Perth Thunder

Perth Thunder, members of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL), are a semi-professional ice hockey team based at the Perth Ice Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Perth Thunder were founded in 2010. On 28 November 2010, Perth Thunder were granted a provisional license with the AIHL for the 2011 season, with the intention of entering the league to compete as the ninth team in the 2012 AIHL season.

In 2011 the Thunder played a number of exhibition games against several AIHL teams. In May the Thunder traveled to Adelaide to compete in two games against the Adelaide Adrenaline. They tied the first game 2-2 and won the second 3-0. In June, Melbourne Ice traveled to Perth to compete in two games against the Thunder at the Cockburn Ice Arena. The Ice won the first game 4-3 and lost the second game 3-6 after letting in six goals in the final period. In September the Newcastle North Stars travelled to Perth to play the Thunder in a two game series. Thunder won both games 4-2, and on 16 October 2011 the AIHL voted to include the Perth Thunder as the ninth team to join the league.

In 2012, Thunder played in their inaugural season in the AIHL and finished fourth in the Easton conference, missing out on the Goodall Cup playoffs.Since then, the Thunder have appeared in two Goodall Cup finals series, in 2013 and 2015.

2015 was particularly successful, with Head Coach Dave Kenway named AIHL Coach of the Year, and rookie Kieran Webster named AIHL Rookie of the Year. With a growing crop of good local players coming through, including a great number of Australian representatives, Perth Thunder looks to be building a bright future.