Thanksgiving on ice: An Erie hockey tradition lives on decades after its beginnings

When Sault Ste. Marie faces the Erie Otters on Thanksgiving, it will be the second time during the current Ontario Hockey League season the Greyhounds will compete on that holiday.

Impossible?

Thanks to Canadian and American traditions, no.

The Greyhounds initially won on Thanksgiving when they defeated the Windsor Spitfires 5-3. Those OHL franchises met the first Monday in October.

Or, as Canada has designated that specific day since 1879, Thanksgiving Day.

Thus, the reason why the Soo won’t navigate through some time/space loophole when they arrive at Erie Insurance Arena for Thursday’s 7 p.m. puck drop.

Or, as the United States has designated the fourth Thursday in November since 1942, Thanksgiving.

The Otters’ first home game on that holiday took place in 1996. Minus 2020 and 2021, when none were held because of COVID-19 issues, the Otters have made a Thanksgiving home game a local holiday tradition.

“It’s not an Otters thing. It’s an Erie hockey thing,” said Casey Wells, the former executive director for the Erie County Convention Center Authority. “It continues because of the success and the legacy (from) when it moved from (Erie County) Fieldhouse to Tullio Arena.”

Pre-Otters holiday hockey

Wells, 67, retired as the ECCCA’s executive director at the start of this year. Although he’d held that role since 1992, his association with the organization dates back to the early 1980s.

Erie was home to sanctioned hockey teams back then, only it wasn’t the Otters who skated.

Nor were games held at Erie Insurance Arena or the formerly named Tullio Arena.

It was at the former Erie County Fieldhouse, located just north of the Route 8 exit for Interstate 90, where Wells first experienced Thanksgiving hockey as the facility’s box office manager. Back then, it was the Erie Blades or Erie Golden Blades who entertained boisterous holiday crowds.

“It was wonderful back in the early '80s,” he said. “Back then, I didn’t mind selling tickets and missing Thanksgiving dinner. (Hockey) was something people looked forward to after their dinner.”

The Erie Panthers were the city’s last local professional hockey team. They played at Tullio for eight East Coast Hockey League seasons before owner Henry Brabham moved the franchise to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the summer of 1996.

Taking note of that was Sherwood “Sherry” Bassin, an owner of the OHL’s Niagara Falls Thunder. Sensing a healthier fan base in Erie was the main reason he arranged his franchise’s relocation to America in time for the 1996-97 season.

Bassin, 84, was unaware of Erie’s Thanksgiving hockey past when he arrived. However, Wells’ push for such a game, combined with his own thoughts on the matter, made for advocacy for one an easy sell.

“My kids lived in the States at that time,” Bassin said, “and the (American Thanksgiving) has become such a celebration. Usually, people wanted to go out and do something after (dinner). I thought, ‘Why not make that an Erie Otters game? I mean, really make it a big deal?’”

When more than 3,700 fans showed up for the Otters’ inaugural Thanksgiving game on Nov. 28, 1996, it confirmed Bassin’s belief it would work. Erie and the visiting Detroit Whalers went as far as treating them to free hockey.

The teams went to overtime, but settled for a 5-all final when neither could convert a game-winner. The OHL didn’t conduct shootouts to determine victors back then, so the Otters and Whalers each received one team point.

Benefits beyond the rink

Bassin’s belief that Thanksgiving hockey in Erie was viable wasn’t limited to action on the ice. The local economy also was in play, according to the former Quebec Nordiques assistant general manager.

Fan buses for the Otters’ Canadian opponent would come down for the American holiday. Those same people would shop at the Millcreek Mall because they were exempt from paying state sales taxes for clothing and shoes.

“Parents and families of other teams’ (players) also would come,” Bassin said. “I remember a lot of Canadians, especially during the Connor McDavid era (2012-15), would come shopping and then see us play.”

Bassin sold the Otters to current owner Jim Waters in 2015. That same year, Dave Brown was hired as Erie’s general manager.

