The St. Louis Blues and Springfield Thunderbirds have introduced an affiliation extension via the 2030-31 season. Of their three seasons because the Blues’ AHL associates, the Thunderbirds have captured the Richard F. Canning Trophy as Jap Convention Champions in 2022, reaching the Calder Cup Finals for the primary time in membership historical past. They misplaced to the Chicago Wolves, the Carolina Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate in 5 video games. Springfield additionally gained the AHL President’s Award as Workforce of the Yr that very same season.
BREAKING NEWS: The Springfield Thunderbirds and @StLouisBlues have introduced the extension of their affiliation via the tip of the 2030-31 season!
🔗: https://t.co/lItIf5qf9g pic.twitter.com/RvM99F5vJm
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) October 4, 2024
Thunderbirds’ President Nathan Costa said “The Blues and Thunderbirds share comparable core values relating to participant and employees improvement and sustaining a deep dedication to their communities. Our collaboration has enabled us to develop our franchise each on the ice and all through the area. We can’t wait to see the subsequent technology of Blues stars hone their abilities in Springfield in entrance of the perfect followers within the AHL.”
Final season, the Thunderbirds had a franchise-record 20 sellout video games, together with a 14-game sellout streak to complete the season. They struggled on the ice, going 30-37-3-2, however had been led by veterans Adam Gaudette, Matthew Peca, and Jakub Vrana, who helped develop the youthful prospects in Zack Bolduc and Zach Dean.
The Blues predict a plethora of prospects to show skilled within the coming seasons, so solidifying their relationship with the Thunderbirds was key. Prospects akin to Dean, Dalibor Dvorsky, Ondrej Kos, Adam Jecho, and David Jiricek are anticipated to see time in Springfield, with Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein, and Jimmy Snuggerud additionally candidates, relying on their improvement.
The Blues start their NHL season on Oct. 8 in opposition to the Seattle Kraken at Local weather Pledge Enviornment. From there, they are going to maintain their dwelling opener on Oct. 15 at Enterprise Middle after they host the Minnesota Wild.
