Westfort Hurricanes

Lore & Background

The Westfort Hurricanes began as a member of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League. In 1972, the club broke away from the TBJHL to join the St. Paul, Minnesota-based Can-Am Junior Hockey League. The following year, that league became the Midwest Junior Hockey League, and the Hurricanes played one season in the MWJHL before returning to the TBJHL. The MWJHL later merged into the United States Hockey League.

Dave Siciliano coached the Hurricanes during the 1973–74 season, leading the team to a first-place regular-season finish with 45 wins in 60 games. In the 1974 Centennial Cup playoffs, the Hurricanes defeated the Wexford Raiders four games to three in the first round, then lost four games to three to the Smiths Falls Bears in the second round. The club also won the TBJHL championship in 1974 and 1978, and were Abbott Cup finalists in 1970.

The team underwent several name changes over its history, appearing as the Fort William Hurricanes, Westfort Hurricanes, Thunder Bay Hurricanes, Degagne Hurricanes, and Degagne Buccaneers. The franchise folded on July 6, 1980, when the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association left them with no league to play in.

Reader's Guide

The Westfort Hurricanes were a significant junior hockey club in northwestern Ontario, with a history spanning several decades and multiple league affiliations. The team's 1972 departure from the TBJHL to join the Can-Am Junior Hockey League, and later the Midwest Junior Hockey League, reflected a period of realignment in junior hockey. The Hurricanes' return to the TBJHL after one season in the MWJHL demonstrated the fluidity of league structures at the time.

The club's most notable achievement was reaching the Abbott Cup finals in 1970, representing the western Canadian junior championship. The 1973–74 season under coach Dave Siciliano was particularly strong, with the team finishing first in the regular season and advancing to the second round of the Centennial Cup playoffs. The Hurricanes also won multiple TBJHL championships, including in 1974 and 1978.

The franchise produced several players who went on to professional careers, including NHL players Gus Bodnar, Alex Delvecchio, Mike Busniuk, Larry Cahan, and Lou Nistico. The team's folding in 1980 marked the end of a long-running junior hockey presence in Fort William, as the TBAHA's decision left the club without a league.

Did You Know?

• Dave Siciliano coached the team to a 45-win season in 1973–74.
• The club folded on July 6, 1980, when the TBAHA left them with no league.
• Notable alumni include Alex Delvecchio and Gus Bodnar.