike Koiranen | LW | April 7, 1974 | 5'10" | 185 | L | Thunder Bay, ON Canada |
| Derek Landmesser | D | January 27, 1975 | 6'1" | 200 | R | |
| Forbes MacPherson | C | June 5, 1972 | 5'10" | 179 | L | Charlottetown, PE Canada |
| Jason Mallon | RW | October 1, 1970 | 5'10" | 187 | R | Thunder Bay, ON Canada |
| Barry McKinlay | D | August 8, 1967 | 6'3" | 192 | R | Edmonton, AB Canada |
| Craig Mittleholt | LW | July 24, 1974 | 6'2" | 190 | R | Ottawa, ON Canada |
| Normand Paquet | C | July 5, 1973 | 5'10" | 201 | L | Beauport, QC CAN |
| David Paxton | D | June 6, 1971 | 6'1" | 201 | L | Thunder Bay, ON Canada |
| Neal Purdon | RW | February 1, 1970 | 5'10" | 174 | L | Thunder Bay, ON Canada |
| Bruce Ramsay | LW | May 13, 1969 | 6'0" | 179 | L | Dryden, ON Canada |
| Scott Reilly | D | September 23, 1971 | 5'11" | 185 | Scituate, MA USA | |
| J.F. Rivard | R | October 2, 1972 | 5'9" | 175 | R | Loretteville, QUE Canada |
| Ray Skinner | C | |||||
| Wayne Strachan | RW | December 12, 1972 | 5'9" | 185 | R | Fort Frances, ON Canada |
| Brad Toporowski | D | June 30, 1973 | 6'1" | 214 | L | Paddockwood, SK Canada |
