West Springfield, Massachusetts



West Springfield is a city of about 28,000 people in western Massachusetts, United States. It is a part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area.

Until the 1990's, this city housed the headquarters of the American Hockey League, which is now housed in neighboring Springfield.

The Eastern States Coliseum was home to the Springfield Indians franchise for much of their existance until the Springfield Civic Center (now MassMutual Center) opened in 1972

West Springfield hosted the AHL All Star Game during the 1959-1960 AHL season, which was held in December 10, 1959.

Teams

 * Hartford Whalers (NHL, 1979-1980) return to Hartford, on January 17, 1980, when repairs to Hartford Civic Center roof are completed, was used as a back up facility to the Springfield Civic Center
 * New England Blades (EHL, 1972-1973) fold with league
 * New England Whalers (WHA, 1973-1975) tremporary home while awaiting completion of Hartford Civic Center
 * Springfield Indians
 * 1) (Canadian-American Hockey League, 1926-1933) folded 13 games into season
 * 2) (Canadian-American Hockey League, 1935-1936) joins IAHL
 * 3) (International-American Hockey League, 1936-1940) see AHL
 * 4) (AHL, 1940-1942) suspend operations until the end of the war due to arena being used for war effort
 * 5) (AHL, 1946-1951) become Syracuse Warriors, moved back in 1954
 * 6) (Eastern Amateur Hockey League, 1951-1953) join Quebec Hockey League
 * 7) (Quebec Hockey League, 1953-1954) disbanded when Syracuse Warriors come back to Springfield
 * 8) (AHL, 1954-1967) renamed Kings when affiliation changes
 * Springfield Kings (AHL, 1967-1972) Springfield Civic Center opens


 * American International Yellow Jackets (Atlantic Hockey, 1998-Present)

Arenas

 * Olympia Ice Center (1998-Present)
 * The Big E Coliseum, (1926-Present) also known asEastern States Coliseum, facility no longer has ice making capability