While Brown was new to the Otters’ hockey scene, he wasn’t about to tinker with the team’s Thanksgiving tradition. Every year, the Hockey Canada official requests Erie plays at home on whatever date that holiday lands.

“When the (Canadian) kids get down here, I think they quickly understand it’s in the fabric of this community,” Brown said. “One of the things I’ve learned is it might be a bigger holiday than Christmas. Fans have time to get together with family, and it’s a game where we always seem to bring a little more energy.”

'Hope it never changes'

Thanksgiving hockey, before a crowd of more than 3,300, returned to Erie Insurance Arena last November after a two-year hiatus.

Erie’s opponent was the same as this season's — Sault Ste. Marie. Three goals during the third period, including two by former Otter Elias Cohen, were the difference in their 4-2 victory vs. the Greyhounds.

That left Erie with an overall record of 12-11-2 on Thanksgiving.

American Thanksgiving.

Bassin, who lives in Oshawa, Ontario, was glad to hear that holiday game will resume Thursday.

“I’m excited it still is a tradition,” he said. “I have deep respect for such tradition, and I hope it never changes.”

More: Former Erie Otters coach Kris Knoblauch hired for same role with NHL's Edmonton Oilers

History of Erie Otters’ Thanksgiving home games

1996

• Nov. 28, 1996: Erie Otters 5, Detroit Whalers 5 OT

• Attendance: 3,708

The Otters squandered a 4-1 advantage early in the second period of their holiday debut game. However, they maintained a tie when goaltender Ryan Penney recorded a point-blank save late in regulation and another during the league’s former overtime format.

Erie ended a six-game losing streak against the Ontario Hockey League’s only other American franchise at that time.

The Otters’ Jason Ward, who scored Erie’s final goal, was voted the game’s first star. The Montreal Canadiens chose the right-winger with the 11th overall pick in the National Hockey League’s 1997 amateur draft.

1997

• Nov. 27, 1997: Erie Otters 3, Barrie Colts 2

• Attendance: 3,325

Erie never trailed after Geoff Peters scored its opening goal and assisted on its second during the first period.

Shane Nash accounted for the Otters’ third goal with five seconds left in the second period. That gave them a 3-1 advantage going into the final 20 minutes.

1998

• Nov. 26, 1998: Belleville Bulls 4, Erie Otters 3

• Attendance: 4,141

The Otters twice rallied from two-goal deficits, only to trail for good when the Bulls’ Mark Chaplin converted on a power play with less than eight minutes left in the third period.

Mike Rupp recorded Erie’s second goal. Rupp was an NHL rookie with the 2002-03 New Jersey Devils when they were Stanley Cup champions.

1999

• Nov. 25, 1999: Belleville Bulls 7, Erie Otters 6

• Attendance: 3,706

The high-scoring game saw each team ruffle the back of each other’s nets three times in the third period.

Erie pulled within one of a tie when Jason Baird converted with a man-advantage. Problem was, there was only second left.

Carlo Colaiacovo was among the Otters’ six goal-scorers. The defenseman’s ensuing NHL career began with the 2002-03 Toronto Maple Leafs and ended with the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres.

2000

• Nov. 23, 2000: Erie Otters 2, Belleville Bulls 2 OT

• Attendance: 4,143

The Otters recorded at least one point for their 16th straight game. Brad Boyes assisted on their first goal and scored their second early in the third period.

Erie goaltender Adam Munro, who finished with 31 saves, made the tie hold over through regulation and overtime.

Boyes experienced a 12-season NHL career after the Toronto Maple Leafs chose him with their first pick in that year’s NHL draft. His Otters’ No. 16 jersey is one of two the franchise has retired.

2001

• Nov. 22, 2001: London Knights 8, Erie Otters 4

• Attendance: 4,293

Five different goal scorers for the Knights, including the first by future eight-time NHL all-star Rick Nash, obliterated Erie’s 4-3 lead over the last 13 minutes of regulation.

The Otters’ Brad Bonello recorded a goal and an assist and Mike Rice three assists. Each contributed to the first of the franchise’s two OHL titles the following spring.

