Senators Artcles: B-Sens fans: Loud and proud; Calder Cup pursuit begins with victory
April 24, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Justin Walden of Press Connects.com

B-Sens fans: Loud and proud

Calder Cup pursuit begins with victory

BY JUSTIN WALDEN

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- Jesse McHale has a good feeling about the Binghamton Senators' chances of winning an American Hockey League championship this year.

How good will the Senators do this year?

"I think we're going all of the way," said McHale, who attended the Senators' first playoff game Friday at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, a 5-2 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The Town of Chenango resident was feeling so good about the team that he wore a red Senators jersey and a cardboard hat that resembles the Calder Cup, which is awarded to the team that wins the AHL championship. He plans to drive to Wilkes-Barre on Monday and Wednesday night to watch the Senators play games three and four of the series, he said.

Yes, on the opening night of the playoffs, Senators fans were feeling pretty optimistic.

The mood at the Arena was loud and rowdy. As the players skated around the ice before

Above: "Cupheads" Rob Rauschmeier, right, and Jesse McHale, both of the Town of Chenango, lead the crowd in cheers Friday night during the Binghamton Senators' playoff game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the Arena.

Left: Rory Finch, 17, of Binghamton, waves a B-Sens flag in front of Penguins fans after the B-Sens scored a goal.

the start of the game, heavy metal music blared from the Arena's sound system.

When Josh Langfeld scored the first goal for the Senators during the first period, about a dozen white flags with the team's logo could be seen waving around. When not occupied with customers, souvenir sellers and beer vendors watched the game on television sets around the Arena's concourse.

And many Senators fans didn't even mind that a large contingent of Penguins fans made the drive to Binghamton on Friday.

"It's all part of the fun, having the opposing fans here," McHale said.

The rivalry between the Senators and Penguins has pitted family members against each other in good-natured rivalries.

"We're very supportive of our team," said Judy Barrett, a Kingston, Pa., resident who is a Penguins fan.

But Barrett's daughter, Debbie Hensel of Port Dickinson, is pulling for the Senators.

Barrett has attended Penguins games in Philadelphia and Hershey. She'd rather go to Binghamton to see a game because she said the fans in the other cities tend to be a little meaner.

Janice and Jim Teeple of Wilkes-Barre agreed, and said Binghamton fans are more relaxed (and less vengeful) compared to fans in other cities. Still, the Teeples said they're impressed with the Senators fans this year, who appear more passionate than in years past.

"It's good to see the resurgence of fans," Jim Teeple said.

Bill Mizera of Johnson City, a season-ticket holder for Binghamton hockey teams for more than 20 years, said this year the Senators fans will be harder on the opposition.

"We've been accused of not having a lot of spirit and being laid back," Mizera said. "This year's different."