Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Falcons set for opening night banner raising

Date: 10/17/2014

SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Falcons kicked-off the 2014-15 season in a battle with the Syracuse Crunch on Oct. 11, coming away with a 3-1 win.

Mike Hoeffel opened scoring for the season with a rebound goal off of Denny Urban’s shot from the right point at the end of the first period. Urban then potted a one-timer on the power play with assists from Dana Tyrell and Sean Collins to give Springfield a 2-0 lead just two minutes into the second.  Roughly 1:30 later, the Crunch solved netminder Anton Forsberg to bring the score to 2-1.

The Falcons struck one more time with a shorthanded empty-net goal from Ryan Craig with just .5 seconds remaining in the game. Lukas Sedlak earned credit for the assist. The goal gave Springfield a 3-1 win and their first two points of the season.

The Falcons return to Syracuse on Oct. 17 for a rematch against the Crunch. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m.

Springfield will then host the Hershey Bears at the MassMutual Center on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. for the home opener presented by MGM Springfield.

The home opener will feature an opening ceremony and the raising of the 2013-14 Northeast Division Championship banner. Additionally, the first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a 2014-15 Northeast Division Champions banner rally towel, courtesy of MGM Springfield.

The Bears dropped their season opener to the Norfolk Admirals, 5-4, on Oct. 11. Kris Newbury had a remarkable night, notching one goal and adding two assists. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer recorded the loss stopping 18 of 23 shots.

The weekend concludes in Bridgeport on Oct. 19 as the Falcons face the Sound Tigers at 3 p.m. The Sound Tigers are coming off a weekend split against the St. John’s IceCaps.

Bridgeport fell 3-2 on Oct. 10, but topped St. John’s 6-3 on Oct. 11.

Kael Mouillierat netted both goals in the first game, but Harry Zolnierczyk leads the team with three points (2 goals, 1 assist). David Leggio and Kevin Poulin split the games in net. Leggio picked up the win, making 21 saves in the 6-3 victory.

The Falcons also recently announced that the Pioneer Valley Credit Union will return as the sponsor for the Goals for Groceries campaign, benefiting the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

For every goal the Falcons score at home during the 2014-15 season, Pioneer Valley Credit Union will donate $10 to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

“We believe in making a positive impact on the community by supporting local businesses and charities,” President/CEO of Pioneer Valley Credit Union Anabela Pereira Grenier said. “Pioneer Valley Credit Union is proud to partner once again with the Springfield Falcons and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in the Goals for Groceries campaign. Staying true to the credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people’ is and always will be the foundation of our commitment and our dedication to delivering to our members, partners and the communities we serve.”

Pioneer Valley Credit Union is a full service not-for-profit financial institution serving members throughout Western Massachusetts since 1923. Helping members to become financially secure by offering some of the best rates around, one-on-one financial education and customized programs designed for every stage of life is the Pioneer Valley Credit Union difference. Their Rewards Checking programs offer rates at eight times the national average.  For more information about Pioneer Valley Credit Union visit PVCU.org or call 733-2800.

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is a hunger-relief nonprofit serving 135,000 individuals at risk of or facing hunger in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. As the leading provider of emergency food that reaches individuals and families with low incomes in the region, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts distributes food to over 300 member agencies, including independent food pantries, meal sites, childcare centers, shelters, and elder care facilities. For more information on the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, visit FoodBankWMA.org.

Ticket packages are on sale now. To reserve your seats, call  739-GOAL (4625) or visit the team office inside the MassMutual Center Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For all the latest Falcons information and updates, follow the back-to-back Northeast Division Champions at www.falconsahl.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/falconsahl and on Twitter (@TheFalconsAHL) using #SPRFalcons.

***

The Springfield Falcons and Pride Stores have partnered for the second annual Pump For Pride on  Oct. 22.

Falcons players will be at the Pride location on 618 N. Main St. in East Longmeadow pumping gas for fans from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Players will also be available for autographs and photographs. All tips raised by the players will be donated to the Springfield Falcons Charitable Foundation in support of the Greater-Springfield community.

Pride is a locally owned, independent chain of fuel stations and markets that is committed to our Western Mass community. In addition to low fuel prices and friendly service, Pride has become known as a destination for coffee, breakfast & lunch. The latest Pride Stores also include beer and wine, full delis and café/bakeries.

The Springfield Falcons Charitable Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of the Springfield Falcons Hockey Club. The mission of the foundation is to enrich the lives of children and families throughout Greater Springfield by promoting awareness of education, exercise and health. The Springfield Falcons Charitable Foundation is committed to bettering the quality of life in the community where we live and work through the contribution of resources and acts of volunteerism.