Binghamton Mets Schedule
April 19, 2007
In the fall I created a Google calendar for the Binghamton Senators. I decided to do the same for the B-Mets.
B-Mets Full Schedule 
B-Mets Home Schedule
The Short List
April 14, 2007
No, I’m not commenting on their height. Here is my list of guys I would bring back next season. I’m not including the rookies Ottawa signed at the end of the season, they’re a given, just the guys who have suffered here all season long.
1) Jeff Hennessy - A no-brainer, he’s the only decent prospect in Ottawa’s system right now. Depending on Ottawa’s off season moves he might end up with the big club to fill out their roster and keep them under the cap.
2) Andrew Ebbett - Rookie has been our only surprise (pleasant one anyway) this season and I think he can get even better.
3) Bobby Robins - Didn’t bring as much to the team as we’d have liked to have seen, but he’s had enough good games to warrant a return engagement.
4) Neil Komadoski - Hey, I need one controversial pick. Komo has long been the target of fan derision, but this season he has been one of the few, if not only, guys to stick up for this sorry ass team. His play has improved too. If Cameron returns than don’t bring Komo back, he deserves a real coach.
On the bubble…
Mike Sgroi - I like Sgroi, but if we sign him it means we won’t sign another, better, enforcer. I would love to have 2 tough guys, but that’s not happening in this franchise.
Arttu Luttinen - R2D2 had a nice start to the season and quickly disappeared. I wouldn’t mind seeing how he’d do with a coach that had balls and a team with leadership.
Hit the road Jack - Guys that have worn out their welcome
Corey Pecker - Nothing against Pecker, but when we signed him you knew this team wasn’t interested in investing in a playoff team.
Danny Bois and Grant Potulny - Have gotten worse with age. Showed 0 toughness and grit this season. Two of the biggest under performers on the AHLs worst team, that says it all.
Serge Payer - Why sign someone who doesn’t want to play here.
Say it ain’t so!
April 14, 2007
I’m just speechless about this…
Saying the blame for a last-place finish should not fall on the coaching staff in Binghamton, Ottawa Senators general manager John Muckler said current B-Sens head coach Dave Cameron is his choice to return next season.
Muckler said the plan is to have Cameron join the big club for its playoff run following the B-Sens’ season finale tonight.
“Then we’ll sit down and negotiate a contract and get it done,” Muckler said by phone Friday.
So then, Cameron is the guy he would like to have back?
“Yes, I would,” Muckler said.
I’m sorry, but for all the talent they lacked they still could have been a winning club with a good coach. This team was filled with too many guys who had no respect for the team or their teammates. Only a handful of guys willing to stand up for each other. Majority of the veterans on this team checked out in November and left the rookies to fend for themselves.
Now just watch Muckler bring back Bois, Potulny, Heerema, Payer, Allison, Maloney, and some of the other slackers. What this team needs is a clean slate. Bring back a max of 4 guys from this years squad. Add in the new rookies and then land some hardcore veteran AHLers. I would not bring back a single vet from this years squad. But I doubt that’s what Muckler has planned. Afterall, he’s resigning most of the Ottawa club so they have no need for prospects except as trade bait.
Hockey Joke
April 12, 2007
A first grade teacher explains to her class that she is a Maple Leafs fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they are Maple Leafs fans too. Not really knowing what a Maple Leafs fan was, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands fly into the air. There is, however, one exception…a little girl has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different.
“Because I’m not a Maple Leafs fan!” she reports.
“Then,” asks the teacher, “What are you?”
“I’m a proud Rangers fan!” the girl proudly said.
The teacher is a little perturbed now…her face slightly red. She asks Lori why she is a Rangers fan.
“Well, my daddy and mommy are Rangers fans…so I’m a Rangers fan too!” she responds.
The teacher is angry now. “That’s no reason,” she says loudly. “What if your mommy was a moron and your daddy was an idiot…what would you be then?”
Lori smiles and says…
“Then I’d be a Maple Leafs fan!”
GO RANGERS!
