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Day After Game Report 5:17 of the 3rd Period Saves The Streak March 8, 2025 | ||||||
Posted by: Bob Howard Credit: Binghamton Hockey.net | ||||||
March 8, 2025 - by Bob Howard - BinghamtonHockey.net
Here from the December 29th Black Bears press release: “Gary did an incredible job recruiting a very strong roster, and we are excited to see Brant pick up where we left off before the Christmas break. Brant brings some new ideas and a fresh perspective, having just finished his active career himself, while at the same time being already familiar with the group and the way the team plays, which will ensure continuity as we go into this busy part of the season.” The first win was on his first night as the new bench boss, in Watertown, a 6-0 shutout of the Wolves. Gavin Yates, Jesse Anderson, Justin Coachman and Tyson Kirkby all scored for the Black Bears with Ando getting a hat-trick in the game. Any surprises there? Not for me. Then came later that season, “Fire Sherwood” chants as he released the local favorites and changed out “some” of the old guard for Sherwood’s hand picked players. But people forget, he also kept Ando, Kirks and Yatesy and it has served the Binghamton Black Bears fans well. Another 98 wins later, a championship, a 17 game win streak all led us up to last night’s game in Wytheville vs. the Blue Ridge Bobcats. The Black Bears were going into last night’s game with a 17 game win streak. Brant Sherwood was on win 99 looking for 1 more. The Black Bears were 38-4-1 going into their first meeting ever with the Bobcats. Coach Sherwood has made it perfectly clear with conversations with me personally and publicly, he wanted 40 wins in a regular season. Unless the world falls out from underneath the Black Bears, I don’t see how they don’t blow that out of the water. The Black got their 39th win last night, their 18th in a row and Sherwood’s 100th win. But it was not easy. It was not clear after 40 minutes that it was even going to happen. Yes, they had a one goal lead after 40 minutes after a Dan Stone 1st period goal with just 1 second left in the period, the true definition of a buzzer beater. Then a rare scoreless 20 minute 2nd period occurred. The Black Bears and the Bobcats came out for the 3rd period not knowing the flurry of goals that were about to happen. All of these goals frame up the Black Bears and Brant’s milestones and accomplishments. The Black Bears scored the first 4 goals in the 3rd period in just 5 minutes and 17 seconds. CJ Stubbs scored the Black Bears second goal of the game early at 1:08 into the period giving the Black Bears some needed energy and a little more pep in their skates. Then Gavin Yates said this is my game and showed it with 2 goals 26 seconds apart. First even strength at the 3:27 mark, Gavin scored bottom shelf goal with Dakota Bohn and CJ Stubbs getting the assist, but then 26 seconds later Gavin goes top shelf in a carbon copy goal assisted again by Bohn and Stubbs on the power play. Scott Ramaekers, in mind is proving 110% that he can play on the top line with Austin Thompson and Tyson Kirkby, he scored at the 5:17 mark. Scotty is a weapon, not a secret weapon, but a weapon that if ever the Black Bears need a shake-up, he can be inserted anywhere and I think he makes the difference.
So when it’s all said and done, win # 1 for Brant Sherwood was a rare at that time shut out in Watertown and his 100th win was a 10 goal game, 9 of those goals scored in the 3rd period with the Black Bears getting so much closer to his regular season goal of 40 wins and extended the teams Binghamton Hockey history and the Black Bears franchise record for wins in a row to 18. The funny thing is, I know Brant probably enjoyed the congrats from everyone, the snazzy graphic of his 100th win, then still thought about how his team gave up 3 in the 3rd. Brant’s always looking for how the team will improve and get better. Because all of the streaks, the wins, the milestones are great, but what he wants, he wants his team to want 1 thing, another Cup and go back to back. So back to work for the Black Bears tonight against the Bobcats, what’s on stake? Win 101 for Brant, win 19 straight for his team and his goal of 40 wins in the regular, but that also comes with one additional perk, the clinching of the division title for the Black Bears (only need a point) and another one of these beautiful banners in the rafters for the one of the most storied cities in all of minor league hockey.
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