History
Soo Thunderbirds first came into being as a junior hockey program in the late 1970s through a group started by the late Zoltan Kovacs Sr.
Zoltan, who emigrated to Canada from Hungary in 1956, was an old-fashioned, hardworking man who ran a successful janitorial-cleaning business, rising every morning before 3 a.m. to begin his day's work.
He started the Thunderbirds of the former International Jr. B Hockey League to keep more young hockey players at home.
Zoltan wasn't in the hockey business for money. In fact, not only did he never make a cent from his hockey venture, it cost him plenty of his own hard-earned money.
In his mind,though, running the Thunderbirds was money well spent.
Abbie Carricato coached the Thunderbirds during Zoltan's ownership period (1978-1982)and often referred to his old friend as one of the finest individuals he has ever known.
The Thunderbirds won three IJHL championships during Zoltan's ownership. The IJHL later folded.
Zoltan was in his 72nd year when he succumbed to cancer on January 30, 2004.
Zoltan's son, Zoltan Jr., or Toots as he is known to his family and hockey friends, is fond of saying that it was not until he was older "did I realize what a positive impact my dad had on the young men who played for the Thunderbirds.
"My dad always stressed the importance of leadership in the organization and how important it was to the young players on the team, from the owner right down to the coaches. That is obviously why he chose Abbie as his first and only coach. My dad certainly would be proud of the Thunderbirds winning the Dudley Hewitt Cup for the first time in franchise history."
2012 was a Championship year for the Soo Thunderbirds. They won the NOJHL League Championship as well as the coveted Dudley Hewitt Cup. They went on to play at the Royal Bank Cup in Humboldt, Saskatchewan.
Team Captains: Mike Hull, Matt Wallace, Nick Oho, Dave Cara, Matt Wallace, Ryan Maunu, Adam Kauppi, Tyler Gendron, Nick Minardi, Kevin Smith, Jerry Petingalo, Micky Sartoretto.
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