- Carolina Thunderbirds (FPHL)
- Thunderbird
- Federal Prospects Hockey League
- Port Huron Prowlers
- Baton Rouge Zydeco
- Steve MacIntyre
- 2023–24 FPHL season
- List of indoor arenas in the United States
- Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Home - Carolina Thunderbirds
- News: Thunderbirds Have Trio of Transactions - Carolina …
- News: Carolina Acquires Selyutin from Mississippi - Carolina …
- News: Thunderbirds Weekly Report (February 11th) - Carolina …
- Carolina Bounces Back, Take Down Mississippi, 4-2 - Carolina …
- Thuderbirds Sign White, Release Chateauvert - Carolina …
- Carolina Trades with Monroe for Vladislav Pavlov
- Thunderbirds Blank Venom in Pestuka’s 400th Game, 5-0
- News: Thunderbirds Make Multiple Roster Moves - Carolina …
- Four more Thunderbirds claimed as expansion draft concludes
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The Carolina Thunderbirds are a minor league professional hockey team located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and play in the Federal Prospects Hockey League. Their home games are played at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena.
History
In August 2016, the Federal Hockey League (FHL) announced that multiple FHL franchise owner Barry Soskin would place an expansion team in Winston-Salem for the 2017–18 FHL season. The team name was announced in September as the Carolina Thunderbirds after the former professional team that had last played in Winston-Salem in 1992. In June 2017, Berlin River Drivers head coach Andre Niec was hired as the Thunderbirds' inaugural head coach.
The team played their first game on October 27, 2017, against the Danville Dashers. The home opener was held on November 3 against the North Shore Knights, a 3–2 victory for the Thunderbirds in front of a sold-out crowd. On January 27, 2018, head coach Niec swung a hockey stick at an official after disagreeing with a call towards the end of a game with the league leading Port Huron Prowlers. The FHL then suspended Niec for 20 games and would be replaced by general manager Scott Brand on an interim basis. Brand would also be suspended for one game after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on February 16. Niec returned on March 3
On March 2, 2018, the Thunderbirds broke the single-season Federal Hockey League season attendance record and finished their inaugural season with a total attendance of 66,204 fans, 14,720 higher than the previous record. The third seed Thunderbirds hosted the second-seeded Watertown Wolves on April 13, 2018, in the playoff semifinals, the first playoff game played in the Triad in 10 years, but lost a close game in overtime. The Thunderbirds also lost the following night and were eliminated from the playoffs, although the 3–2 loss to the Wolves in double overtime became the longest game in league history.
The Thunderbirds opened the 2018–19 season on October 26, 2018, at home against the Port Huron Prowlers with 4–3 win. The next night in another game against the Prowlers, head coach Niec was ejected again for arguing with the officials. He was subsequently suspended by the league again for six games (reduced to four), with personal trainer Karolina Huvarova taking over in the interim. Huvarova was reportedly the first European woman to coach a men's professional team. On November 28, 2018, the Thunderbirds' management received league approval to implement an experimental rule change to hold a five-man shootout prior to the each game instead of only holding a shootout after a game was still tied following overtime. The pre-game shootout rule was left up to a fan vote and was discontinued after only two games. On February 1, 2019, with a 6–3 win over the Danville Dashers, the Thunderbirds tied the 2017–18 Port Huron Prowlers and the 2010–11 New York Aviators FHL record for longest winning streak at 21 games. Josh Pietrantonio became the first player in team history to earned 100 points as a Thunderbird in the game. They broke the winning streak record the following night by defeating the Danville Dashers 4–3, and the streak ended at 24 following a 4–2 loss to the Watertown Wolves on February 9. On March 8, the Thunderbirds won their first regular season championship and secured the FHL's top seed for the 2019 playoffs. Head coach Andre Niec signed a contract for the final game and scored a hat trick in a 7–1 win over the Dashers.
