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Day After Game Report: 16 Game Win Streak, With 14 Left March 1, 2025 | ||||||
Posted by: Bob Howard Credit: Binghamton Hockey.net | ||||||
March 1, 2025 - by Bob Howard - BinghamtonHockey.net
But there is more with Kirkby that probably got lost in last night’s game. With his three goals in the 9-0 win, Tyson Kirkby has now tied for the Franchise lead in goals with Nikita Ivashkin with 109. His next goal, the 110th will break that tie and give him the franchise lead in games played, goals, assists and points. Tyson’s dedication to this team, city and success is due to his dedication to being one of the best on the ice night in and night out. Is it easy for Tyson? No, just like every other player out there, Tyson works on his on ice and off ice life just like you and I. He wants this team and his play to be the best in the league. His drive to be a champion is as strong as Head Coach Brant Sherwood, one drives the other and it has shown over the last 2 and ½ years. Tyson scored his first goal with the Black Bears on March 18th, 2022 after signing with the team three days before. He scored that first goal 27 seconds into the 3rd period in an 8-5 loss to the Hat Tricks in Danbury with Geno DeAngelo and Kyle Powell getting the assists on his first goal. Tonight or next week against the Blue Ridge Bobcats, Tyson could continue to cement his spot in Binghamton Black Bears franchise history and his legacy in Binghamton Hockey. It is not because Tyson is best scorer or best athlete on any team. No, it’s his hard work, hockey IQ and an intangible quality to make the play happen on the ice. Players coming into this league could learn a lot from Tyson. He deserves all his accolades he will get now and in the future. So the Black Bears have played 42 games and are on a 16 game winning streak. They have 14 games left in the regular season. They are in a fine tuning mode. The Black Bears already added one college rookie with the addition of Darrion Benchich, who comes from Lebanon Valley College, and was also a teammate of Blake Tosto. The Black Bears could win a good share of their last 14 games. They have drive in them to do things in this league that have not happened before like matching the Thunderbirds 24 game win streak, winning back to back championships which would lead the Black Bears as well into a high level of Binghamton Hockey’s legacy of teams. The Binghamton Rangers 1992-93, minus a championship is considered one of the greatest in all of Minor-Pro Hockey history, the Black Bears of last and this season are battling for this level of dominance and recognition. But there is more. The Black Bears have re-energized the fan base. We are talking about for the first time in over 20 years, the Binghamton Hockey fan base has the attendance average over 4,100 per game in a 4,893 seat arena. So the average in Binghamton is 84% to capacity in a season after a championship, I can tell you that an increase after a championship or a finals appearance has never happened in Binghamton Hockey history. The hard work of the office, the player and fan engagement is without a doubt why the excitement for Binghamton Hockey is at levels of the Senators, Rangers and early Dusters days.
Then there is Nolan Egbert. He said to me last night he needed a game like that. Eggy knows his stats are not the same as C-Mac’s and I think from my conversations with him that he thinks about it. All the goalies I have spoken to over the years from Ray Emery, Nathan Lawson, Robin Lehner, even Connor McAnanama and Eggy battle a mental game as net-minders. It is completely different than a forward or a defenseman. The only comparison would be like what Cameron Clark was going through over the last 11 games not scoring until he did last night. By the way the Clark goal last night was the most important goal of the game. Did you see how he reacted, the monkey was off the back for Clark. That’s where Eggy was last night. He won and he was happy he didn’t let a goal in. He felt there was 6 shots on net that weren’t counted but there was a sense of relief for him. I reminded Eggy, he is a winner. He is a champion and that the goal isn’t his stats, or even the teams stats, it’s the Cup at the end of the season. He has 14 wins and only 2 losses, he is a top 10 net-minder in wins in this league. However again, the mental side of a goalie is harder to beat then the physical side. When I say this, I 100% mean it. I have never met a player, human and net-minder who is nicer than Nolan Egbert. But he is still a goalie, with all those goalie personality traits. Last night he said to me that thinking about the stats is vanity. However I disagrees with him. I think it’s about trying to be your best and about doing everything you can for your teammates. His teammates love him, the fans love him and he is a champion period. Tonight the Black Bears will go for #17 in the win streak, they will go for being better on the ice than they were last night, Brant Sherwood and Tyson Kirkby will not have it any other way.
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