Hockeyday is back on July 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Hockey players and fans from the United States and Canada are set to gather at West Springfield’s Better Living Center in the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds.
The event will celebrate 100 years of professional hockey in Western Massachusetts at the Springfield Hockey Heritage Society’s annual “Hockeyday” on July 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for members of the heritage society and $18 for non-members, available at hockeyday2026.eventbrite.com or in-person at West Springfield’s Steve’s Sports, 94 Front St.
The Springfield Hockey Heritage Society is a nonprofit that strives to “preserve the history of hockey in Springfield,” according to a press release.
Hockey in Western Massachusetts dates back to 1926 when the Springfield Indians, named after the Springfield-based Indian Motorcycle Company, began playing for the American Hockey League at the Eastern States Coliseum.
“Hockeyday” will take place just a building away from the Coliseum, and features raffles, an auction for hockey-memorabilia and non-hockey related items, cornhole and other games, vintage jersey and equipment displays and exclusive merchandise and apparel with past Springfield hockey logos.
Former Springfield Kings player Mike Corrigan said in the release that the event grows each year and includes more former professional players coming back to reminisce on their Springfield playing days. The Springfield Indians temporarily rebranded to the Kings from 1967-1975.
“The Springfield Hockey Heritage Society really cares about preserving the history of hockey in Springfield and it shows,” Corrigan said in the release. “This gathering is first-class all the way.”
Springfield Hockey Heritage Society Executive Director Steve Bordeaux said around 20 former Springfield players will be in attendance to share stories and sign autographs. He added that the Springfield Thunderbirds’ team bus will be there, along with mascots from the Thunderbirds and possibly the Worcester Railers.
“It’s a good day, all in all,” Bordeaux said. “Just lots of stuff going on … The Springfield Thunderbirds bring their inflatable shooting game, there is cornhole for the kids and whomever to play.”
The event is going back to Springfield hockey’s roots, and Bordeaux said the heritage society found the family of a player from the 1926 Springfield Indians and invited them to the event.
“There was one player on the 1926 team, his name was [Henry ‘Buddy’ Maracle],” Bordeaux said. “We’ve actually tracked down his descendants up in St. Catherines, Ontario, and we’re bringing four of his descendants down. They couldn’t be more excited to come down and see where Buddy played 100 years ago. I think that’s gonna be super special for them and for us.”
He added that the heritage society is just trying to have a great event for its attendees.
“It’s more about the people that want to go and be part of it, that they have a good time,” Bordeaux said. “We’re behind the scenes putting it all together, and it could get stressful and it does get stressful, but it’s more about the people having a good time.”
More information on the heritage society can be found at hockeyspringfield.org.
