AHL Hockey Still Thriving In Binghamton, NY

I haven’t done a recap in a while, nor for that matter, a profile series as of late. While it’s been apparent that the team has been losing during this stretch of time during my absence, I have something to say following this latest loss despite only one win to show for in the last 13 games.

There was a hockey game that took place this past weekend. The Binghamton Senators faced off with the visiting Rochester Americans. It was an entertaining affair between the two teams despite the fact that both clubs will be absent for the upcoming post season action that will take place in a few weeks.

Matter of fact, one fan tweeted #ToiletBowl. It may as well been.

What was one-sided ended-up with the Rochester Americans pulling off a dramatic 6-4 comeback victory with three goals by ex-Sens forward Derek Grant. It was a gut-wrenching loss in front of the home fans, but on the other-hand, it was an entertaining affair between two teams heading no where in a post-season promise that was otherwised witnessed in less than a dozen seats short of a sellout.

This was a game that should have been in the bag against one of the worst teams in the league, and yet, it didn’t happen. The defense failed, the goaltending failed, and the result was, in front of a near capacity crowd, another strike in the loss column.

Oh. The GM failed as well. As in, Mr. Randy Lee.

Lee being the GM of Binghamton, did fell short to improve this team at the trade-line. He sent ex-Captain Zack Stortini and budding forward Buddy Robinson away. He brought in defenseman Brandon Gorman. Binghamton went out and re-signed Jason Akeson when Ottawa refused to offer him a two-way deal to begin with. Phil Varone and Akeson have been really good at times but have shown signs of fuck it lately.

I don’t blame them.

While the BSens have been squandering in coming up with victories in just once in the last 13 contests, the fans in Binghamton have remained faithful despite the news that Ottawa had made the premature decision to cut ties and move the team to Belleville, CAN next season.

Speaking of Belleville, I’m quite appalled and others have agreed in the handling of that their PR, couldn’t have waited perhaps towards the off-season with such an aggressive promotion preview move in promoting a team that has yet to exist at the expense of the Binghamton Senators.

It hasn’t fit well with many and simply lacks class that could've waited towards the off-season I suppose. This has been quite upsetting with some of the faithful that have been following the BSens over the course of the past 15 seasons, but nonetheless, it is what it is. Still there are ill-feelings with little regards.

It could be worse.

When the NY Rangers also cut their agreement short and left for Hartford some 20 years ago, that left the hockey hotbed of the Southern Tier of NY with little options on the ice, just short of the caliber of play of the AHL with the BC Icemen of the UHL for five seasons filling in as the replacement fix for the fan base.

It was some dark days for some, but remained to fulfill others to serve their needs at 1 Stuart Place in downtown Binghamton on any given weekend.

But this is not about the future Belleville Senators. I’m sure they have a very loyal fan-base just like we do in Binghamton. I just want to send a reminder that we will be fine with the AHL and another NHL moving in to fill the void. It’s not our choice, but the Devils will be more than welcome I can assure you that.

With the announcement that the NJ Devils have made the agreement to move their AHL club from Albany to Binghamton, hockey has been restored once again that AHL action will continue next season and several more. And it should. This is a hockey town.

I think we are going to be ok in moving forward. Matter of fact, I know we will with proof of the near sellout crowd that took place this past Saturday night.