SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Hockey is back in Springfield! The Thunderbirds took the ice Wednesday night for their first of two preseason games at home. Fans Wednesday night were eager to see their favorite hockey team back on the ice as they get ready for another must-watch season. "It feels fantastic, I've been waiting all summer, been way too long I'm excited," said JoAnne Cardell of Springfield. "It's been a long wait, and we're back and excited, go t-birds," added Jackie Sevinge of Westfield. The Springfield Thunderbirds picked up where they left off as they played their first preseason game against their rival, the Hartford Wolfpack Wednesday night. The T-birds missed the postseason last year following a loss to Hartford in the season finale. "I hope they demolish Hartford wolf pack because I know sometimes they beat us, but I bet we'll beat them," said Bevn Carpenter of Easthampton. President of the Thunderbirds, Nathan Costa told 22News, that the lineup of players is coming along strong this year. "A lot of new faces, it's exciting, there's a lot of new people, a lot of young people I think the fans are going to really enjoy," said Costa. But before the season begins, they'll play two more preseason games. The next game is Friday against the Providence Bruins at the MassMutual Center. They will then travel to Providence to take on the Bruins on Saturday. "I think you know we're in it and are going to do really good this season," expressed Sevinge. The Thunderbird's regular season begins on October 12th, when they face the Laval Rocket.Make sure to get your tickets soon because they are selling fast. Local News Headlines Thunderbirds kicked off their first preseason game Hispanic Heritage Month: HCC hosts cultural Latinx Fiesta Belchertown High School football and field hockey team face off for charity game MassMutual Center’s ‘Taste of the Arena’ previews food options for Thunderbirds games WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.