The Thunder are members of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and are eligible to compete for the Doyle Cup and National Junior A Championship.

[2] In 1998, The Drayton Valley Thunder were awarded as an expansion franchise in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL)[3] and began play in the South Division for the 1998–99 season.

One year after finishing sixth in the South, ahead of only their fellow expansion team Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves, the Thunder improved in their second season and won the division.

In 2002, the Thunder captured the Rogers Wireless Cup as AJHL champions.

[4] The Thunder lost to the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in the Doyle Cup Pacific Junior A Championship.