Springfield Falcons
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
| Springfield Falcons | |
| |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Home ice | MassMutual Center |
| Based in | Springfield |
| Colours | Blue, black, yellow, grey and white |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Head coach | Dirk Graham |
| General manager | Bruce Landon |
| Owner | ProFriends, Inc. |
The Springfield Falcons are the American Hockey League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning, based in Springfield, Massachusetts. They play their home games at the MassMutual Center, formerly the Springfield Civic Center.
In 1994, the longtime AHL Springfield Indians team was sold to interests that moved the franchise to Worcester, Massachusetts, to become the Worcester IceCats. Ex-Indian players Bruce Landon, then the general manager of the Indians, and Wayne LaChance, a local rink owner, secured an expansion franchise for Springfield for the 1994-1995 season. The Indians name was still under trademark, so the new owners named the team after Andy and Amelia, a pair of nesting peregrine falcons that was a popular local civic symbol. The Falcons secured affiliation with both the Hartford Whalers and the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL, keeping continuity with the Whalers' affiliation of the previous few years. Veteran defenseman John Stevens (who shared the co-captaincy that first year with Rob Murray) scored the franchise's first goal.
Among the Falcons' notable players have included Jean-Guy Trudel, the franchise's leading career goal and point scorer; Daniel Briere, a current NHL star with the Buffalo Sabres; Manny Legace, the franchise's all-time leading goaltender and Detroit Red Wings starter; and Rob Murray, the franchise's long-time captain and inspirational leader, and current assistant coach for the Providence Bruins. During the 2003-2004 season, Springfield fans voted on the Web for the team's 10th Anniversary Team, and selected Briere at center, Trudel at left wing, Tavis Hansen at right wing, Brad Tiley and Dan Focht on defense, and Legace in goal.
The team has finished in first place in its division twice and made the playoffs six times in its eleven seasons. It has subsequently been affiliated with the Phoenix Coyotes, and starting this past season, with the Lightning.
Team Records
- Goals: John LeBlanc, 39, 1995
- Assists: Jean-Guy Trudel, 65, 2001
- Points: Trudel, 99, 2001
- Penalty Minutes: Rob Murray, 373, 1995
- GAA: Manny Legace, 2.27, 1996
- Career Goals: Trudel, 90
- Career Assists: Murray, 157
- Career Points: Trudel, 242
- Career Penalty Minutes: Murray, 1529
- Career Goaltending Wins: Scott Langkow, 63
- Career Shutouts: Legace, 8
- Career Games: Murray, 501
| American Hockey League | 
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| 2004-05 teams: Albany River Rats | Binghamton Senators | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | Chicago Wolves | Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | Cleveland Barons | Edmonton Roadrunners | Grand Rapids Griffins | Hamilton Bulldogs | Hartford Wolf Pack | Hershey Bears | Houston Aeros | Lowell Lock Monsters | Manchester Monarchs | Manitoba Moose | Milwaukee Admirals | Norfolk Admirals | Philadelphia Phantoms | Portland Pirates | Providence Bruins | Rochester Americans | San Antonio Rampage | Springfield Falcons | St. John's Maple Leafs | Syracuse Crunch | Utah Grizzlies | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | Worcester IceCats | |
| Trophies and Awards: Calder Cup | |
