Game On: A Complete Guide to Sports in Thunder Bay

The city of Thunder Bay, Ontario, is a vibrant hub for sports enthusiasts, boasting a diverse lineup of professional teams from curling to soccer to hockey to baseball. Year-round, the city’s stadiums, arenas, and pitches buzz with energy as fans cheer on their favourite teams. Whether you're a visitor or a devoted local, catching a game offers a great way to dive into Thunder Bay’s welcoming atmosphere. Conveniently located in the heart of the city, our sports venues make it easy to grab tickets and immerse yourself in the action—and even easier to enjoy a post-bite or celebratory beverage at one of the city's many restaurants and bars followed by a relaxing night at a luxe hotel or motel. We've rounded up all the local intel here so it’s even easier to cheer for your team (or adopted team!).

Here are all the professional teams located in Thunder Bay—and how to catch a game.

Thunder Bay Baseball

The Thunder Bay Border Cats

Home Stadium: Port Arthur Stadium

The Border Cats are a team of elite college baseball players and part of the Northwoods League which is the largest organized baseball league in the world. 

The Cats encourage newbies to pick up a program, get to know the players on the roster, cheer all night, and then go and get their top player’s autograph—just bring your ball, hat or jersey over to the first base side after the game. Ballpark food is a must with pulled pork sandwiches, ice cream and, of course, peanuts being fan favourites.

You can learn more about the Border Cats, including their schedule, ticket prices and merch on their official website.

Before or after the game: After the game, check out nearby restaurants, like Five Forks or Madhouse—both offer a casual atmosphere where you can get away with using your outside voice while enjoying apps and drinks.

Thunder Bay Hockey

Thunder Bay North Stars and Kam River Fighting Walleye

Home Stadium: Fort William Gardens or NorWest Arena

Thunder Bay is a hockey factory. The city and the former towns of Port Arthur and Fort William have sent more players to the NHL than any other city in the world, per capita. Catching a Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) game with the North Stars or Fighting Walleye is a great opportunity to enjoy the passion and energy of up-and-coming players.

The crosstown rivalry is a classic one, albeit the Fighting Walleye are based in the rural community of Oliver Paipoonge. The bottom line is that you can’t beat the excitement of seeing these teams go head-to-head. The SIJHL has six teams from Northwestern Ontario and one from Wisconsin; their season runs from September to March, so there are plenty of opportunities to see a game at either Fort William Gardens or NorWest Arena. There’s a lot of young talent on the ice at these games, take note of the names on the back of the jerseys because there is a good chance you’ll see some of them in the NHL in a few years.

Tickets for North Stars games are available at the Fort William Gardens box office which is open Monday – Friday, from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, and 60 minutes before the puck drops on game days.

Fighting Walleye tickets are available online through their website.

Visit the Thunder Bay North Stars and Kam River Fighting Walleye online for their rosters and home game schedules.

Thunder Bay Soccer

The Thunder Bay Chill

Home Stadium: Chapples Park

The Chill is Thunder Bay’s premiere pre-professional soccer team founded in 2000. The Chill play in the six-team Deep North Division that is part of the USL League Two or USL2. Though the Chill has deferred playing in the USL2 league for the 2025 season, stay tuned for updates available on their website.

Chill coach, Tony Colistro, says “This is the highest level of soccer that Thunder Bay has ever seen—many players from our USL2 league get drafted to the pros.” He also says that soccer games are a great family event, “it is a non-expensive event for the whole family—90 minutes of great soccer, music, entertainment, and great food.” He isn’t exaggerating about the food—think wood-fired pizzas and a licensed patio where fans can enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine while watching the game at field level.

The Chill’s die-hard fans are known as the Blue Navy. “They come out in bunches for big games when the hype increases a few levels,” explains Colistro.

But, you don’t need to wait for a playoff game to cheer for the Chill, check out their website for the schedule, tickets and merch.

Before or after the game: If you’re not full of pizza after the game, head over to Giorg Cucina é barra—it’s upscale but casual and offers some of the finest Italian food in the city. If coffee and gelato are more your style, Dolce Coffee House is just around the corner from the Tbaytel Field.

