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Day After Game Report: Remember April 12th Last Season? No, I Will Remind You March 22, 2025 | ||||
Posted by: Bob Howard Credit: Binghamton Hockey.net | ||||
March 22, 2025 - by Bob Howard - BinghamtonHockey.net
“We can talk about the big wins, double digit goals, the shut outs and even the OT wins. But the ‘never quit’ mantra is all about being down, and everyone thinking you’re out and coming back for a huge win. The Black Bears have done this a few times this season. Hell, the Captain Tyson Kirkby has scored a game winning goal or two where the team was down and he capped off the win with a big goal. But he was not in this game. Neither was Jesse Anderson, Donald Olivieri, Austin Thompson, Dakota Bohn, Connor Smith or Gavin Yates. They all didn’t travel with the team. Instead you only had 8 forwards, Cameron Clark, Andrew Logar and Andrew Uturo as a line. Then Jestin Somero, Josh Fletcher and Scott Ramaekers as another line with Kyle Stephan and Blake Tosto as the extra forwards. But there wasn’t any line combos that stayed true through this game. Just roll three, work hard, win battles and good things will happen, that’s how you work through adversity.” The Binghamton Black Bears last night played in Watertown, NY against the a rival, an Empire division foe, the Watertown Wolves. Former Black Bears Justin Coachman knows who wasn’t in the line-up. He’s knows Brant Sherwood was not on the bench, Tyson Kirkby is home relaxing after 18 holes on the course and that Dakota Bohn, arguably the best defenseman in the league is likely home watching the game enjoying comforts on a Friday night that he normally doesn’t get. Yet he also knows that the Black Bears team, even minus two roster spots due to multi-game suspensions is still going to compete like a championship team. So did Billy McCreary of the Danbury Hat Tricks back on April 12th of last season. He knew that with all those players out that a Brant Sherwood led team would still compete. Compete they did, with a 4-3 shoot-out win, 4 different goal scorers and an excellent look at what Blake Tosto, Scott Ramaekers and what Kyle Stephan could really do when called upon. So, fast forward to last night and history repeats itself. No Kirkby, no Bohn, no Austin Thompson, no Donald Olivieri, Gavin Yates leaves after a slash and doesn’t return, dressing only 14 skaters, down to 13, yet a 6-1 win for the Black Bears. There is a quiet and sometimes loud confidence in this team that just shines through on what should be there worst night, but ends being a night that maybe not everyone will remember the details, but a night that is very important in the story and the journey as go to win a championship. Whether this is baseball, basketball, football or any sport, games like this are important. They show the quality and character of a team. They show that players like Zac Sirota, Chris Mott and Cameron Clark who scored twice in the game are players that may line up on the third line on the regular, but are players that can beat any team on any given night. They show up when needed for the Black Bears and it’s no surprise the team continues to win. Do I think they can seriously win out and get 50 wins this season? I know Tyson Kirkby recently publicly talked about it and I have faith in Kirkby for sure. But I would be nuts to sit here and tell you that it will happen. Remember last season, one of the best things to happen to the Black Bears was a late March losing streak that led to Connor McAnanama to say in the locker room to the boys, ‘I am not losing again’. So I am not saying I want them to go on bender and lose a couple. No, the drive and the heart, the confidence to do what they want to do needs to come from a motivation that is hard to keep and find. But if there was a team who could do that, it’s the 43-5-1, 125 point Binghamton Black Bears. Last night we saw Gavin Yates leave the game with an injury after a slashing play. I don’t know what the injury is or what is his status for tonight, but tonight’s game is just another test of many tests in a quest for the ultimate test for the Black Bears. Still no Kirkby, Bohn or Olivieri tonight. But with hopefully Austin Thompson returning, and the young studs who just keep proving that Black Bears hockey is not just the 1st line, the Blacks Bears will be ready, will have a game plan and will take whatever the Wolves bring there way and do what they do best. Win hockey games.
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