The Springfield Thunderbirds are a minor league professional
ice hockey team in the
American Hockey League that began play for the
2016–17 season. They are the affiliate of the
National Hockey League's
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the s ...
. Based in
Springfield, Massachusetts, the Thunderbirds play their home games at the
MassMutual Center.
History
In May 2016, following the relocation of the
Springfield Falcons to
Tucson, Arizona
, "(at the) base of the black ill
, nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town"
, image_map =
, mapsize = 260px
, map_caption = Interactive map ...
, after the team was sold to the
Arizona Coyotes, the AHL's
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). Their home arena was the Cross Insurance Arena in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the Baltimore Skipjacks ...
were sold to a Springfield-based group who relocated the franchise to Springfield for the 2016–17 season.
The new owners were a consortium of local business interests seeking to keep hockey in Springfield, and included Paul Picknelly, owner of the Springfield Marriott and member of the family-owning
Peter Pan Bus Lines, as well as several local hotel owners. A team from Springfield has taken the ice in the AHL and its predecessors for all but seven years since 1926, and in every season since 1954.
The Thunderbirds inherited the
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, and initially played their home game ...
' affiliation with the Pirates. The Panthers assigned their assistant general manager, Eric Joyce, to be Springfield's general manager and named
Geordie Kinnear as the new head coach. The Thunderbirds also named
Bruce Landon, the Falcons' and
Indians' longtime president and general manager, as a consultant, while hiring AHL executive Nathan Costa as their executive vice-president in charge of business operations. The team's new name was announced at a press conference on June 15, 2016. Team management explained that Thunderbirds invokes both the
mythological Thunderbird and the
United States Air Force presence in the region, such as the
Barnes and
Westover Air Reserve Base
Westover Air Reserve Base is an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) installation located in the Massachusetts communities of Chicopee and Ludlow, near the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Established at the outset of World War II, today Westo ...
s.
The Thunderbirds played their first game on October 15, 2016, a 4–2 loss to the
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are a professional ice hockey team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The team competes in the American Hockey League (AHL) and serves as the primary development team for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey Lea ...
.
Anthony Greco scored the first goal in team history. On October 22, 2016, the Thunderbirds played their home opener, a 5–4 win, against the
St. John's IceCaps
The St. John's IceCaps were a professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They were members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League (AHL). The team was originally af ...
.
Dryden Hunt scored the first goal on home ice, and
MacKenzie Weegar scored the game-winning goal in overtime in front of a sellout crowd of 6,793. While the inaugural season did not result in a playoff berth, average attendance rose from 3,108 in the Falcons' last season to 4,618 and including three sellouts.
On February 17, 2018, it was announced that the Springfield Thunderbirds and the
MassMutual Center would host the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic and Skills contest, to take place on January 27–28, 2019. This marked the first AHL All-Star Game in Springfield since 1959.
MGM Springfield
MGM Springfield is a hotel and casino complex situated in the heart of Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. Opening on August 24, 2018 in a block of buildings that are historically or culturally influential to Springfield, it ...
served as the host of the event. The Western Conference was victorious in the skills competition, while the Central Division defeated the Atlantic Division in the championship game of the round-robin event. Both events were sold out.
On March 6, 2020, the Springfield Thunderbirds announced a five-year affiliation deal with the
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the s ...
of the NHL starting from the 2020–21 season. The affiliation with Florida did not yield any playoff appearances, but saw a number of players recalled to the NHL. The team had seen attendance rise in each of its four seasons.
Drew Bannister
Drew Bannister (born April 9, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and current coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds in the American Hockey League. He played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Edmonton Oilers, Mighty ...
was announced as the second head coach in team history coming from the Blues' previous affiliate, the
San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. The Rampage was primarily owned by Spurs Sports & Entertainment throughout the team's existence. In 2020, the franchise was s ...
. However, due to the ongoing restrictions during the
COVID-19 pandemic, the Thunderbirds were one of three teams that opted out of the
2020–21 AHL season
The 2020–21 AHL season was the 85th season of the American Hockey League. Due to the ongoing restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season was pushed back to February 5, 2021, and the league championship Calder Cup was n ...
.
