Springfield Thunderbirds

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. Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Thunderbirds play their home games at the MassMutual Center.

Springfield Thunderbirds
2021–22 AHL season
CitySpringfield, Massachusetts
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionAtlantic
Founded1975 (In the NAHL)
Home arenaMassMutual Center
ColorsRed, navy blue, sky blue, white, gold
         
Owner(s)Springfield Hockey, LLC.
General managerKevin McDonald
Head coachDrew Bannister
MediaThe Springfield Republican
WHYN NewsRadio 560
CBS 3, 22 News
ABC 40
AHL.TV (Internet)
AffiliatesSt. Louis Blues (NHL)
Franchise history
1975–1982Erie Blades
1982–1993Baltimore Skipjacks
1993–2016Portland Pirates
2016–presentSpringfield Thunderbirds
Current uniform

History

In May 2016, following the relocation of the Springfield Falcons to Tucson, Arizona, after the team was sold to the Arizona Coyotes, the AHL's Portland Pirates were sold to a Springfield-based group who relocated the franchise to Springfield for the 2016–17 season.[1][2]

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.[3] 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' 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.[4] 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.[5] 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 Bases.[6]

The Thunderbirds played their first game on October 15, 2016, a 4–2 loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Anthony Greco scored the first goal in team history.[7] On October 22, 2016, the Thunderbirds played their home opener, a 5–4 win, against the St. John's IceCaps. 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.[8] 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 served as the host of the event.[9] 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 of the NHL starting from the 2020–21 season.[10] 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 was announced as the second head coach in team history coming from the Blues' previous affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. 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.[11]

The market was previously home to:

Season-by-season results
Regular Season Playoffs
Season Games Won Lost OTL SOL Points PCT Goals
for		 Goals
against		 Standing Year 1st
round		 2nd
round		 3rd
round		 Finals
2016–177632339275.4931972066th, Atlantic2017Did not qualify
2017–187632375271.4672102337th, Atlantic2018Did not qualify
2018–197633299580.5262502417th, Atlantic2019Did not qualify
2019–206131273065.5331901865th, Atlantic2020Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21Did not participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021Did not participate
2021-227542246393.6202302212nd, Atlantic2022First Round Bye

Players

Current roster

Updated April 24, 2022.[12]

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
17 Nikita Alexandrov C L 21 2021 Burgwedel, Germany Blues
7 Sam Anas RW R 28 2021 Potomac, Maryland Blues
20 Mitchell Balmas C L 23 2022 Sydney, Nova Scotia Thunderbirds
41 Will Bitten RW R 23 2022 Ottawa, Ontario Blues
77 Drew Callin C R 27 2021 Middleton, Wisconsin Thunderbirds
21 Peter Crinella F L 25 2021 East Longmeadow, Massachusetts Thunderbirds
4 Tommy Cross (C) D L 32 2021 Simsbury, Connecticut Blues
30 Joel Hofer G L 22 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Blues
16 Dakota Joshua C L 25 2021 Dearborn, Michigan Blues
28 Tanner Kaspick C L 24 2021 Brandon, Manitoba Blues
82 Matt Kessel D R 21 2022 Scottsdale, Arizona Thunderbirds
24 Klim Kostin C L 22 2022 Penza, Russia Blues
18 Mathias Laferriere RW R 21 2021 Montreal, Quebec Blues
39 Charlie Lindgren G R 28 2021 Lakeville, Minnesota Blues
25 Griffin Luce D L 24 2021 Williamsville, New York Thunderbirds
37 Brady Lyle D R 22 2022 North Bay, Ontario Blues
11 Hugh McGing C L 23 2021 Chicago, Illinois Blues
81 James Neal LW L 34 2022 Whitby, Ontario Blues
63 Matthew Peca C L 29 2021 Petawawa, Ontario Blues
14 Steven Santini (A) D R 27 2021 Mahopac, New York Blues
29 Nathan Todd C R 26 2021 Kemptville, Ontario Blues
5 Tyler Tucker D L 22 2021 Longlac, Ontario Blues
27 Keean Washkurak C L 20 2021 Kitchener, Ontario Blues
22 Josh Wesley D R 26 2021 Hartford, Connecticut Thunderbirds
21 Luke Witkowski D R 32 2022 Holland, Michigan Blues

Team captains

Retired numbers

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, 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.

Team records

As of 2021–22 season.[13]

Single season
Goals: Anthony Greco, 30 (2018–19)
Goals by a Rookie: Owen Tippett, 19 (2019-20)
Power Play Goals: Nathan Walker, 10 (2021–22)
Short Handed Goals: Anthony Greco, 6 (2017–18)
Assists: Sam Anas, 43 (2021–22)
Points: Sam Anas, 63 (2021–22)
Penalty Minutes: Sena Acolatse, 147 (2016–17)
Appearances by a Goalie: Samuel Montembeault, 41 (2017–18)
GAA: Adam Wilcox 2.02 (2016–17)
SV%: Adam Wilcox (2016–17), Chris Driedger 2019-20, .932
Shutouts: Harri Sateri, 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
  1. "Portland Pirates to leave Maine and move to Springfield, MA". WCSH. May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "American Hockey League Announces Franchise Transaction". OurSports Central. May 23, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. Michalski, Jessica (June 5, 2016). "The investors of Springfield's new hockey team revealed". Western Mass News. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  4. "Kinnear named coach of Florida's AHL affiliate". American Hockey League. June 7, 2016. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  5. Pignatello, Jim (June 8, 2016). "Springfield AHL team names city native Nathan Costa as Executive VP; Bruce Landon to serve as consultant". The Republican. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  6. Pignatiello, Jim (June 15, 2016). "Springfield Thunderbirds announced as name, mascot of city's AHL franchise". The Republican. Retrieved June 15, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. "Greco, Hunt Tally in Losing Effort to Phantoms". Springfield Thunderbirds. October 15, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. "Sellout Crowd Witnesses Classic Comeback Win in OT". Springfield Thunderbirds. October 22, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. Ryan, Conor (February 17, 2018). "Springfield Thunderbirds to host 2019 AHL All-Star Classic". The Republican. Retrieved February 17, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. "Thunderbirds announce new partnership with Blues". American Hockey League. March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. "28 teams to participate in 2020-21 AHL season". American Hockey League. January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  12. "Springfield Thunderbirds Roster". Springfield Thunderbirds. Retrieved April 24, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. "Springfield Thunderbirds Elite Prospects". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
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