The St. Louis Blues have signed a five-year affiliation agreement with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Springfield Thunderbirds.

The agreement will begin with the 2020-21 season.

“We are excited to announce our deal with Springfield and close our search for a new affiliate,” said Blues GM Doug Armstrong. “Springfield is a strong franchise in a city with a rich hockey history. Our partnership will allow us to continue to develop our players and further strengthen our franchise as a whole.”

The Thunderbirds are based in Springfield, Massachusetts.