South East Prairie Thunder

{{Infobox ice hockey team | text_color = white | bg_color = #003E7E | team = South East Prairie Thunder | logo = Prairie Thunder logo.jpg | logo_size = 150px | city = Winnipeg, Manitoba | league = | division =Senior AAA | founded =2004 | folded = 2020 | colours = Blue, Green, White<br> {{color box|#003E7E}} {{color box|#009900}} {{color box|#FFF}} | gm = | coach = | captain = | owner = | media = | website = | name1 = Grunthal Red Wings | dates1 = 2004 - 2006 | name2 = South East Prairie Thunder | dates2 = 2006 - 2020 | championships = 2012 Allan Cup<br />2015 Allan Cup }} The '''South East Prairie Thunder''' were a Canadian Senior 'AAA' ice hockey team based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba and two-time Allan Cup champions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Southeast Prairie Thunder finally bring Allan Cup home to Steinbach |author=Daniel Nugent-Bowman |url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/nhl/southeast-prairie-thunder-finally-bring-allan-cup-home-to-steinbach-148478495.html |newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press |date=April 23, 2012}}</ref> They played an independent schedule under the jurisdiction of Hockey Manitoba. The team is inactive as of 2021.{{cn|date=October 2021}}

==History== The team was founded in 2004 as the Grunthal Red Wings and based out of Grunthal, Manitoba. The Red Wings became the Southeast Prairie Thunder, relocating to Steinbach in 2006 and playing out of the T.G. Smith Centre from 2006 to 2017. Since then, the team has played its home games at the Seven Oaks and Wayne Fleming Arenas in Winnipeg.<ref name=Globe/><ref name=SS>{{cite news|title=Piece of Canadiana comes to Steinbach |author=Kirk Penton |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Hockey/2009/04/12/pf-9092786.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222230022/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Hockey/2009/04/12/pf-9092786.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |publisher=Slam! Sports |date=April 12, 2009}}</ref>

The team have made nine appearances at the Allan Cup, Canada's national senior 'AAA' championship. Their first was at the 2009 Allan Cup, which was played in Steinbach, but hosted by their local rivals, the Steinbach North Stars. The Prairie Thunder advanced to the final, but lost 4-3 in double overtime to the Bentley Generals.

Three years later, the Thunder captured their first national title at the 2012 Allan Cup in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.<ref name="Globe">{{cite news|title=Southeast Prairie Thunder roll to Allan Cup title |author=Larry Fisher |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/southeast-prairie-thunder-roll-to-allan-cup-title/article2410247/ |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=April 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name="SUn">{{cite news|title=Allan Cup coming home |author=Ken Wiebe |url=http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/04/22/allan-cup-coming-home |newspaper=Winnipeg Sun |date=April 21, 2012}}</ref> They claimed their second national title at the 2015 Allan Cup in Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, defeating Bentley in the final by a score of 2-0.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/-south-east-prairie-thunder-win-2015-allan-cup|title=South East Prairie Thunder win 2015 Allan Cup|date=April 18, 2015|publisher=Hockey Canada}}</ref>

The Prairie Thunder also participated in the 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Allan Cups. The Prairie Thunder hosted the 2016 Allan Cup in Steinbach, where they finished runner-up to the Generals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.steinbachonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45224:2016-allan-cup-confirmed-in-steinbach&catid=13:local-news&Itemid=100445|title=2016 Allan Cup Confirmed In Steinbach|last=Braun|first=Daryl|date=September 5, 2014|publisher=SteinbachOnline.com}}</ref>

Over the years, the team's roster included former professional players such as Terry Yake, Brad Purdie, Justin Kurtz, Ryan Garbutt, Ian White, Mark Stuart, Ryan Bonni, and Steve Christie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeymanitobastats.ca/roster/show/1096321?subseason=145930|publisher=Hockey Manitoba|accessdate=November 9, 2014|title=South East Prairie Thunder roster}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/sports/Prairie-Thunder-look-to-wrap-up-Allan-Cup-berth-568564131.html|publisher=The Carillon|title=Prairie Thunder look to wrap up Allan-Cup berth|last=Frey|first=Terry|date=March 6, 2020}}</ref>

The Prairie Thunder have not fielded a team since the COVID-19 pandemic ended their 2019-20 season.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120411012850/http://www.se-prairiethunder.com/ South East Prairie Thunder ] *[http://www.hockeymanitobastats.ca/page/show/1096321-se-prairie-thunder South East Prairie Thunder statistics at HockeyManitoba.ca]

Category:Ice hockey teams in Manitoba Category:Ice hockey teams in Winnipeg Category:Senior ice hockey teams Category:Sports in Steinbach, Manitoba