Thompson named CCM/AHL Player of the Week

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The American Hockey League announced today that Springfield Thunderbirds forward Paul Thompson has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 12, 2017.

In three games with the Thunderbirds last week, Thompson recorded four goals and an assist to help the team to three consecutive victories.

On Friday night in Syracuse, Thompson scored a goal and assisted on the game-winner with 1:45 left in regulation as the Thunderbirds rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Crunch. On Saturday, Thompson helped Springfield erase a two-goal deficit by scoring twice – including the go-ahead goal in the third period – en route to a 5-2 win over Hartford. And on Sunday, Thompson netted the 100th goal of his AHL career to help secure a 2-0 Thunderbirds win over Rochester.

A sixth-year pro out of the University of New Hampshire, Thompson leads the Thunderbirds with 15 goals and has added 14 assists for 29 points in 36 AHL games this season. He also has three assists in 21 National Hockey League contests with the Florida Panthers in 2016-17. The native of Methuen, Mass., has registered 100 goals and 91 assists for 191 points in 365 career AHL outings, and participated in the AHL All-Star Classic in 2015. Thompson made his NHL debut with New Jersey last season, appearing in three games with the Devils.

In recognition of his achievement, Thompson will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Thunderbirds home game.

Amerks shut out in Springfield

The Rochester Americans (24-34-0-2) were unable to get anything past goaltender Adam Wilcox, who stopped all 26 shots he faced to pick up his second shutout of the season while leading the Springfield Thunderbird (25-26-8-2) to a 2-0 win Sunday afternoon at the MassMutual Center. The two clubs are now tied at 1-1-0-0 in the season series, with two more games left to play later this month.

Goaltender Linus Ullmark, who has started 18 of the last 20 games for Rochester, stopped 24 of 26 in the losing effort. The second-year netminder owns a record of 22-23-2 on the season. Defensemen Tyson Strachan and Brady Austin tied for the team lead with three shots on goal each.

The scoring was provided by Anthony Greco and Thunderbirds goal-scoring leader Paul Thompson, both of whom notched four goals in three games while helping Springfield complete the weekend sweep. Wilcox, acquired by the parent Florida Panthers at the NHL trade deadline, was perfect in stopping all 26 shots to record his first shutout as a Thunderbird and first since a 25-save effort as a member of the Syracuse Crunch back on Dec. 3, which was also against Rochester.

Just over halfway through the first stanza, Taylor Fedun was sent to the penalty box for hooking and Springfield would capitalize with the man-advantage. Greco received a pass from Kyle Rau off the right wing boards and one-timed the offering past Ullmark to put the Thunderbirds up 1-0 at the 11:15 mark. Greco’s 11th goal of the season was the lone tally until three minutes into the final period.

The teams traded power-play opportunities during a scoreless second period as both netminders combined for 17 saves, including 10 from Ullmark.

Springfield added some insurance early in the third period when Thompson and Dryden Hunt streaked down the ice on a two-on-one fast break. Hunt fired the initial shot, which was stopped by Ullmark, but the rebound sat in the crease, where Thompson tapped it home for his 15th goal on the season to seal the 2-0 win.

Wilcox stood tall for the duration of the contest as Rochester was shutout for the second time in its last five games.

Springfield Thunderbirds to make AHL debut in 2016-17

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

SPRINGFIELD, MA -- Springfield Thunderbirds team officials announced their new team name through a pulsating two-minute video on their arena’s state of the art LED scoreboard on Wednesday.

The Thunderbirds will make their debut AHL season in 2016-17.

“The Springfield Thunderbirds’ name represents the strength and pride of western Massachusetts. It is a nod to our hockey past, a tribute to the men and woman of the Air Force who are so vital to this region, and a symbol of the new energy and spirit that is palpable in Springfield,” said Nathan Costa, the Thunderbirds Executive Vice-President.