The team won eight league awards for the season. Team captain, Josh Pietrantonio, was named the FHL MVP and for the second consecutive season was one of the players named as Forwards of the Year. He scored 27 goals along with 56 assists for a total of 83 points. Andre Niec was named Coach of the Year after leading the Thunderbirds to a record breaking season with the most wins (49), most points (149), and the best point percentage (.856) in league history. Christian Pavlas was named Goaltender of the Year after leading the FHL in all four major goaltending categories: wins (30), GAA (1.77), save percentage (.932), and shutouts (5). His 30 wins and five shutouts are the most by a goaltender in a single season in league history. Mike Baker was a Defenseman of the Year after joining the team via a trade with Port Huron in December. Karel Drahorad also lead the FHL in goals among defensemen during the season. Forward Jan Salak led the league in plus/minus at +77 for the season. Michael Bunn also lead the league in game winning goals with eight.
On May 15, 2019, inaugural general manager Scott Brand left the Thunderbirds to take on the same role with the FHL expansion team Columbus River Dragons and was replaced by Jimmy Milliken, who had been serving on the league's expansion committee.
In 2018, the FHL began calling itself the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) and fully rebranded before the 2019–20 season. Part way into the 2019–20 season, general manager Milliken resigned. The 2019–20 season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic with the Thunderbirds holding the top seed in the standings. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the start of the 2020–21 season was delayed to February 2021. The Thunderbirds were one of four teams to take part in the shortened season, but had to play all games on the road due to their home arena being unavailable because the Thunderbird escaped from its cage. Following the 2020–21 season, head coach Niec left the team to become a European scout for the NHL's Florida Panthers and was replaced by Garrett Rutledge.
The Thunderbirds made it to the Commissioner's Cup finals in Rutledge's second season in 2022–23 but lost in five games to the Danbury Hat Tricks. Rutledge left following the season to take a job with the Saginaw Spirit as their assistant coach. Former Spirit assistant coach Jesse Messier was named as his replacement. Messier never coached a game, as Steve Harrison took over days later.
Season-by-season results
Source:
Awards
= Regular Season MVP
=2018–19: Josh Pietrantonio
2022–23: Kalib (Gus) Ford
= Commissioner's Cup Playoffs MVP
=2019: Michael Bunn
= Forward of the Year
=2017–18: Josh Pietrantonio
2018–19: Josh Pietrantonio
2022–23: Kalib (Gus) Ford
2022–23: Lucas Rowe
= Defenseman of the Year
=2018–19: Mike Baker
2022–23: Jiri Pestuka
= Goaltender of the Year
=2018–19: Christian Pavlas
= Coach of the Year
=2018–19: Andre Niec
2022–23: Garrett Rutledge
= Rookie of the Year
=2022–23: Lucas Rowe
= Executive of the Year
=2017–18: Scott Brand
2018–19: Barry Soskin
= Broadcaster of the Year
=2017–18: Al Kessler
2018–19: Zakharia DeBeaussaert
= Goaltender of the Month
=November 2018–19: Henry Dill
December 2018–19: Christian Pavlas
February 2018–19: Henry Dill
= Rookie of the Month
=December 2018–19: Jiri Pargac
February 2023: Lucas Rowe
Franchise leaders
All-time and season leaders:
= All-time regular season
=Games played: Michael Bunn, 130
Goals scored: Michael Bunn, 67
Assists: Jan Salak, 99
Points: Jan Salak, 160
Penalty minutes: Dominik Fejt, 332
= All-time postseason
=Games played: Josh Pietrantonio, Michael Bunn, Ray Boudiette, Jan Salak, Stanislav Vlasov & Christian Pavlas, 8
Goals scored: Michael Bunn, 6
Assists: Josh Pietrantonio, 14
Points: Josh Pietrantonio, 18
Penalty minutes: Josh Pietrantonio, 20
= All-time (including regular season & postseason)
=Games played: Michael Bunn, 138
Goals scored: Michael Bunn, 73
Assists: Josh Pietrantonio, 107
Points: Jan Salak, 170
Penalty minutes: Dominik Fejt, 342
= Season records
=Goals scored: Kalib (Gus) Ford, 46 (2022–23)
Assists: Kalib (Gus) Ford, 68 (2022–23)
Points: Kalib (Gus) Ford, 114 (2022–23)
Penalty minutes: Jacob Schnapp, 227 (2022–23)
= Postseason records
=Goals scored: Michael Bunn, 6 (2019)
Assists: Josh Pietrantonio, 10 (2019)
Points: Josh Pietrantonio, 13 (2019)
Penalty minutes: Josh Pietrantonio, 18 (2019)
Attendance
Average per game:
2017–18: 2,207
2018–19: 2,714
2019–20: 2,831
2020–21: N/A
2021–22: 2,403
2022–23: 2,878
References
External links
Thunderbirds website
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
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FPHL announces season start, Carolina to play on the road all season ...
