Thunderbirds Starting To Find Their Way In Atlantic Division
Returning home to North Andover, Ma. upon being released from the New York Rangers training camp roster, feisty forward Bobby Farnham knew that now entering the American Hockey League (AHL) season with over 320 pro games of experience would place in him the veteran column.
In a league where teams can only dress six 'veteran' players, it was "sitting tight" time back home while waiting to find a good fit with a new organization.
He got a call from an AHL team in his home state of Massachusetts, and in mid-October later signed a professional tryout contract (PTO) with the Springfield Thunderbirds on October 24th - appearing in a few games before being signed to a standard AHL player contract at the end of November.
"It's a great group of guys, a young group of guys," Farnham told Inside AHL Hockey over the weekend about how he's fiiting in with his new team, noting he's playing the same feisty, energy role he has throughout his pro career - now in its sixth year - and also getting special teams minutes.
Things were looking pretty bleak for the Thunderbirds to begin the 2017-18 season, as they lost their first six games out of the gate and dipped to as low as 2-11-1 entering the the second week of November.
Farnham has seen first-hand the early troubles the Thunderbirds have endured, but since the slow start the Thunderbirds have gone 17-10-1 in their last 28 games - including a current five-game win streak which includes a five wins against Atlantic Division teams (Hershey-2, W-B/Scranton, Lehigh Valley and Providence).
Perhaps more impressively, the Thunderbirds won four straight games on the road prior to winning Wednesday night's home matchup with the same Hershey Bears they defeated on the road trip.
"We've been trying to find our identity, and I think we're really starting to so it's been good" Farnham added.
With the recent surge of success, the Thunderbirds have climbed out of last place in the Atlantic Division and are all of a sudden just two games under .500 and two points out of 5th place - inching closer to a top-four finish to qualify for the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs.
"I think consistency is a big thing for us, and I think we're trying to find that more now, Farnham said. "Obviously, when you start the season 2-11 it's a climb and you have to come out of that hole. We've been a lot better job with that lately."
