Springfield, MA – The Springfield Thunderbirds will receive another rising prospect in the Florida Panthers' system, as Panthers President of Hockey Operations Dale Tallon announced the team had agreed to terms with defenseman Thomas Schemitsch on a three-year entry level contract on Saturday. The 19-year-old Schemitsch will report to the Thunderbirds.

 

The 6-foot-4 native of Thornhill, Ont. was selected in the third round with the 88th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. 

 

The right-handed defenseman put up strong offensive numbers in his past three Ontario Hockey League seasons with the Owen Sound Attack. Schemitsch scored 29 goals and added 68 assists for 97 points in 182 regular season games with Owen Sound. 

 

In addition to the Schemitsch signing, the Thunderbirds also added to their crop of forwards after the Panthers announced a trade with Montreal that brought forward Tim Bozon to Florida in exchange for defenseman Jonathan Racine. 

 

A native of Lugano, Switzerland, Bozon spent 41 games with the St. John's Ice Caps in 2015-16, scoring five goals and adding three assists. He was a third round selection (64th overall) of the Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft. Like Schemitsch, Bozon will report to Springfield. 

 

The Thunderbirds will round out their preseason slate tonight in a matchup with the Hartford Wolf Pack beginning at 7:05 p.m. ET at the MassMutual Center.

 

Springfield sits a week away from its first-ever AHL game on Saturday, Oct. 15 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Allentown, Pa. at 7:05 p.m. ET. Coverage can be heard on NewsRadio 560 WHYN as well as on AHL Live. 

 

The Thunderbirds will open MassMutual Center play on Saturday, Oct. 22 for Opening Night presented by MGM Springfield against the St. John's Ice Caps. Preceding the game is the T-Birds Tailgate from 4-6 p.m. at Court Square, adjacent to the MassMutual Center. 

Opening Night packs are available, courtesy of Dunkin’ Donuts, for the first regular season home game in Thunderbirds history. Packages start at $75 and feature two Opening Night tickets, four ticket vouchers, a commemorative puck, and a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card.

Interested in being part of the next era of AHL hockey in Springfield? Springfield Thunderbirds Season Ticket Memberships start as low as $12 per game and feature the most exclusive benefits, including a commemorative jersey. For more information, fans may call the Thunderbirds ticket office at (413) 739-GOAL (4625).