BU Bearcats vs Cornell Big Red
November 17, 2006
| November 17, 2006 | ||
| 7:30 pm |
Binghamton University Bearcats vs Cornell Big Red @ 7:30pm
Chenango Ice Rink
Binghamton Senators Sign Cava to PTO
November 15, 2006
I’ve been avoid my B-Sens updates lately because there just hasn’t been anything positive to write about. Last Saturdays game against Philly was the worst game of the short season. Which is surprised since it began with the best period of the season. Bobby Robins was moved up to the #1 line and finally saw significant ice time. The move paid off quickly as his line scored the lone first period goal. But in the second period the wheels fell off and the Sens gave up 5 unanswered goals to a mostly unimpressive Philly team.
The big concern by many fans coming into this season was that our team had no real enforcers and would get pushed around. Well what we have seen so far this season is not a team getting pushed, but one that is unable to stand up. Teams are beating them physically, the problem is that the B-Sens aren’t playing much physical hockey at all, avoiding conflict and staying to the perimeter. They are registering a lot of shots, but they are all on the rush and very few rebounds. This weekend saw problems escalate as now the team is showing the effects of the losing streak and are playing ’safe’ hockey. I’ve seen faster passes from the STHA kids playing during intermissions. Their play is so telegraphed that the defense has no trouble re-adjusting and stopping any weak shot the Sens shoot their way.
The good news is that, unlike Ottawa, Binghamton seems willing to change. Yesterday they announced the signing of Chris Cava, a veteran ECHL defenseman who looked good in the preseason, but was cut due to lack of room. What is interesting about this move is that the B-Sens still have 7 healthy blue liners. The only reason Cava was signed was to address the lack of grit and to try and provide a spark plug for this team.
This is great news and I hate to rain on anyone’s parade, but this move also confirms the complaints of many other fans. This organization could have provided this type of player during the offseason by signing a legitimate AHL enforcer. Instead they are signing a ECHL player to a PTO, probably the cheapest contract in the AHL. My major concern is what relationship, if any, this cheapness has with the difficulty agreeing to a new lease agreement with the county. This is all speculation, but I’m afraid the duck is starting to quack.
I won’t dwell on things out of my control and instead I’ll be at the game rooting for our new stay at home defenseman. This is his AHL debut and I’m hoping this is a guy willing to do what it takes to stick with the team. Suspicions aside, this move can only help this team and I hope the energy provided by Cava is a catalyst to spark the hole team and turn this season around before its too late.
Weekly Crosscheck Vol. 2, #7
November 13, 2006
Hi Everybody! Wow! What a week.
Seven of ten league records were either broken or equaled, and I completely blew most predictions. First of all, I need to apologize to Cara. The Sublimators rocked and blew Take Off Eh out of the rink! Also The Monks totally annihilated Camo, and Five For Fighting didn’t even get off the bench against the Pucknuts. (Hey…at least I called the last one.)
New Records:
The Ice Bats tied their own goals record at 19, and set the new assists record at 39. I’m also happy to report that the Ice Bats old PIM record still stands although the Sublimators came within a 5 minute major of breaking it. Saberswinthecup! tied the Monks plus/minus record of +19, and also somehow pulled out a record 3 shorties, while the Monks went on to set a new Power Play record of 26. Also (much to Pucknut’s and my disbelief) SenStanley set two new goaltending records of 1.13 GAA and 0.971 SV%. Standings tightened up as The Pucknuts took first overall, and Take Off Eh fell into the basement. Camo got knocked from first to third overall, but are still tops in the Northern Division.
Well, lets see if I can do any better predicting the outcomes for this week.
Week 7 Matchup
Ice Bats vs. 5 For Fighting
This is an easy call. At least 7/10 for the Ice Bats. Perhaps a little goaltending from them this week? I sure hope so.
Saberswinthecup! vs. Pucknuts
Again an easy call. At least 6/10 for Pucknuts. Pucknuts are in big goaltending trouble this week, so watch for them to end up a few points behind the Ice Bats.
Spankers vs. Sublimators
The Sublimators should take this, although at some point the Spankers are going to wake up and start winning again. I don’t think this is their week, though. Spankers have a little farther to fall in the standings.
Take Off Eh vs. Monks
The Monks played great last week, and should win this week, however there was a major line up change for Take Off Eh, so they aren’t going down without a fight. Must suck to lose to your sister, eh?
