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Fort William Gardens

Coordinates: 48°23′09″N 89°15′02″W / 48.38583°N 89.25056°W / 48.38583; -89.25056
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Fort Williams Gardens
Map
Location901 Miles Street
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7C 1J9
Public transitBus interchange Thunder Bay Transit
 12   16 
OwnerCity of Thunder Bay
Capacity4,680
Construction
Opened6 March 1951 (1951-03-06)
Renovated1995
Tenants
Current
Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL) (2000-present)
Lakehead Thunderwolves (CIS) (2001-Present)
Fort William Figure Skating Club (Skate Canada) (1954-Present)
Former
Fort William Canadians (TBJHL) (1951-78)
Westfort Hurricanes (TBJHL) (1966-72)
Thunder Bay Twins (USHL/OHA Sr. A/OHA Sr. A) (1970-91)
Thunder Bay Vulcans (TBJHL) (1971-73)
Thunder Bay Centennials (CAJHL) (1972-73)
Thunder Bay Westfort Hurricanes (CAJHL/MWJHL) (1972-75)
Thunder Bay Beavers (CAJHL) (1973-78)
Thunder Bay Kings (TBJHL) (1980-84)
Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL) (1984-2000)
Thunder Bay Hornets (TBJHL/MJHL) (1982-86)
Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks/Senators/Thunder Cats (CoHL/UHL) (1991-99)
Thunder Bay Twins (HNwO) (2003-04)
Thunder Bay Bombers (HNwO) (2004-06)
Thunder Bay Hawks (HNwO) (2007-08)
Thunder Bay K&A Twins (HNwO) (2008-11)
Website
Arena Info

The Fort William Gardens is a multi-purpose arena, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. It opened in 1951.

History

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The Gardens opened on March 6, 1951. The Fort William Canadians defeated the Fort William Hurricanes by a 4–2 score in the first game, which was refereed by Fred Page and with a paid attendance of 5,200 tickets.[1]

The isolation of Thunder Bay and travel costs have prevented the Gardens from retaining most teams.[citation needed] It hosted an NHL pre-season game in 1993 between the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals, and two pre-season AHL games in 2002 with St. John's Maple Leafs vs. Manitoba Moose, and 2 in 2003 with Manitoba Moose vs. Toronto Roadrunners.[citation needed]

The Gardens has hosted the 1975 Allan Cup, the 1988 Allan Cup, and 1991 Allan Cup, representing the Grand Championship of Canadian Senior hockey. The Gardens played host to the 1967 Memorial Cup series in which the Toronto Marlboros defeated the Port Arthur Marrs for the national junior hockey championship. The Gardens hosted the 1988 Air Canada Cup National Midget Hockey Championship.[2]

Tenants

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Since 2001, the Gardens has been home to the Lakehead Thunderwolves men's university hockey program, and a Superior International Junior Hockey League team. Previous tenants include the Thunder Bay Bulldogs, Fort William North Stars, Thunder Bay Flyers, the Thunder Bay Senators/Thunder Bay Thunder Cats, and the Thunder Bay Twins.[citation needed]

Major events

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The Gardens has also hosted several national curling championships:[citation needed]

The arena has hosted Remembrance Day ceremonies, festivals, circuses and many concerts including such artists as The Beach Boys, Johnny and the Hurricanes, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, The Guess Who, John Lee Hooker, Burton Cummings, Roy Orbison, Celine Dion, Willie Nelson, Bee Gees, Rush, REM, AC/DC, Slade, Ted Nugent, Skid Row, The Black Crowes, Foreigner, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Black Oak Arkansas, Pearl Jam, Our Lady Peace, Nickelback and The Tragically Hip.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mayor Badani Opens First Game In New Gardens". Daily Times-Journal. Fort William, Ontario. March 7, 1951. p. 10.
  2. ^ "Thanks for the Memories - the National Midget Championship Turns 30".
  3. ^ "Thunder Bay in 2022!". Curling Canada. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Law, Sarah (October 3, 2023). "3rd time's a charm? Scotties Tournament of Hearts to return to Thunder Bay, Ont., in 2025". CBC Thunder Bay. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
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48°23′09″N 89°15′02″W / 48.38583°N 89.25056°W / 48.38583; -89.25056