Meet the Thunderbirds

As a new season approaches, so does the beginning of the Blues' affiliation with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League.
Originally announced
back in March 2020, this will be the first season that prospects will report to the Thunderbirds after they opted out of the 2020-21 AHL season due to COVID-19. Before any prospects are assigned to Springfield, however, let's get to know a little about the Blues' new (but not so new) affiliate.

There's a rich history of hockey in Springfield, Mass. dating back to 1926. The Springfield Indians were one of the founding members of the AHL and preceded the Springfield Falcons, who were active from 1994-2016. After the Falcons were relocated to Tucson, local business owners in Springfield banded toegther to bring the then-Portland Pirates to their community. In honor of the prominent Air Force presence in the region, the team was dubbed the Thunderbirds.

Fast Facts:

Just like the Blues, Springfield opens their season on Oct. 16. Fans can keep up with their favorite prospects via the Thunderbirds' website, social media channels or AHLTV.

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