Thousands of local students turn out for Thunderbirds

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The Thunderdome was rocking as thousands of local students came to support the Springfield Thunderbirds as they hosted their annual School Day Game Tuesday morning.

Team Vice President Todd McDonald said it’s one of the team’s most anticipated events of the season.

“Yeah, it’s been going on for the last, you know, 10 years or so and it’s a day that we look forward to every year,” he said. “We’re really excited about it.”

Over 4,000 students came to see the T-birds take on the Hartford Wolfpack. For some students, it may have been their first hockey game and McDonald says he hopes it won’t be their last.

“That’s important to us. I mean, we want to make an impact on the local community and if it’s somebody’s first game, that’s great,” he said. “We’re glad they can spend it with us and we hope that they come back again.”

Unfortunately, the T-birds weren’t able to get the win for the kids, falling 5-2 to Hartford. They’ll hit the ice again Nov. 20 against the Charlotte Checkers.