Meet the Team: Delaware Thunder Edition

May 29, 2019

DO YOU HEAR IT?
THE RUMBLINGS OF A NEW TEAM?
FROM THE FIRST STATE
COMES THE SOUND OF HITS AND GOAL HORNS
WELCOME TO THE FPHL...
THE DELAWARE THUNDER!

Delaware Thunder
Location: Harrington, DE
Arena: Centre Ice Arena at the Delaware State Fairgrounds
Capacity: 350 (Could be expanded)
Website: https://www.delawarethunder.com
Twitter: @delawarethunder

Thunderous Hockey Action Comes to Delaware!
 Seems as though the FPHL is trying to catch lightning in a bottle, as earlier today the Delaware Thunder held a press conference to unveil the first full-time Pro Hockey team to reside in the state of Delaware! Now, this isn't the first time there has *ever* been a pro hockey team from Delaware, as back during the 2011-12 FHL season, the Vermont Wild became the travel team known as the Delaware Federals mid-season. Since the Federals were a travel team, the team did not have a home arena, so this will be the first time any pro hockey team has a home arena based in Delaware. In regards to the branding, the logo is sleek, but the name is a bit generic and was used by an AEHL junior hockey team from 2006-08, making this the 2nd team in this FPHL expansion group to be reusing a team name.

 Due to this market being unproven, I will always have a slight bit of worry going in, but overall cautiously optimistic. Having the team play in a building with a capacity of a very small 350 people, Delaware will need every single bit of ticket sales the team can get every night. I do wish this team well though, as I always want hockey to grow in unproven markets and make the game available to more people.

 Luckily, according to Thunder President and GM Charlie Pens, the team and the State Fairground leaders have talked about expanding the seating capacity. Expanding the seating capacity to me is the most important thing for the Delaware Thunder to accomplish, as it means ticket sales are good and there is a demand for more space. From what I gathered during the press conference, at the venue, and on the Facebook chat, there is excitement for the team among locals that certainly brings some hope for the future of this team.

- Marc of The Robinson Report