Portland Pirates

In 1993, the Baltimore Skipjacks made a significant move to Portland, Maine, where they underwent a transformation and became known as the Portland Pirates. The Portland Pirates took to the ice for the first time during the 1993-94 season, immediately making a remarkable entrance by winning the Calder Cup.

Although they couldn't clinch another championship throughout their AHL journey, the Portland Pirates maintained a consistent presence in the Calder Cup playoffs, making it to the postseason in 15 out of the 22 seasons following their impressive debut. In both 2006 and 2008, they reached the Eastern Conference Finals but fell short in the championship series, losing to the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in those respective years.

Over the course of their existence, the team formed affiliations with various NHL clubs, including the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Arizona Coyotes, and finally, the Florida Panthers. These affiliations saw a multitude of future hockey stars pass through Portland, including notable names such as Brendan Witt, Richard Zednik, Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry, Brooks Laich, Olaf Kolzig, Andrew Brunette, Bryan Dafoe, and coach Barry Trotz.

Unfortunately, after a successful 22-year run in Portland, the team made an unexpected decision to relocate to Springfield, Massachusetts. Surprisingly, even after the team was sold and rebranded as the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2016 upon moving to Springfield, Illinois, their affiliation with the Florida Panthers remained intact.