SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- The Springfield Thunderbirds hit the ice early Monday, facing off against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. This game however came with a fun twist: the ‘Kids Takeover.’

Some young new employees were working the game, scanning tickets and helping sell chuck-a-puck raffle prizes. The Big Y Boomer’s Kids Club also helped run the team’s social media photography.

It’s a special game, with giveaways for fans to enjoy and a postgame full team autograph session.

Western mass news spoke with members of the Kelsey and Ireland team, a partner of the Springfield Thunderbirds offering some of those special giveaways for fans to take part in and enjoy.

Breandan Ireland, a Partner of Springfield Thunderbirds, tells us why they wanted to be a part of Monday night’s takeover game saying, “We’ve been involved in a few different organizations in Springfield with youth programs for a while now and the thunderbirds do a great job with the youth program they had a school night the other day we were a part of and it’s just an awesome environment with the kids.”

Another Partner, Kelsey Thompson, also responds saying, “They’ve done a great job or getting our community just involved all around, kids’ adults’ families everybody.”

We also got the chance to speak with some fans at the event. Ashton Herzog, a young boy attending the event with his father, told us, “It’s just fun because I play hockey myself to see what the pros are doing and take tips.”. His father Jason also chimed in, “We’ve been coming here for years it’s a great venue great team great staff.”

Mondays game also serves as a mass lottery winning weekday; meaning if the t-birds win, fans will be able to redeem their ticket for a free one to the next winning weekday game.

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