Erie, in its third season of Dave MacQueen’s coaching tenure, was the 2002 Robertson Cup champion for its five-game victory vs. the Barrie Colts in their championship series.

2002

• Nov. 21, 2002: Erie Otters 6, Belleville Bulls 3

• Attendance: 4,722

Erie, greatly aided by Colaiacovo and Rice, outscored the Bulls 4-0 in the third period.

Colaiacovo converted his third goal that season. He also assisted on the first for Rice, who had a natural hat trick over the last 13 minutes, 6 seconds of regulation.

Even rarer for Rice? He converted each goal during Erie power plays.

2003

• Nov. 27, 2003: London Knights 6, Erie Otters 1

• Attendance: 5,350

The Otters, despite a mammoth crowd at the formerly named Tullio Arena, were no match for the rival Knights. Tomas Galasek recorded Erie’s lone goal late in the first period.

David Bolland assisted on London’s second goal and scored twice in the third period.

2004

• Nov. 25, 2004: Erie Otters 3, Mississauga IceDogs 1

• Attendance: 5,190

Geoff Platt’s hat trick was enough for Erie to defeat Mississauga’s former OHL franchise. He scored on power plays in the first and third periods, followed by an empty-netter with one second left in regulation.

Platt’s ensuing NHL career consisted of two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and a third with the Anaheim Ducks, who at the time were the defending Stanley Cup champions.

The IceDogs played in Mississauga from 1998-2007. The franchise moved to St. Catherines, Ontario, that year, where it’s currently known as the Niagara IceDogs.

The OHL granted Mississauga, Toronto’s main suburb, another franchise in 2012. It’s been called the Steelheads ever since.

2005

• Nov. 24, 2005: Belleville Bulls 2, Erie Otters 1

• Attendance: 4,497

The loss contributed to a miserable 1-10 November record for the Otters. A 2-1 victory vs. Guelph was their first in nearly one month.

John Hughes — not “The Breakfast Club” director — scored each of Belleville’s goals. They negated Erie’s lone score off the stick of Anthony Peluso early in the second period.

Although St. Louis chose Peluso during the 2007 NHL draft, the right winger never suited up for the Blues. He played for the current incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets from 2013-16 and then single seasons for the Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames.

2006

• Nov. 23, 2006: Belleville Bulls 3, Erie Otters 2

• Attendance: 4,066

The loss was the last of five straight for the Otters, who were early in their only full season with Peter Sidorkiewicz as coach. The former NHL goaltender had assisted MacQueen since 1999.

Belleville recorded its tying and go-ahead goals in a 43-second span midway through the third period. Andrew Gibbons scored the game-winner.

Ronny Rogers netted Erie’s first goal and assisted on its second by Zach Torquato.

2007

• Nov. 22, 2007: Erie Otters 4, Belleville Bulls 3 OT

• Attendance: 3,745

Not only were Erie fans treated to free hockey, but free winning hockey for the first time on the holiday.

Nick Palmieri, off passes from Robyn Sertic and Jaroslav Janus, scored against Belleville goalie Mike Murphy 1:04 into the teams’ five-minute overtime period. Erie recovered after Belleville tied the game at 3-all on goals by Matt Beleskey and Bryan Cameron in a 23-second span with just under four minutes left in regulation.

The game’s box score includes two names familiar to recent hockey fans.

P.K. Subban assisted on Belleville’s initial goal. Subban, who retired in 2022 after 13 NHL seasons, was a seven-time, all-star selection and was received the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman as a member of the 2012-13 Montreal Canadiens.

Ryan O’Reilly, who scored Erie’s first goal, was the No. 1 overall pick in that year’s OHL draft. He was named the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient, given to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup playoffs, when the 2018-19 St. Louis Blues won it.

O’Reilly is currently in his 15th NHL season and first with the Nashville Predators.

2008

• Nov. 27, 2008: Belleville Bulls 4, Erie Otters 2

• Attendance: 3,804

Five of the game’s first six goals were scored during the first period. It wasn’t until the Nick Palmieri provided the Bulls an insurance score that the outcome was all but determined.