In the 2021-22 AHL season, with COVID restrictions lifted and the Thunderbirds having by far their best season, they led the Atlantic Division with a 43-26-4-3 record, with a team record average attendance of 5,375. They made the playoffs for the first time, sweeping the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the AHL affiliates of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Ba ...
and the
Charlotte Checkers
The Charlotte Checkers are a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the American Hockey League (AHL), and are the top minor league aff ...
in the first two rounds before winning the third against the
Laval Rocket
The Laval Rocket (french: Rocket de Laval) are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) as an affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Montreal Canadiens. Based in Laval, Quebec, Canada, the Rocket play t ...
in seven games. In the Thunderbirds' first
Calder Cup Finals appearance, they were defeated by the
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League and are the top minor-league affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the ...
in five games.
The market was previously home to:
*
Springfield Indians (1926–1994)
*
Springfield Falcons (1994–2016)
Season-by-season results
Players
Current roster
Updated January 6, 2023.
Team captains
*
Brent Regner: 2016–2017
*
Paul Thompson: 2018–2020
*
Tommy Cross: 2021–present
Retired numbers
*#2:
Eddie Shore
Edward William Shore (November 23, 1902 – March 16, 1985) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, principally for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League, and the longtime owner of the Springfield Indians of the American ...
*#23:
Rob Murray
''Note: Shore's number was retired by the Springfield Indians, and Murray's by the Springfield Falcons; the Thunderbirds continue to honor both numbers. Former AHL president
Jack Butterfield and vice president Gordie Anziano, longtime Springfield residents, as well as former Indians' general manager and Falcons founder
Bruce Landon, and
Willie O'Ree
Willie Eldon O'Ree (born October 15, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, best known for being the first Black player in the National Hockey League (NHL). O'Ree played as a winger for the Boston Bruins. O'Ree is referred ...
, the first African American to play in the AHL, have been honored with banners raised with the retired numbers.''
Notable alumni
''Players playing at least 100 games in Springfield and 100 games in major leagues.''
*
Josh Brown
*
Bobby Farnham
*
Juho Lammikko
Team records
As of 2021–22 season.
;Single season
:Goals:
Anthony Greco, 30 (2018–19)
:Goals by a Rookie:
Owen Tippett, 19 (2019-20)
:Power Play Goals:
Nathan Walker
Nathan Walker (born 7 February 1994) is a Welsh-born Australian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). Walker, who was born in Wales, grew up in Australia and fi ...
, 10 (2021–22)
:Short Handed Goals: Anthony Greco, 6 (2017–18)
:Assists:
Sam Anas
Sam Anas ( el, Σαμ Ανας; born June 1, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey forward. He currently plays for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL). While growing up in Potomac, Maryland, he attended Landon School. ...
, 44 (2021–22)
:Points: Sam Anas, 64 (2021–22)
:Penalty Minutes:
Sena Acolatse, 147 (2016–17)
:Appearances by a Goalie:
Samuel Montembeault, 41 (2017–18)
:GAA:
Charlie Lindgren
Charlie Lindgren (born December 18, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Playing career
Lindgren began his junior career with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the US ...
2.21 (2021–22)
:SV%:
Charlie Lindgren
Charlie Lindgren (born December 18, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Playing career
Lindgren began his junior career with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the US ...
.925 (2021-22)
:Shutouts:
Harri Sateri
Harri is a given name, and may refer to:
*Guto Harri (born 1966), Welsh former BBC Chief Political Correspondent
*Harri Anne Smith, American Republican member of the Alabama Senate
* Harri Eloranta (born 1963), Finnish biathlete
* Harri Hänninen ...
, 4 (2017–18)
;Career
:Games: 261, Anthony Greco
:Penalty Minutes: 238,
Paul Thompson
:Goaltending Wins: 31,
Samuel Montembeault
:Shutouts: 4 Harri Sateri & Sam Montembeault
:Goals: 85, Anthony Greco
:Assists: 78,
Dryden Hunt
:Points: 157, Anthony Greco
:Power Play Goals: 20,
Dryden Hunt
:Short Handed Goals: 16, Anthony Greco
References
External links
Springfield Thunderbirds Official Website
{{Massachusetts Sports
Florida Panthers minor league affiliates
Ice hockey teams in Massachusetts
Sports teams in Springfield, Massachusetts
Ice hockey clubs established in 2016
2016 establishments in Massachusetts