Albert Lea Thunder
City	Albert Lea, Minnesota
League	NAHL
Division	Central
Founded	2008
Home arena	Albert Lea Ice Arena
Colors	Navy Blue and Tan
Owner(s)	NAHL
Franchise history
2008-Present	Albert Lea Thunder

The Albert Lea Thunder is a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Central Division. The team is an expansion franchise for the 2008-2009 season and will play their home games at the Albert Lea Ice Arena in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

[edit] History

The Franchise joined the North American Hockey League for the 2008-2009 season with Chicago businessman Jim Perkins and Barry Soskin^[1] as owners. Soskin is the owner of NJHL independent Junior teams the Findlay Grrrowl and Pittsburgh Cougars, as well as the former owner of the ECHL Toledo Storm and CHL Nashville Nighthawks.

On November 18, 2009, reports came out that the Thunder were engaging in "pay to play," or taking money to guarantee players' spots on the team. A total of 8 players where named.^[2] The organization was facing a $400,000 fine from the NAHL^[3]

On December 7th, 2009, the NAHL issued following statement:

The North American Hockey League’s Board of Governors today voted to terminate the Albert Lea membership. The league is now involved in addressing a number of transition issues regarding the future operations of the team. The league will work to stabilize the team as quickly as possible. ^[4]

[edit] Regular season records

[edit] Playoff Records

[edit] External links

• Official site
• NAHL website

v • d • e Sports teams based in Minnesota Baseball MLB: Minnesota Twins, AA: St. Paul Saints, NwL: Alexandria Beetles • Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers • Duluth Huskies • Mankato MoonDogs • Rochester Honkers • St. Cloud River Bats Basketball NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves, WNBA: Minnesota Lynx Football NFL: Minnesota Vikings, IWFL: Minnesota Vixen, WFA: Minnesota Machine, MFL: Minneapolis Lumberjacks • Duluth-Superior Shoremen Hockey NHL: Minnesota Wild, NAHL: Albert Lea Thunder • Alexandria Blizzard • Owatonna Express, WWHL: Minnesota Whitecaps Soccer USL-1: Minnesota Thunder, PDL: Rochester Thunder, WL: Minnesota Lightning, NPSL: St. Paul Twin Stars Lacrosse NLL: Minnesota Swarm College athletics NCAA Division I: University of Minnesota, Minnesota State University, Mankato (Hockey), St. Cloud State University (Hockey), University of Minnesota Duluth (Hockey) Bemidji State University(Hockey)

[edit] Reference List

1. ^ Albert Lea Thunder Hockey Registration & Management Software By GOALLINE.ca
2. ^ NAHL finds Thunder guilty of pay-to-play
3. ^ Minnesota Meltdown-- NAHL Roster Spots for Sale?
4. ^ NAHL Statement on terminating Albert Lea Thunder ownership