Brandon Biggers and Luke Gazdic scored for Erie, which was in its first full season with Robbie Ftorek as coach. The former NHL forward took over behind the Otters’ bench midway through their previous season.

2009

• Nov. 26, 2009: Erie Otters 5, Belleville Bulls 3

• Attendance: 4,014

The latest holiday game between the teams saw Erie score five straight goals from the final minute of the first period to the first minute of the third period. Anthony Luciani scored two of them, with Mike Cazzola good for one of them and assists on two others.

2010

• Nov. 25, 2010: Erie Otters 6, Belleville Bulls 0

• Attendance: 3,910

No victory in the Otters’ five-game winning streak at that time was more decisive.

Erie goaltender Ramis Sadikov stopped all 22 shots the Bulls sent his way. Erie selected the Moscow native with its first pick in the OHL’s 2009 import draft.

Sadikov, though, was only voted the game’s third star behind two Erie skaters. The second went to Luciani for his goal and two assists, and the first two Greg McKegg for his four-goal performance.

The Toronto Maple Leafs chose McKegg, a center, in the third round of that year’s NHL draft. The last of his nine seasons in the league was with the 2021-22 New York Rangers.

2011

• Nov. 24, 2011: Belleville Bulls 3, Erie Otters 1

• Attendance: 3,154

The holiday loss contributed to one of the worst seasons in OHL history.

Erie finished with a record of 10-52-3-3. Its 26 team points were 20 fewer than the second-worst team, the 19-41-3-5 Kingston Frontenacs.

That disastrous season meant the Otters would have the No. 1 overall pick in the OHL’s 2012 draft. Their pick would be a 15-year-old phenom who was only the third player in league history who was granted an exemption to be chosen at that age.

His name: Conner McDavid.

2012

• Nov. 22, 2012: Belleville Bulls 4, Erie Otters 3 SO

• Attendance: 3,171

Belleville prevailed in the Otters’ first Thanksgiving game determined in the league’s new shootout format.

The team were tied at 3-all after regulation. Erie, which trailed 3-0, rallied to tie on goals by Connor Crisp, Luke Cairns and Travis Wood.

Neither team scored in the overtime period, which led to the shootout to determine a winner. J.P. Labardo and Cairns scored against Bulls goalie Malcolm Subban.

However, it was Subban’s stop of McDavid’s attempt that gave Belleville the opening it needed. When Aaron Berisha converted against Erie goalie Oscar Dansk, the Bulls gained the second available team point.

McDavid was held pointless in his Thanksgiving debut.

2013

• Nov. 28, 2013: Erie Otters 6, Guelph Storm 4

• Attendance: 4,430

Erie won in its first holiday game in nearly a decade against an opponent that wasn’t the Belleville Bulls.

The teams combined for seven goals in the third period. That span also saw the Storm score three times in the last 5:13 of regulation.

However, the Erie’s 4-0 advantage proved too much for them to overcome. The Otters’ Dylan Strome was voted the game’s first star for what turned out to be the game-winning goal during the frantic third period.

The Arizona Coyotes chose Strome with the third overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft. The eight-year veteran is currently playing with the Washington Capitals and teammate Alex Ovechkin, who with 826 goals (through Nov. 13) is attempting to break Wayne Gretzky’s career record of 894.

2014

• Nov. 27, 2014: Erie Otters 5, Mississauga Steelheads 1

• Attendance: 4,391

Reserve defenseman Jesse Saban was voted the game’s first star for assists on Erie’s first and fourth goals. The Otters got goals from five different players, all over the first two periods.

Taylor Raddysh scored Erie’s first goal and Darren Raddysh assisted on two others. The brothers are current NHL players.

Taylor Raddysh is in his third season with the Chicago Blackhawks and a teammate of Connor Bedard, who was deemed the best No. 1 overall NHL draft pick since McDavid.

Darren Raddysh, also in his third NHL season, is a defenseman with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2015

• Nov. 26, 2015: Erie Otters 3, Kitchener Ranges 2

• Attendance: 4,415

Alex DeBrincat’s empty-net goal with 2:06 left in regulation, which gave Erie a two-goal advantage, was an afterthought for Otters’ fans.

