AHL: Springfield Thunderbirds Name 2025-26 Captains

The Springfield Thunderbirds kick off their season on Saturday at home against the Charlotte Checkers with puck drop at 6:05 PM EDT. Today, the Thunderbirds announced their captains for the 2025-26 season, with the full roster set to be revealed later. Matthew Peca will be the captain again for the third straight season. His assistant captains will be defenseman Corey Shueneman and veteran forward Chris Wagner. Shueneman enters his second season with Springfield, and Wagner joined the team during the offseason.

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Matthew Peca

Peca last season played in 68 games, recording 63 points on 31 goals and 32 assists. He was a plus-one with seven power-play goals, three shorthanded goals, and eight game-winning goals. In 481 career AHL games between the Syracuse Crunch, Laval Rocket, Belleville Senators, and Thunderbirds, he recorded 357 points on 116 goals and 241 assists. He is a career -24 with 30 power-play goals, eight shorthanded goals, and 25 game-winning goals.

Corey Shueneman

Shueneman played 63 games last season, recording 20 points on four goals and 16 assists. He was a plus-eight. In 307 career AHL games with the Stockton Heat, Laval Rocket, Colorado Eagles, and Thunderbirds, he recorded 110 points on 25 goals and 85 assists. He is a career +28 with two power-play goals, a shorthanded goal, and two game-winning goals.

Chris Wagner

Wagner has played in 401 career NHL games over an 11-year career. He’s recorded 66 points on 39 goals and 27 assists. He is a -32 with a power-play goal, four shorthanded goals, and two game-winning goals. In 28 games with the Colorado Avalanche last season, he scored a goal and finished as a minus-eight. In 44 games last season with the Colorado Eagles, he recorded 31 points on 19 goals and 12 assists. He was a plus-seven with seven power-play goals, two shorthanded goals, and an assist. In 428 career AHL games, he’s recorded 209 points on 116 goals and 93 assists. He is a plus-eight with 22 power-play goals, ten shorthanded goals, and 22 game-winning goals.