Spezztacular vs. A-Team!
The A-Team keeps getting better and Spezztacular is anything but. An A-Team win may actually land them in first place in the Northern Division.
Camo vs. SenStanley!
Camo really fell a little short last week and is having a lot of IR trouble. I say they bounce back this week, but not enough to stay ahead of A-Team.
Now in the spirit of Hockey Hall of Fame Week I’d like for you to vote for which retired big fuzzy blue hockey mascot we should induct into the Hockey Blog Allstars Hall of Fame.
Benny (Winnipeg Jets: retired 1996) or Bamboni (B.C. Icemen: retired 2002)?
Submit your vote via the Blog comments…. we’ll announce the winner next week.
That is all.
-Johnny
Jr B Sens vs Brewster Bulldogs
November 12, 2006
| November 12, 2006 | ||
| 12:45 pm |
Jr B Sens vs Brewster Bulldogs @ 12:45pm
Chenango Ice Rink
BU Bearcats at Ithaca Bombers
November 12, 2006
| November 12, 2006 | ||
| 12:00 pm |
Binghamton University Bearcats at Ithaca Bombers @ 12:00pm
Jr C Sens vs Mass Maple Leafs
November 12, 2006
| November 12, 2006 | ||
| 9:45 am |
Jr C Sens vs Mass Maple Leafs @ 9:45am
Chenango Ice Rink
Jr B Sens vs Brewster Bulldogs
November 11, 2006
| November 11, 2006 | ||
| 7:45 pm |
Jr B Sens vs Brewster Bulldogs @ 7:45pm
Chenango Ice Rink
Jr C Sens vs Mass Maple Leafs
November 11, 2006
| November 11, 2006 | ||
| 12:45 pm |
Jr C Sens vs Mass Maple Leafs @ 12:45pm
Chenango Ice Rink
Guard Goes to Ottawa, B-Sens Sign Cacciola
November 9, 2006
Binghamton signed David Cacciola to a 25 game PTO today to backup Jeff Glass while Kelly Guard is called up to Ottawa.
Cacciola, a native of Burlington, Massachusetts, attended the Binghamton Senators 2006-07 training camp
The 23-year-old posted a 18-5-4 (W-L-T) record in 28 games played with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in 2005-06. He finished the season with a .926 save percentage and 2.54 goals-against-average while also collecting two shutouts.
Kelly Guard was called up to when Ray Emery injured his wrist in practice. Originally thought to be serious, the Senators now feel it is a minor sprain.
Murray admitted he originally believed the injury was worse.
“We thought when he first hurt it, it was a fairly serious sprain that would keep him out a couple of weeks. Hopefully, it’s less than that.
“He feels a lot better. At this point in time, he’s just going to need a little bit of time to recover.”
I also heard that Emery was going to get an MRI just to verify there is no further damage. Let’s hope he will return soon. For this weekend expect Jeff Glass to carry the load in Binghamton, most likely starting in both games. Things will be more interesting in Ottawa where Gerber was slightly hurt in a 5-4 loss to Atlanta last night. With back-to-back games coming this weekend I have to wonder if they’ll give Guard a start. With how poorly Gerber played against Atlanta I don’t think that Guard would be any more of a liability.
Emery Hurt - Guard Called Up
November 8, 2006
Ray Emery injured his wrist in practice yesterday.
Ottawa Senators’ goalie Ray Emery suffered an injury in practice today - believed to be a wrist injury on his glove side - and sources say he is likely to be sidelined because of it.
Sources say the Senators are awaiting the medical prognosis on how long Emery will be out, but sources told TSN that it is a ‘potentially serious’ injury and Emery could be ‘out awhile.’
Although the Senators say that Emery may still play the back-up roll tomorrow night against the Atlanta Thrashers, the club has recalled goaltender Kelly Guard from the AHL’s Binghamton Senators on an emergency basis. He will dress in the event Emery cannot.
This comes at a bad time for both clubs who have each lost 3 straight. While Ottawa will now be forced to stick with their #1 goalie, Binghamton will have to rely on AHL rookie Jeff Glass who has struggled to start the season. No word on who will be called up to backup Glass in Binghamton. We should know more after Emery’s wrist is examined and the extent of the injury is known.
