SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) — Nearly 2,500 students attended the Thunderbirds Student Day game Wednesday morning and turned the arena into an educational experience that combined sports with science.
“I was excited because I always like field trips. I don’t want to have class,” said Springfield student Elizabeth Espinal.
For other students, the experience was entirely new. Misael Berrios attended his first hockey game during the field trip. “It was fun, I like how they’re playing, it’s fun, it’s a cool game,” he said.
The event included more than just watching hockey. Each student received a book bag and workbook as part of the educational programming. “We work with Springfield Public Schools on the curriculum with that and, throughout the game, we have our guys on the big screen, so there going through the workbook throughout the game,” said Springfield Thunderbirds President Nate Costa.
Costa added that the student attendance created an unusually loud atmosphere that benefited both students and players. “I knew it was going to be loud, but this is my eighth year doing this and, when you walk into the building, it’s like ear piercing loud,” Costa explained.
The Thunderbirds won against the Laval Rockets. Their next game is Friday in Allentown against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
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