The Mon Valley Youth Hockey Association began in 1965 when the Rostraver Ice Garden opened.  The organization was the first "new" member of the PAHL, joining the original two associations for a 3-team league.  The Thunder have played at the same rink for the longest tenure in the PAHL, using the same rink for its entire existence as the second-oldest association still in the league.

The Rostraver Ice Garden was purchased in 2022, and new naming rights rebranded the facility as the "CFS Bank Event Center."  The facility has undergone some changes during that time, most notably after a large portion of its wooden ceiling collapsed under the heavy weight of melting snow after a winter storm in February 2010.  The rink reopened with a new outer shell, and in 2017, it became the 2nd PAHL rink to win the NHL's "Kraft Hockeyville USA" contest.  That honor led to many more upgrades at the time, including new lighting, safety netting, and lobby flooring.  The new ownership ensures that the vintage facility will continue to serve the Thunder and the PAHL for many years to come.

John Zeiler logged 90 games for the Los Angeles Kings after molding his game as a young player at the Rostraver Ice Garden with the Mon Valley Thunder.  After college hockey at St. Lawrence University, his pro career spanned 9 seasons in North America and Europe.  Zeiler then returned to the Mon Valley to start a family and enter into the coaching side of the sport with area youth teams.