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. 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,…