Until it wasn’t. Kitchener’s Adam Mascherin scored with the teams at even strength less than one minute later.

However, Erie still prevailed in it first holiday game against the Rangers.

Chicago chose DeBrincat in the second round of the 2016 NHL draft. After five seasons, the Blackhawks dealt him to the Ottawa Senators. He returned to an Original Six franchise when the Senators traded him to Detroit ahead of this season.

2016

• Nov. 24, 2016: Erie Otters 5, Sudbury Wolves 2

• Attendance: 4,239

Ivan Lodnia helped stake Erie to an early 3-1 advantage. The Otters’ first round pick in the 2015 OHL draft scored their first goal and assisted on ensuing scores by teammates Kyle Maksimovich and T.J. Fergus.

The Minnesota Wild chose Lodnia in the third round of the 2017 NHL draft, but the right winger never competed for the parent club.

Lodnia could take comfort he played for a Robertson Cup champion. The 2016-17 Otters in Kris Knoblauch’s last season as coach, won it a second time when they defeated Mississauga in the league’s championship series.

2017

• Nov. 23, 2017: Erie Otters 5, Ottawa 67’s 4 SO

• Attendance: 4,369

Ottawa was the reason extra hockey was required. The 67’s tied the score at 4-all with three goals over the last 7½ minutes of regulation.

After a scoreless overtime, it was up to the shootout format to determine a winner.

A marathon shootout, thanks to Erie goalie Troy Timpano and Ottawa’s Cedrick Andree.

Timpano denied Ottawa’s Oliver True to open the sixth round. Erie’s Maxim Golod then ended the drama when he got the puck by Andree for the game-winner.

Although Owen Headrick missed on his shootout attempt, the Erie defenseman was still voted the game’s first star for scoring twice in regulation.

2018

• Nov. 22, 2018: Barrie Colts 7, Erie Otters 5

• Attendance: 3,354

Barrie scored four straight goals in the high-scoring matchup.

Ben Hawerchuk, son of Colts coach and Hockey Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk, scored twice on the power play.

Dale Hawerchuk, who coached Barrie from 2010-2019, stepped down for health reasons that were later determined to be stomach cancer. He died in 2020 at age 57.

Gera Poddubnyi scored Erie’s fourth and fifth goals.

2019

• Nov. 28, 2019: Kitchener Rangers 5, Erie Otters 4 SO

• Attendance: 3,296

Officially, Kitchener goalie Jacob Ingham recorded 32 saves. However, it was the three he made in the shootout format that were the difference for the Rangers.

Ingham stopped one-on-one shots by Erie’s Dan Singer, Austen Swankler and Daniel D’Amato. Liam Hawel was responsible for Kitchener’s decisive goal against the Otters’ Aidan Campbell.

Erie lost despite two goals by Maxim Golod. Each were assisted by defenseman Jamie Drysdale, who’s currently in his fourth season with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.

2020

• 2020: No game. COVID-19 forced the OHL to cancel the end of its 2019-2020 regular season and playoffs, plus its entire 2020-21 season.

2021

• 2021: No game. Erie Insurance Arena was idle on Thanksgiving for a second straight year because of scheduling issues.

However, the Otters did play at home before and after the holiday.

Erie, aided by two goals from Brendan Hoffmann, scored five straight times for its 5-3 victory vs. Sault Ste. Marie. The Otters weren’t as fortunate on Black Friday, when Guelph won 3-2.

2022

• Nov. 24, 2022: Erie Otters 4, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 2

• Attendance: 3,374

Erie won via a trio of third-period goals, two by Elias Cohen and one by Brett Bressette.

Two days later, the Otters lost the first of 11 consecutive games. They only won once more during the 2022 portion of their schedule.

Erie coach B.J. Adams was fired on Jan. 9. His official replacement, Stan Butler, took over a month later.

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Otters have long made Thanksgiving hockey a holiday tradition