24/11/2023
1931
On March 27th, the Springfield Indians and Boston Bruin Cubs played in the Coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition, with nearly 6,000 in attendance. The game was the first of a series of seven in the Cam-Am series to determine who would win the Henri Fontaine trophy. Springfield’s mayor, Dwight R. Winter, dropped the puck on the first faceoff. This was between Eddie Burke of the Cubs, and Gene Carrigan of the Indians. The Indians had scored two goals during the first period, but the Bruin Cubs tied the game after a goal in both the second and third period. “Teddy” Saunders and Gene Carrigan scored the Indians goals. After regulation, the game was tied 2-2.
The game went into overtime, first with a 10 minute overtime period. After neither team scored, the game continued into four sudden death sessions, which were 20 minutes each. Still, neither team had scored a goal. The game continued into a second 10 minute overtime period. The game was eventually declared a tie, after players on both teams had begun to show signs of exhaustion, and mutually agreed on ending the game. By the time the game was called, it was about 2 a.m. Overall, it lasted a total of 160 minutes, a total of nearly three regular games.
The Springfield Indians would go on to win the series, their third championship in five years.
Source: Springfield Republican (March 28th, 1931)
27/11/2019
Went up against NHL teams and didn’t lose!
Very sad to report the passing of a Springfield Indians legend.
Bill McCreary -a member of the Springfield Hockey Hall of Fame- played four seasons with the Indians (1958-59 - 1961-62), and in that time won three Calder Cups as part of the greatest dynasty in AHL history. In 275 regular season games with Springfield he scored 93 goals, 168 assists, for 261 points.
Bill passed away Monday, he was 84.
I had the pleasure to talk to Mr. McCreary a few years back, and asked him if it was true that the Indians played exhibition games against the NHL's Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers back in the day.
His response was, "Yeah, we played them... and we never lost." He was right; as the worst that Springfield powerhouse did against the NHL's best, was a tie game.
Rest in Peace, Bill McCreary.
03/06/2018
Hockeyday is quickly approaching! Tickets are now available online at hockeyspringfield.org.
Pulled this from a Springfield Kings 1974 program...three of the six are already confirmed. Hartland Monahan and Tim Jabobs will be returning, and Paul Shakes will be making the trek down from Waterloo, Ontario to join us for his first Hockeyday!
Come on out on Saturday, July 28th for this lunch with the legends!
05/01/2018
In case you needed more motivation to go...https://www.facebook.com/thunderbirdsahl/posts/2439078142983256
In honor of Snoop Dogg's tribute to our Indians' jersey, the MassMutual Center is providing $5 Gin & Juice for Blast From The Past Night!
Tickets >> http://bit.ly/2m21qMi
27/03/2016
From Springfield Hockey Heritage Society:
In the 1957-58 NHL season, history was made when Willie O'Ree became the first black player in NHL history.
Not many hockey fans are aware though, that Willie began the 1957-58 campaign with none other than our Springfield Indians.
Here's a program and line-up from opening night, October 9, 1957, featuring # 16, Bill O'Ree.
I had the pleasure to speak with the always classy Mr. O'Ree last Sunday. And let it be known, albeit very, very early, he is well aware of "Hockeyday 2016", and genuinely hopes to be here for this great weekend in Springfield.
20/05/2015
From Springfield Hockey Heritage Society: 25 years ago - May 18,1990 the Calder Cup was won by our Indians.
25 years ago - May 18,1990 the Calder Cup was won by our Indians. Thanks to David Losaw for the photos.
09/02/2015
Today would have been former center and player-coach Doug McMurdy's 89th birthday. You were one of the greats. Happy birthday!
http://www.hockeyspringfield.org/index.php/springfield-hockey-hall-of-fame/37-players/101-doug-mcmurdy.html
27/01/2015
http://wwlp.com/2015/01/24/falcons-honor-74-75-calder-cup-team/
Great to see the Springfield Indians' legacy is still alive today!
Falcons honor ’74-75 Calder Cup team
Before the game, a ceremony was held to honor the player of the 1974-1975 Springfield Indians Calder Cup team.
30/06/2014
http://www.amazon.com/Eddie-Shore-that-Old-Time-Hockey-ebook/dp/B00457X8JY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404139803&sr=1-1&keywords=eddie+shore
This book came out a few years ago. Might be an interesting read for anyone trying to demystify the legend of Eddie Shore, longtime owner of the Springfield Indians.
Eddie Shore and that Old-Time Hockey
Eddie Shore was the Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb of hockey, a brilliant player with an unmatched temper. Emerging from the Canadian prairie to become a member of the Boston Bruins in 1926, the man from Saskatchewan invaded every circuit in the NHL like a runaway locomotive on a downgrade. Hostile fans t...