Sgroi back in Bingo
August 13, 2007
But not on the ice.
Next time a pugilistic notion strikes Mike Sgroi, he’ll need not drop the gloves.
The erstwhile Binghamton Senators enforcer will take part in an Aug. 24 boxing card at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena against an opponent to be determined.
“I think it’ll help our gate, but more importantly, I think it’ll be a really exciting fight,” said Tom Reynolds, Binghamton Boxing Association manager and event organizer. “When he fights, he fights — and don’t be late.”
While hockey fans are familiar with the player who logged 125 penalty minutes in 32 Senators games last season, fight fans may find 6-foot-5, 230-pound Sgroi to be quite capable in the ring. He traced his off-ice fighting background to age 17, “With a fake ID entering tough-guy competitions to sharpen my skills for hockey.”
In addition to 150-plus tough-guy competitions, he said he has trained as a boxer as well as in Muay Thai (a form of kickboxing) and Jujitsu.
“I’ve fought professional boxers before, but I’ve never done a four-round, three-minute-round fight,” he said of his impending official pro boxing debut.
Sgroi, who turns 29 Tuesday, said he turned down Reynolds’ initial offer to join the card, citing reservations about his recovery from December surgery to repair disc and nerve damage in his neck. But Reynolds persisted, and Sgroi recently determined his neck to be sufficiently healed.
Reynolds was introduced to Sgroi’s boxing ability while watching him work out at American Legion Post 80 in Binghamton.
“Mike came to our gym and I got to know him while he was re-habbing,” Reynolds said. “He’s actually a really good boxer.”
Sgroi’s next hockey assignment remains up in the air, as he was not re-signed by the Senators.
“I thought I’d found a home in Binghamton, but things didn’t work out,” he said. “I still have a lot of belief in myself that I’m tough enough and good enough to get to the top level.”
Bonvie to retire after this season
August 12, 2007
Dennis Bonvie has announced that this will be his last hockey season. I hope we get to see one more good fight in the arena.
Dennis Bonvie, one of the most popular players ever to pull on a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins sweater, announced on Monday that the 2007-08 season will be his last as a professional hockey player.
“This is going to be my last year. This is it,” said Bonvie, 33, from his annual youth hockey camp at the Ice Box in Pittston, Pa. “I’m fortunate that I played one game in one year, and now 15 years later, I’m getting an opportunity to…kind of go out on my own terms. I’ve had a real good ride.”
Spezza on cover of NHL2K8
August 11, 2007
Fans will see a significant improvement in Jason Spezza’s game this season.In fact, he should be the best player in the entire system.
The Senators’ top centre has been named the cover athlete and official spokesman for NHL 2K8, next in a line of top-rated video games to be released next month.
Yesterday, Spezza spoke with the Sun about the honour of being chosen ahead of the league’s other young stars, then recalled the first time his likeness was on an NHL video game.
“I remember buying one as soon as it came out, to see what kind of player they made me,” Spezza said with a laugh — in between skating and an off-ice workout in Toronto. “I remember being kind of disappointed. So I created my own player and bumped up my attributes.”
Spezza should like what he sees of himself on NHL 2K8 — video game makers generally see to it that the player on its cover has the best capabilities.
“Hopefully they’ll make me a little better because I’m on the cover,” Spezza chuckled.
Spezza, who chose not to reveal what he was getting paid in the endorsement deal, is a known video game player. He and teammate Brian McGrattan have legendary battles from the comfort of a living room couch during the season.
What would be cool is if the publisher released a limited edition copy of the game with McGrattan on the cover!
Sens add Mapletoft
August 10, 2007
Ottawa keeps restocking the farm. The latest addition is center Justin Mapletoft, a former Islanders prospect who has played the last 2 seasons in Europe.
Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today the club has signed center Justin Mapletoft to a one-year deal.
Mapletoft, 26, spent five seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels. In his final season, he led the Rebels to the 2001 WHL title and 2001 Memorial Cup championship. He was also named WHL player of the year in 2001. The Lloydminster, Sask., native also won the WHL’s scoring title with 43 goals, 77 assists and 120 points before joining the New York Islanders American Hockey League affiliate in Bridgeport,Conn. the following year.
The Islanders’ fifth-round pick, 130th overall, in the 1999 NHL entry draft spent four seasons in their organization from 2001 to 2005. He played 38 NHL games, recording nine points (3-6) and eight penalty minutes. With the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Mapletoft had 47 goals, 83 assists and 217 penalty minutes in 240 regular-season games.
Mapletoft spent the last two seasons in Europe, playing in Finland, Sweden and most recently Germany. He recorded two goals and five assists in 10 games with Nurnberg’s Sinupret Ice Tigers of the Germany Elite Hockey League (DEL).
Ottawa to unveil new jerseys August 22nd
August 10, 2007
Media Advisory: Ottawa Senators to Introduce New Uniforms on Aug. 22
OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire - Aug. 8, 2007) - On Wednesday, Aug. 22, the Ottawa Senators will unveil their new uniforms at an event beginning at 4 p.m. at Scotiabank Place.What: A new era begins for the Senators as new uniforms are introduced to the public. The first 5,000 fans to enter Scotiabank Place will receive a free Sens Army T-shirt celebrating the new era. Parking is free.When: 4 p.m. - Warm-up festivities outside Scotiabank Place Gate 1, including a live band, interactive games for the kids, face painting and a barbeque; 5 p.m. - Doors open; 6:15 p.m. - Unveiling of the new uniforms.