Z is for Zamboni
April 11, 2007
Z Is For Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet
A couple years ago we got the idea to look for some hockey kids books to read to the boys. Our favorite is Z Is For Zamboni
Ottawa signs Volchenkov and Phillips
April 11, 2007
Ottawa took steps to keep their blueline intact, signing Anton Volchenkov to a 3 year deal and Chris Phillips to a 4 year deal. With Wade Redden and Joe Corvo already under contract it looks like Andrei Meszeros and Christoph Schubert should fill out the blue line. Smart moves by Ottawa since there is no one in the system ready to move up to the blue line. This gives them a couple years before they need to have someone ready.
The big question now is how much money is left under the cap for filling out the front lines. My feeling is that Hennessy and other forward prospects will have a strong shot and making the Ottawa roster out of camp.
One step forward, 7 steps back
April 7, 2007
The B-Sens returned to form Friday night. Only 2 days after playing one of their best games of the season the B-Sens snoozed through a 7-3 drubbing by the Albany River Rats. Rookie Brian Elliot gave up 3 soft goals in the first and was replaced by Kelly Guard who gave up 3 soft goals on the first 3 shots he faced. You have to credit the B-Sens with one thing this season…it’s always a team effort. They all looked terrible. Once again they were afraid to hit and more puzzling they showed no desire to even skate. The River Rats repeatedly caught up to our guys, cleanly stole the puck and skate back into our end…all without any serious contact.
After scoring the 6th goal the Rats mercifully put it on autopilot and coasted the rest of the game. No sense risking an injury or wasting any energy in the second half of the game. One of the standouts for the Rats was, once again, former BC Icemen Keith Aucoin. The Rats captain now has 94 points in 61 games (26/68).
Tonight the B-Sens take on the Worcester Sharks. The Senators will be wearing the fan designed Special Olympics jerseys for the game…I can think of nothing more fitting.
Who ARE these guys?!?
April 5, 2007
Wow! What a difference a few kids makes! Last night may have been the best hockey game of the season and it was unfortunate that only 1500+ were there to see it. The B-Sens came out hustling and despite playing an obviously more talented Hershey team they gave it there and as the game went on gained more and more confidence, led by their rookie netminder Brian Elliot. Yes the Sens gave up 40 shots and sure it could have been a very different game, but in pro sports its about results. The Sens got it done and in doing so they gave the fans a nice preview of what we will hopefully see a lot more of next season.
What really made the difference was the hustle. The best thing to happen to this team was losing the ‘old dogs’ to injuries and replacing them with kids who are trying to make an impression. Their energy sparked some of the other dogs on this team who showed usa level of play they have been holding back all year. Sure they still get overpowered, but the transition game out of our own end was so much better and led to numerous offensive rushes.
The fans responded with a huge ovation at the end. If it had been a sellout the roof would have blown off that place. I think it was an expression of 4 months of pent up energy. We’ve wanted to cheer, but they’ve given us so little. With 5 games left I would love to see them end on a high note and really give us something to look forward to next year.
Robins named B-Sens Man of the Year
April 4, 2007
The Binghamton Senators have announced that Bobby Robins is this season’s Man of th Year. The award is given each year to the player making the greatest contribution to the local community. Robins is now one of 27 finalists for the AHL Man of the Year award. I’ve always liked Bobby from day 1. He didn’t meet expectations this season, but he was still one of the few players working hard each game. I count him as one of 3 or 4 players that should return.
In other news, the B-Sens officially announced the assignment of Cody Bass to Binghamton. He’ll probably be here for tonights game, but I expect he won’t start until Friday.
Former Icemen Hoists the Cup
April 3, 2007
I was just checking up on former Icemen standout Keith Aucoin when I discovered this great article:
Former Norwich standout Keith Aucoin doesn’t have his name on the Stanley Cup yet, but he’s getting close. The 2001 Division III Player of the Year played in the Carolina Hurricanes’ system this season, and was on the reserve roster for the Hurricanes’ postseason run. That meant he was with the team throughout the playoffs, on standby in case an injury occurred.
…
Though he didn’t get into the action, Aucoin was invited to take part in the Hurricanes’ post-game celebration, including, of course, hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Makes me curious who the last Binghamton alumni was to come so close to the Stanley Cup. As for Aucoin this season, he has played another 8 games with the Hurricanes while also setting a career high in the AHL with 90 points in 59 games (25/65) and also accumulating 92 PIMs.
