The Niagara Falls Thunder represented an eight-year stop on the road for a well-traveled Ontario Hockey League franchise that began as the Windsor Spitfires in 1946-47. That Spitfires club has no relation to the current team that plays at Windsor. The Thunder played from 1988-89 to 1995-96. Before that, the team was known as the Hamilton Steelhawks. Now, they are the Erie Otters. In those eight seasons, a member of the Niagara Falls Thunder won the Eddie Powers Trophy as the league’s top scorer three times.
In the Thunder’s first season, 1988-89, Bryan Fogarty tore the OHL from its defensive position. Fogarty had 155 points from the spot and was ten points ahead of the next man, teammate Stan Drulia. Bryan also received the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s best defenseman and the Red Tilson Trophy as the league’s most outstanding player. Niagara Falls finished the season, second in the Emms Division and lost in the Robertson Cup championship to the Peterborough Petes in six games.
Bryan played four seasons in the OHL from 1985-86 to 1988-89. He played his first three years with the Kingston Canadiens. He played a total of 156 NHL regular season games between 1989-90 and 1994-95 with the Quebec Nordiques, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens.
The following season, keith cousin he won the Eddie Powers Trophy with 127 points, eight ahead of Paul DiPietro of the Sudbury Wolves. Keith played three seasons in the OHL from 1987-88 to 1989-90, all with the franchise, although his first season was with the Steelhawks. In 1989-90, the Thunder fell to sixth in the Emms Division. Niagara Falls surpassed itself, reaching the Robertson Cup semifinals before falling to the Kitchener Rangers in five games.
The Detroit Red Wings selected Primeau third overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. Keith played 909 NHL regular season games between 1990-91 and 2005-06 with the Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers.
In 1991-92, Todd Simon he recorded 146 points to capture the Eddie Powers Trophy, twelve points ahead of Brett Seguin of the Ottawa 67’s. Simon played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League from 1989-90 to 1991-92, all with Niagara Falls. The Thunder found their way back to second place in the Emms Division and once again lost in the Robertson Cup semifinals to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in five games.
Todd was a ninth round pick by the Buffalo Sabers in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, 203rd overall. He played just 15 NHL games, all with the Sabers in 1993-94. He enjoyed a long professional career in the minor leagues in North America and in Europe.