Where: Scotiabank Place
B-Sens sign their goon
August 9, 2007
The Binghamton Senators announced the signing of Jeremy Yablonski today along with winger Greg Mauldin.
The Binghamton Senators, in conjunction with the Ottawa Senators, announced today the signing of wingers Greg Mauldin and Jeremy Yablonski to American Hockey League contracts.
Mauldin, 25, competed in Europe during the 2006-07 season. In 32 games with Huddinge IK and Oskarshamn IK, Mauldin scored six goals and added 10 assists for 16 points while collecting 31 penalty minutes. He also skated in two games for the Bloomington Prairie Thunder of the UHL.
…
Yablonski, 27, spent the 2006-07 season with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL. He tallied three goals, three assists and 163 penalty minutes in 41 games.
A native of Meadow Lake, Sask., Yablonski has four goals, three assists and 320 penalty minutes in 99 AHL games with Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Worcester.
Zubov joining Senators?
August 9, 2007
Looks like Ilya Zubov might be starting the season in Binghamton. Alexander Nikulin, however, is most likely heading back to Russia after camp.
Meanwhile, despite the ongoing lack of player transfer agreement between the NHL and Russia, there is a trickle of talent coming this way. Murray confirmed yesterday that two young Russians will be at the Senators’ camp this fall. Ilya Zubov, a 20-year-old centre, recently attended a prospects session in Ottawa, and liked the experience enough that he vowed to become a part of the organization. Murray says a deal is expected soon and Zubov, a decent puck handler, will likely report to AHL Binghamton when the season begins.
ubov was Ottawa’s second pick of the fourth round, 98th overall, in the 2005 entry draft. Zubov scored six points in six games for Russia at the 2006 world junior hockey tournament.
The other Russian, Alexander Nikulin, is also a centre. Nikulin was the Senators’ fourth-round pick, 122nd overall, in 2004.
Unlike Zubov, Nikulin, 22, is going to return to Russia after Ottawa’s training camp unless he makes the final roster.
“A year from now, he wants to come back and commit to playing in the organization, either up (with the the Senators) or down (in Binghamton),” Murray said.
Some surprising news is that Ottawa’s #1 pick from the 2007 draft might turn pro.
Look for Ottawa’s top 2007 draft pick, Jim O’Brien, to sign with the Senators and forego the balance of his college career. O’Brien, a 6-2 centre drafted 29th overall, was the youngest player in college hockey last season, as a 17-year-old with the University of Minnesota. A source says O’Brien, now 18, is leaning toward turning professional.
B-Sens announce 2007/2008 season schedule
August 8, 2007
The complete B-Sens schedule is now available. Once again there will be a home away from home game, this time in Utica on January 25th vs the Toronto Marlies. The home ice is unavailable on this date due to the all-star game preparations.
I have also updated the Binghamton roster. I’m putting all potential candidates on the list with footnotes on who likely won’t be here to start the season.
Official: Sens sign Richardson
August 8, 2007
The Sens officially announced the signing of Luke Richardson.
The 20-year NHL veteran, an Ottawa native, will officially sign a one-year, $500,000 deal — that includes a minor-league clause — with the Senators today after agreeing to a deal yesterday.
Richardson, 38, who spent last season as a player/assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, met with coach John Paddock a couple of weeks ago and will mainly be used as a seventh defencemen, but he’s thrilled to get the chance to play in his home town.
With Wade Redden, Chris Phillips, Anton Volchenkov, Joe Corvo, Andrej Meszaros and Christoph Schubert already under contract, Richardson knows he’s going to have to earn his playing time and will have a limited role.
“I’m just thrilled,” said Richardson yesterday. “This means a lot to me. I’ve always wanted the chance to play here. I know what my role is going to be and it’s not going to be anything fancy.
“I really just wanted the chance to play after last year in Tampa. I’ve been working hard to get ready for the season. I know what I can bring to the table. I can kill penalties and do the small things to get the job done. I know I can provide leadership as well.”
Richardson first met with Senators GM Bryan Murray last month. While Murray was interested, he wasn’t going to make the move unless Paddock gave his blessing.
A lot of speculation that Richardson was signed to groom some of the youngsters in Binghamton, but I don’t buy that. Richardson has not won a Stanley Cup and this is his last shot. He wants to be in the NHL, the Sens need veteran leadership, and Richardson took a serious pay cut to make it workout. The minor league cause that is mentioned was most likely a condition by the Sens. If Richardson proves to be too old and too slow to stick in the NHL, the Sens would have been on the hook for his full NHL salary against the cap. With the minor clause they would be able to demote him and get the salary off the cap. Richardson could then retire, let the Sens play the waiver game, or maybe even stay in Bingo as a player/asst coach.
Ottawa signs Luke Richardson
August 7, 2007
Oh boy…Binghamton has seen an ugly pattern of over the hill NHL defensemen the last 2 seasons. First Lance Ward, then Jamie Allison and now Luke Richardson?
Luke Richardson is coming home.
The Sun has learned the 20-year NHL veteran has agreed to a one-year, $500,000 contract with the Ottawa Senators that includes a minor-league clause. Richardson, an Ottawa native, is expected to sign the deal in the next 24 hours and then a formal announcement will be made.
Richardson, 38, who spent last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, was only used sparingly by coach John Tortorella. It’s expected he’ll play the role of a seventh defenceman with the Senators and won’t see regular playing time.
But, GM Bryan Murray is close with Richardson’s family and knows the leadership he can bring to the table.