Thunder Bay Cricket

TBay Kombans

Home Stadium: Chapples Field

Although it is the second most popular sport in the world, cricket is relatively new to Thunder Bay. Locally, there are over 500 active players and two clubs, but it’s the Kombans who are bringing the sport to a whole new level.

Abhiram Giri is a member of the Thunder Bay Cricket Council’s board of directors and a Kombans player who encourages everyone, whether they are familiar with cricket or not, to come out to a game. “If you don’t know, ask someone!” he says, explaining that fans and players in the stands are happy to explain the game. To make it even easier, there is no charge for games, just bring some cash for snacks and drinks.

The Kombans play in the six-team Northern Ontario Cricket League. All games are played at Chapples Field which is a busy place that sees cricket action almost every evening, with programming for all ages and abilities.

Want to cheer on the Komans? Giri says fans chant, “Champions, champions…let’s go Kombans!” and to watch for their star players: Figin Filet (a.k.a. Thunder Bay Express). Abhishek (a fast bowler), Sagar (an all-rounder), and Ashok (a top-order batter). If you don’t know what these terms mean, don’t worry—you’ll figure it out! Just know that the Kombans are tough and fierce, just like their mascot.

For details on the Kombans and to order one of their coveted jerseys, find Thunder Bay Cricket on Facebook or Instagram.

Before or after the game: Looking to add some spice to your post-game routine? Stop by Beaux Daddy’s on Highway 61. They offer Canadian-Indian fusion cuisine and might even have cricket on TV in the bar.

Other Sports in Thunder Bay

Lakehead Thunderwolves

Home Stadium: Various locations at the Lakehead University campus

Thanks to a thriving varsity program, sports fans can enjoy elite-level Ontario University Athletics (OUA) games, races and meets from October to March. “Lakehead University's athletic landscape showcases a dynamic array of teams, each with their own impressive achievements and promising outlooks for the season,” says Eric Watson, coordinator of partnerships, events, and initiatives in Lakehead’s Department of Athletics.

“The men's hockey and basketball teams have been mainstays in the OUA playoffs in recent years, demonstrating their consistency and competitive prowess,” says Watson. He also noted strong performances by the women's basketball and volleyball teams, the Nordic skiing team, the men’s and women’s wrestling teams, and the track and field squad which boasts several athletes and relay teams ranked in the top 15 nationally.

The Thunderwolves were the first team to champion Persians—TBay’s iconic pastry frosted with pink icing—which are available at their concessions along with classics, like popcorn and pizza.

But, it’s really the atmosphere the fans create that distinguishes a Thunderwolves event. Watson says fans “are renowned for their vibrant cheers and spirited traditions, which contribute to the electrifying atmosphere on game days.” For example, during basketball games, fans stand and clap until the first basket is made. And then there are the "white out" nights where fans wear white to create a visually stunning spectacle in the stands.

Find out when and where you can hear and enter the real den at thunderwolves.ca.

Before or after the game: Let’s face it, howling like a wolf can work up an appetite! After on-campus events, swing by Dawson Trail Craft Brewery which is a stone’s throw away. They have great food and, of course, fresh beer to wash it down. After a hockey game at Fort William Gardens, stroll down the street to the Tilted Turret—Thunder Bay’s first (and only!) pinball pub.

Thunder Bay Curling Teams

The huge curling rock in front of Fort Williams Gardens is a testament to Thunder Bay’s passion for curling. Back in 1960, the Fort William Curling and Athletic Club made the rock for a parade float to welcome the Macdonald Brier Tankard. The 5,000-pound rock has since been restored and the names of champion curlers have been added—it is definitely one of the landmarks of the city and a reminder to everyone attending a hockey game that Thunder Bay produces champions in more than one sport. In fact, Thunder Bay refers to itself as the Centre of Curling in Canada and has produced multiple national champions as well as world champions in both men’s and women’s curling. Games and bonspiels are played at the Fort William, Port Arthur and Kakabeka Falls Curling Clubs and the city is hosting the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts (get your tickets early!). Before or after the game: For reasons unknown to locals, Thunder Bay curling clubs have, until recently, been connected with Chinese cuisine. The Fort William Curling Club dining room offers Chinese and Canadian cuisine and a licensed bar (insider tip: get the pao pao combo platter).

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