Senators Artcles: B-Sens' title trophy: Look but don't touch
April 19, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Scott Lauber of Press Connects.com

B-Sens' title trophy: Look but don't touch

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- It sat on a table at center-ice Saturday night, all polished and pretty and ready to meet its new owners, but the Binghamton Senators paid little notice to the F.G. Oke Trophy.

Named for one of the AHL's forefathers and given annually to the East Division champion, the 78-year-old silver chalice is a nice piece of hardware. But with their sights set on the Calder Cup, the Senators regarded it as merely a secondary prize.

"It's great to be presented with it at home, but it's not exactly the trophy we want," captain Chris Kelly said. "Hopefully later in June, we'll have another trophy presentation."

Kelly and center Jason Spezza laughed at the idea that superstitious people -- and hockey players are often superstitious -- fear that handling a division or conference trophy in advance of winning the Cup is bad luck. But it should be noted that Kelly kept his hands at his side when he neared the Oke Trophy for a photo.

"I'm not a big believer in all that mythical stuff," Spezza said. "A lot of guys said I was jinxed when I was picked by The Hockey News to win the MVP, and that worked out OK."

FRIENDS ARE FOES

Spezza and Penguins goalie Andy Chiodo are close friends from growing up together in suburban Toronto. After shutting out Norfolk last Saturday in his first start since returning from a stint in the East Coast Hockey League, Chiodo received a congratulatory phone call from his buddy.

The biggest question surrounding the Penguins is which goalie -- top prospect Marc-Andre Fleury or Chiodo, last year's playoff hero -- will start Game 1. Asked for his guess, Spezza said, "I think (Chiodo) will probably get a game or two."

SLAP SHOTS

No coaches were present for Monday's skate, an informal scrimmage pitting the Senators who hail from the eastern half of North America against those from the Midwest, Western Canada and Europe. For the record, the West won. ... Defenseman Andy Hedlund was cut on the nose and left a trail of blood on the ice. ...

Senators executive vice president Tom Mitchell said the team's office was "overwhelmed" by ticket requests. But he also noted that many of the phone calls came from the 570 area code for Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.