News: Ford Named FPHL Forward of the Year - Carolina Thunderbirds
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News: Thunderbirds Have Trio of Transactions - Carolina …
Feb 5, 2025 · Winston-Salem, NC – The Carolina Thunderbirds, proud members of the FPHL, have had three transactions today affecting the current roster. Defenseman Steven Ford has been issued a two-game suspension by the FPHL following Saturday night’s contest against the Port Huron Prowlers.
News: Carolina Acquires Selyutin from Mississippi - Carolina …
Jan 15, 2025 · Winston-Salem, NC – The Carolina Thunderbirds, proud members of the FPHL, have traded for forward Dmitri Selyutin from the Mississippi Sea Wolves in return for future considerations and the completion of the Sam Best trade, the team announced today.
News: Thunderbirds Weekly Report (February 11th) - Carolina …
4 days ago · THUNDERBIRDS RECORD: 25-7-3. Eight Seems Great: The Thunderbirds have won eight straight games dating back to January 18 th, marking their second longest win streak of the year (nine games – 11/15/24-12/14/24). Carolina is averaging 3.6 goals per game while allowing only 1.4 goals across the win streak.
Carolina Bounces Back, Take Down Mississippi, 4-2 - Carolina …
Jan 20, 2024 · Winston-Salem, NC – Following a 6-5 shootout loss last night, the Carolina Thunderbirds responded with a 4-2 victory over the Mississippi Sea Wolves Saturday night at the Annex. Carolina (21-6-1) opened the scoring in the first period on a deflection from Jiri Pestuka on a shot from Josh Koepplinger giving the home side the 1-0 lead after the ...
Thuderbirds Sign White, Release Chateauvert - Carolina …
Jan 16, 2025 · Winston-Salem, NC – The Carolina Thunderbirds, proud members of the FPHL, have signed Zach White for the remainder of the 2024-25 season and released forward William Chateauvert, the team announced today.
Carolina Trades with Monroe for Vladislav Pavlov
Jan 20, 2025 · The Carolina Thunderbirds, proud members of the FPHL, have announced a trade with the Monroe Moccasins. The Thunderbirds have acquired defenseman Vladislav Pavlov in exchange for defenseman Andrey Simonchyk.
Thunderbirds Blank Venom in Pestuka’s 400th Game, 5-0
Jan 25, 2025 · Winston-Salem, NC – On the night that Jiri Pestuka became the fifth player in FPHL history to play in 400 regular season games, he tallied two assists while Mario Cavaliere stopped all 26 shots he saw as the Carolina Thunderbirds shutout HC Venom, 5-0, on Saturday evening at the Fairgrounds Arena in front of 3,153 fans.
News: Thunderbirds Make Multiple Roster Moves - Carolina …
The Carolina Thunderbirds, proud members of the FPHL, have announced multiple roster moves today. Forward Roman Kraemer has returned from IR while forwards Dawson Baker and Petr Panacek have been placed on IR.
Four more Thunderbirds claimed as expansion draft concludes
Winston-Salem, NC – As the Federal Prospects Hockey League completed its expansion draft on Wednesday, four more Thunderbirds were claimed by the entering teams. The Elmira Mammoth selected Brandon Rozzi, George Holt and Marvin Powell, while Tory McLean was claimed by the Mississippi Sea Wolves.