T-Birds Turn Troubled Season Around

  Springfield Day 4/2018 - Two convincing pre-season Thunderbird victories were followed by a win to start the season.  The Thunderbirds were flying high. By all accounts there appeared to be “Sunshine In Springfield”. 

At least that’s what the headlines read. 

Fast forward to Day 32/2018 - The Black cloud hanging over The Springfield Thunderbirds was grim. The Team lost their next 11 consecutive games, starting the season with a measly record of 1-11.   

Ryan White, Springfield’s Captain to start the season, was stripped in favour of Adam Pardy.  White, who earned a hefty 1-year $1.7 Million Dollar deal, traded his "C" for an "A", and was also healthy-scratched for one game.

A source close to The Thunderbirds reports  White and other teammates were seen at a Strip Club around 3 AM on game day.  

Hmm... “Strip”-Club.. 

Oh the irony!

The Aftermath

In lieu of their controversies, The Thunderbirds held individual player meetings, followed by a 1 hour closed-door meeting between players, and staff.

Mason Appleton, who started the season -12 with 1 assist in 15 games, was traded.  Guilaume Brisebois, Stefan Matteau, and Trent Frederic were also shipped out of town.  Whether or not those players were involved in the Strip Club Scandal, or anything else for that matter, may never be known.  

Rumours are that it was none other than General Manager Cole Bates who knowingly confronted, or (unknowingly) stumbled upon the players. If so, it would have likely been while Springfield was playing on the road somewhere in the New York area.  The truth to these reports are unknown.

Since starting the season 1-11, Springfield has rallied for an incredible run, winning 18 of their last 23 contests.  Including their last 5 in a row.  They’ve done it by committee; lead by the likes of Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Casey Mittestadt, Henrik Borgstrom, Nick Merkley, Brent Regner, and Eric Comrie.

Recruitments T.J. Tynan and Chad Ruhwedal, both sent down from New Jersey, have also helped the cause.  Jared Coreau, who started slowly, has resurged.  Together, Comrie and Coreau form a dependable duo for the T-Birds.

Moving Forward

As it stands, The T-Birds sit second in the North Division, despite starting way behind the pack.  Coach Bruce Cassidy and his leadership group deserve an immense amount of credit for navigating through a storm of negativity. 

With 41 games left, let’s hope Springfield has flown through the worst of any storm they will see this season. 

Guess they don’t call em The Thunderbirds for nothing!