Thunderbirds raise $28,000 for Rays of Hope at Pink in the Rink

A night built around pink jerseys and a full house delivered a concrete payoff for breast cancer support in Western Massachusetts: the Springfield Thunderbirds and the T-Birds Foundation announced a $28,000 donation to Rays of Hope on June 2. The money came from a live jersey auction and other fundraising tied to the club’s ninth annual Pink in the Rink game, and every dollar will stay in the region to help patients, families and the broader push for a cure.

Thunderbirds president Nathan Costa, vice president of sales and strategy Todd McDonald and managing partner Paul Picknelly presented the check earlier this month at the MassMutual Center, putting a public face on a cause the organization has turned into one of its signature off-ice efforts. The timing mattered too. Pink in the Rink was held March 7, and the announcement gave the team another chance to underline how the event has grown from a themed night into a major fundraiser with a measurable local footprint.

The crowd size tells part of that story. Springfield drew a capacity crowd of 6,793 for the game, extending the Pink in the Rink sellout streak to nine straight years. Since the tradition began in the 2016-17 season, the Thunderbirds have helped raise more than $200,000 for Rays of Hope, a total that makes the event one of the team’s most durable community platforms.

Rays of Hope, founded in 1994, has raised more than $18.2 million overall, and the Thunderbirds’ contribution adds to a campaign that has long depended on regional support. For the AHL club, the annual pink night has become more than a ceremonial stop on the schedule. It is a reminder that an organization’s reach can stretch well beyond the standings, with one jersey auction, one sellout crowd and one check helping translate hockey into direct local impact.