Western New York Thundersnow

The Western New York Thundersnow were a basketball team based in Niagara Falls, New York. The team was a member of the Premier Basketball League for the 2015–16 season, and the American Basketball Association for the 2016–17 season.

Western New York Thundersnow

Short name	WNY Thundersnow
Founded	2015; 9 years ago (2015)
Folded	2017; 7 years ago (2017)
League	PBL 2015–2016 ABA 2016–2017
Division	Northeast
Based in	Niagara Falls, New York
Arena	Niagara-Wheatfield High School 2015–2016 Niagara Catholic High School 2016–2017
Colors	Violet, white
Owner	Donald Felice
Head coach	Steve Mackey 2015–2016 Terrell Holland 2016 Donald Felice 2016 Jody Crymes 2016–2017
General manager	Terrell Holland 2015–2016
Overall record	8–23 (.258)

History

2015–16: Franchise acquisition and inaugural season

Donald Felice acquired a Premier Basketball League (PBL) franchise for Niagara County, New York in July 2015.^[1] It was the third PBL franchise in the region's history, following the Buffalo Stampede and Buffalo 716ers.

Felice had worked two seasons in the PBL as general manager for Tawan Slaughter's Buffalo 716ers before leaving to form his own team.^[2]

The inaugural Thundersnow game at Niagara-Wheatfield High School saw them lose to Tawan Slaughter's other PBL team, the Chautauqua Hurricane, by a score of 118–119.^[2]

Following a second home loss to the Buffalo 716ers that left the team at 0–2, Donald Felice fired head coach Steve Mackey.^[3] Felice then promoted general manager Terrell Holland to head coach, but he was also fired after several games.^[4]

Despite having no prior experience in coaching, Donald Felice took over head coaching duties himself for the remainder of the season.^[4]

The team finished with a 1–14 record and failed to make the playoffs.^[5]

2016–17: Move to ABA and final season

It was announced in July 2016 that the team had left the Premier Basketball League and would join the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the 2016–17 season.^[6] It was the third ABA franchise in the region's history, following the Buffalo Sharks and Buffalo Blue Hawks.

Jody Crymes was hired as the team's new head coach, and the team moved to its home games to Niagara Catholic High School.^[4]

The team finished with a 7–9 record and failed to make the playoffs.^[7]

Jermaine Sharpe was named to the 2017 ABA All-Star Team after leading the team in rebounding.^[7][8] Jonny Marsh led the team in both scoring and assists.^[8]

Tryouts for a third season were advertised in September 2017, but the team folded soon after.^[9]

Season-by-season record

League champions

Conference champions

Division champions

Playoff berth

Season	Conference	Finish	Division	Finish	Wins	Losses	Win%	GB	Playoffs	Awards	Head coach	Ref.
2015-16	—	—	Northeast	7th	1	14	.067	—	Did not qualify.		Steve Mackey Terrell Holland Donald Felice	^[5]
2016-17	—	—	Northeast	6th	7	9	.438	—	Did not qualify.	Jermaine Sharpe (All-Star)	Jody Crymes	^[7]

Game log

2015–2016

Regular season

2015–16 game log Total: 1–14 (Home: 5–3; Road: 2–7)
January: 1–5 (home: 1–2; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 January 9 Chautauqua L 118–119 Boris Calhoun Jr. (27) Niagara-Wheatfield High School 0–1 2 January 10 Buffalo L 90–106 Maurice Greene (16) Niagara-Wheatfield High School 0–2 3 January 15 @ Jamestown L 99–120 Jamestown Community College 0–3 4 January 16 @ Buffalo L 83–109 Burt Flickinger Center 0–4 5 January 23 Jamestown W 136–134 Boris Calhoun Jr. (33) Niagara Catholic High School 1–4 6 January 31 @ Providence L 107–123 Johnson & Wales University 1–5
February: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 7 February 13 Rochester L 89–131 Niagara Catholic High School 1–6 8 February 20 @ Jamestown L 101–113 Jamestown Community College 1–7 9 February 25 @ Rochester L 93–128 Blue Cross Arena 1–8
March: 0–5 (home: 0–2; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 10 March 5 New England L Kiernan Recreation Center 1–9 11 March 6 @ Chautauqua L 106–120 Dunkirk High School 1–10 12 March 12 @ Buffalo L 96–106 Burt Flickinger Center 1–11 13 March 19 Jamestown L Kiernan Recreation Center 1–12 14 March 20 @ Jamestown L 94–129 Jamestown Community College 1–13
April: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 15 April 10 @ Rochester L 78–128 Blue Cross Arena 1–14

2016–2017

Regular season

2016–17 game log Total: 7–9 (Home: 3–6; Road: 4–3)
November: 1–0 (home: 0–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 27 @ Elmira W 115–112 Family Fitness Center 1–0
December: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 December 3 @ Buffalo W 110–101 Bishop Timon – St. Jude High School 2–0 3 December 4 Elmira W 129–126 Niagara Catholic High School 3–0 4 December 11 Buffalo W 126–107 Niagara Catholic High School 4–0
January: 1–5 (home: 1–3; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 5 January 7 @ Atlantic Coast L 119–128 GymRatz Performance 4–1 6 January 8 Rochester W 116–114 Niagara Catholic High School 5–1 7 January 15 Cleveland L 109–113 Niagara Catholic High School 5–2 8 January 22 Elmira L 105–107 Niagara Catholic High School 5–3 9 January 28 @ Rochester L 129–135 Isaiah Jefferson (37) Thomas P. Ryan, Jr. Community Center 5–4 10 January 29 Steel City L 107–135 Jonny Marsh (32) Jermaine Sharpe (10) Niagara Catholic High School 5–5
February: 1–4 (home: 0–3; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 11 February 2 @ Elmira W 141–131 (OT) Anthony Greene (37) Anthony Greene (12) Anthony Greene (10) Family Fitness Center 6–5 12 February 4 @ Jersey L 117–144 YMCA of Wayne 6–6 13 February 18 Rochester L 112–113 Niagara Catholic High School 6–7 14 February 19 Atlantic Coast L 113–120 Jermaine Sharpe (26) Chuck Brundidge (19) Niagara Catholic High School 6–8 15 February 25 Elmira L 97–143 Niagara Catholic High School 6–9
March: 1–0 (home: 0–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 16 March 4 @ Rochester W Thomas P. Ryan, Jr. Community Center 7–9

References

1. "Pro Basketball: Niagara County getting PBL franchise". The Daily News. July 9, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
2. "Thundersnow give up 70 second half points in inaugural game". Niagara Gazette. January 10, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
3. Meiler, Mike (January 15, 2016). "Thundersnow, coach part ways for a week". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
4. Bronstein, Jonah (September 21, 2016). "Crymes taking over as coach of Thundersnow". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
5. "Premier Basketball League 2016, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. April 25, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
6. "Thundersnow out of PBL". Niagara Gazette. July 24, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
7. "American Basketball Association 2017, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. April 2, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
8. "Live Stats by 805stats.com". 805stats.com. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
9. "Local sports registrations for Sept. 11". Lockport Union-Sun & Journal. September 10, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2024.