SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The sixth annual School Day Game at the Springfield Thunderbirds was held with more than 6,000 students on Wednesday. NASCAR levies $600,000 in fines and suspends 9 team members for race manipulation ahead of finale The puck dropped at 10:35 a.m. against the Bridgeport Islanders in a sold-out arena at the MassMutual Center. Students across western Massachusetts were able to watch the game and 22News was there to hear the excitement. Maryrenee Lemberg, a teacher at St Mary;'s Parish in Westfield told 22News that it was a great opportunity for her students to connect outside the classroom, "It's really great for our students to be able to get out of the classroom, to have time to communicate with each other and to have a great time  and to see some of the great events that are happening right here in our Springfield area." The Thunderbirds took the win with the final score of 5 to 3 with only 53 seconds left in the game. Because the Thunderbirds won, those who attended can redeem their ticket for the next weekday game. The next home game in Springfield is on Friday, November 15th against Lehigh Valley Phantoms at 7:05 p.m. The Thunderbirds welcome four-legged friends during its Pucks & Paws event to benefit the Foundation for TJO Animals. Dog tickets are $6 and include a T-Birds dog toy. Local News Headlines UMass researchers create new PFAS testing method Illegal burning causes brush fire on College Highway in Southampton Trump made gains in Mass. on path to victory 16-year-old arrested in connection with deadly Springfield shooting on Nursery Street 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.