Fans clamor for Delaware pro ice hockey team to stay as state fair says 'See ya'

Few are even aware Delaware has a minor league pro ice hockey team.

But the Delaware Thunder has a fervent, if small, fan following.

The Federal Prospects Hockey League team has brought wintertime energy and economic vitality to tiny Harrington. The Delaware State Fairgrounds are normally more of a summertime destination, with Harrington Raceway also staging an April-to-October harness-racing calendar.

Now the team’s immediate future is in doubt due to a failure to secure a new lease and fairgrounds officials’ apparent desire to use the team’s Ice Centre home for other activities.

Because of that, the Thunder suddenly has even more devotees. More than 4,000, some from opposing teams, had signed a “Save the Delaware Thunder” online petition as of Thursday morning.

"Kids of all ages have told me that they want to play because of the Thunder," wrote petition signer Remington Dewey, a Sussex Tech High graduate from Bridgeville who learned how to skate and play and coach ice hockey after attending games. "The organization has had an amazing impact on my life and so many other lives in the community."

How did they get here?

The Thunder joined the FPHL in 2019-20 and regularly drew overflow crowds to the Ice Centre, where seating capacity is just 675. FPHL players have solid junior and/or collegiate backgrounds and seek to climb up to the ECHL, then the stronger American Hockey League. Each has teams affiliated with National Hockey League clubs.

The coronavirus pandemic cut that first season short and the Thunder didn’t participate in a shortened and delayed 2020-21 season due to crowd and travel restrictions stemming from COVID-19. They finished last in a seven-team league in 2021-22 with a 9-42-2 record, the only non-playoff team.

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In what is now a 10-team league, the Thunder again has the worst record at 8-41-3 with four games remaining, including three at home – Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Binghamton Black Bears and April 14 and 15 versus the Watertown Wolves to close the season. They've averaged 703 fans per game this season at the Ice Centre, where ticket prices range from $12 to $20 for single games.

Charlie Pens, the Thunder’s CEO and president, said the team expected to sign an extension of its expiring lease at an increased rent. Instead, Pens was told earlier this year by fairgrounds officials that the team’s association with the Ice Centre would end after this season in mid-April.

“I don’t think it’s fair, Pens said.

Who is at fault?

According to Pens, it’s Delaware Fairgrounds general manager William DiMondi. He has not responded to a phone message seeking comment.

Fairgrounds officials have said it’s preferred that the ice arena be more available for community access, such as public skating, bumper cars on ice, youth ice hockey, figure-skating lessons and party rentals.

The hockey team has the facility on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. when it would otherwise likely not be used, Pens said, and on 28 Friday and Saturday nights from late October through mid-April for home games. It's those weekend evenings that fairgrounds officials apparently believe would be more lucrative without the Thunder, despite the 700-plus fans filling the arena and purchasing concessions.

“This has nothing to do with ‘We have to have more programming. The programming was suppressed because of us,’” Pens said. “There’s nobody in there skating Monday through Friday at 10 o’clock in the morning. If you have public skating, you’re lucky if there’s five people there.”

Thunder players earn a mere $125 to $500 a week but the team provides housing, medical insurance and some meals, Pens said.

Players, fans for games and visiting teams also frequent Harrington businesses, restaurants and hotels and, presumably, the casino located on the fairgrounds, which boosts the local economy and fuels concern about the team’s demise, he added.

Pens said recent discussions with state government officials could be the impetus toward the Thunder and State Fair Inc. hashing out a new agreement and "doing what's best for the community."

Fans to rally Saturday

Ben Sabean, who works in Dover and lives in Hartly, has enjoyed attending Thunder games since the team’s inception because he loves “having a hometown team you can cheer for,” he said.

“The team has brought a lot to the community,” he added, mentioning players visiting schools and helping in youth hockey programs. “It’s a shame they’re trying to get rid of it.”

Games at the ThunderDome, as fans have come to call the Ice Centre, also regularly benefit various charities. Saturday’s game is Autism Awareness night with a jersey auction aiding Autism Delaware.

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Bill O’Brien, an ambassador for the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia, said “with the Thunder not coming back to the rink next year … that’s about a $3,000 loss for each year going forward” for such organizations.

When Houston Wilson scored a power-play goal with 28 seconds left to give the Thunder a 4-3 win over Columbus (Georgia) in one recent home game, it got so noisy, Sabean said, “it set off people’s Apple watches saying the decibels were too loud. It’s definitely a fun atmosphere.”

Sabean started the petition to drum up support for keeping the Thunder in Harrington. Fans, some carrying hand-painted signs, will arrive early for Saturday’s 7 p.m. game for a rally urging the team’s return.

“We just want to show what the team means to us,” he said.

Money-making nonprofit

Delaware State Fair Inc. is a nonprofit organization, aimed at providing a social or public benefit, which Pens said should make it more willing to continue to rent out its Ice Centre to the Thunder.

State Fair Inc. did have more than $9.7 million in total revenue and support for 2021, according to a tax audit.

Of that, $517,918 was from the Ice Centre, including $76,035 from public skating, despite lingering COVID-19 limitations.

Operating expenses totaled $4.9 million for the Delaware State Fair Inc. in 2021.

What’s next for the Thunder?

There have been discussions about building a small arena for ice hockey and other indoor sports in Dover, perhaps at Schutte Park. But that is still several years from actually happening if it occurs at all.

Pens has received overtures from others in Florida and New England, he said, interested in having the Thunder relocate. The FPHL has a large footprint with teams presently in Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, New York and Connecticut plus Delaware.

“I’m fighting like hell to stay in the state of Delaware,” he said. “I love the state of Delaware and I love our fans and our corporate partners.”

Have an idea for a compelling local sports story or is there an issue that needs public scrutiny? Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Federal Prospects Hockey League Delaware Thunder has uncertain future