The future of the Kenora Triple A Senior Thistles is in doubt.
After 10 seasons, and 4 consecutive appearances in the Allan Cup National Championship (2011-2014), the Thistles have ceased operations for 2015/16 season.
According to Board Chair Gary Forsyth “we’ve been working and trying to get regular scheduled games throughout the years. And the past couple years of been a real struggle, and this year really didn’t look any different.”
Last year the Thistles could not secure any games before travelling to the Renwick Cup, where they lost in straight games to the Dundas Real McCoys.
Although the future of the team is in doubt Forsyth notes they aren’t giving up hope just yet stating “we’re still open to suggestions and see what pans out. But it’s just, geographically, getting more and more difficult for these smaller market type organizations to survive.”
Kenora was in line to host the Allan Cup for the second time in 2017.
However since the announcement, Hockey Canada has awarded the National Championship to New Brunswick.
Forysth says despite all the struggles the local support for the team never wavered, “all of our sponsors stuck through even without having some games in the past couple years. The community support in general, our fans, and all of our players. They represented the Kenora Thistles name very very well.”
