The Thunderhawks were founded in 2009 and are the namesake of the Fort Frances Borderland Thunder, a former local team that played in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.

The expansion of the Thunderhawks into the Northwestern Ontario region puts them in direct competition with the already established Kenora Thistles and the 2005 Allan Cup Champion Thunder Bay K&A Twins.

At the event they honoured local Senior history with an opening ceremony celebrating the 1952 Allan Cup victory by the Fort Frances Canadians.

Also, the Thunderhawks were awarded the Renwick Cup as Ontario Senior hockey champions over the Dundas Real McCoys for advancing further in the tournament.

The team was believed to be sold to a retirement community in South Florida for the start of the 2012-13 season according to veteran player/coach Reg Dunlop.