Springfield Thunderbirds at MassMutual Center
Springfield, Massachusetts, is known for its tradition of professional hockey almost as much as for being the birthplace of basketball and Dr. Seuss. The Thunderbirds play out of the MassMutual Center, which first opened as the Springfield Civic Center in 1972 and was renovated between 2003 and 2005. They play in the Atlantic Division of the American Hockey League, and are the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers. The T-Birds are coached by Geordie Kinnear, who has led the team since the franchise moved from Portland, Maine, in 2016.
Springfield Thunderbirds History
Springfield, Massachusetts, has had a long presence in the American Hockey League dating back to the league's foundation in 1936, to the point where the AHL's headquarters are located in the New England city. The Springfield Indians were a standard-bearer for the AHL under the guidance and ownership of Hall of Famer Eddie Shore, winning seven Calder Cup championships from 1960 to 1991. The Indians moved to Worcester, Mass., in 1994, eventually becoming the Utica Comets, while their replacement, the Springfield Falcons, played at the MassMutual Center until moving to Arizona in 2016 to become the Tucson Roadrunners.
The franchise that became the Springfield Thunderbirds was founded in 1975, as the Erie Blades of the North American Hockey League. The Blades joined the AHL in their final season before merging with the Baltimore Skipjacks in 1982, staying in Charm City as the Washington Capitals' minor league affiliate until moving to Portland, Maine, in 1993. The Portland Pirates' inaugural season ended with the franchise's only Calder Cup championship, behind future Capitals head coach Barry Trotz as well as future Caps players such as Olaf Kolzig and Jim Carey. In 2019, the Springfield Thunderbirds hosted the city's first American Hockey League All-Star Game since 1959, with the North Division beating the Atlantic Division 1-0 in a shootout in the championship game.
