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Day After Game Report: Black Bears Score Their 48TH Win Of The Season April 23, 2025 |
Posted by: Bob Howard Credit: Binghamton Hockey.net |
April 12, 2025 - by Bob Howard - BinghamtonHockey.net The Binghamton Black Bears won their 48th game of the season and have a shot at 49 wins tonight as they host the HC Venom in the final regulation game of the 2024-25 season. 48 wins is an amazing accomplishment and it ranks right up there in the Binghamton Hockey record books as one of the greatest seasons of all time. No matter what happens tonight for the win loss record, this team has proven they can win each and every way given to them by the hockey gods. The highest win total by any Broome Dusters team was 41 wins in the 1976-77 season, but that was during a 74 game season for a .564 winning percentage. The Black Bears have that beat. The Binghamton Whalers played 80 games in all their 10 seasons, recorded 46 wins in their 81-82 season which did take them to the Calder Cup finals, and boasted them a .613 winning percentage. In the 1986-87 season the Whalers were considered unstoppable until the playoffs hit, but in the regular season they earned 47 wins and only boasted a .588 winning percentage with the shoot out being tested that season in the AHL. The Binghamton Rangers scored 44, 41 and 57 wins in their first three season in Binghamton with the 1992-93 season being arguably the best AHL regular season ever in the AHL’s almost 100 year existence. The 92-93 Rangers still hold records today with most wins in a season at 57, best winning percentage with .775 and multiple records for players like Don Biggs 138 point season. The 92-93 season for the Rangers is only diminished by the second round knock out in the playoffs. However its hard to compare that season with any other in Binghamton Hockey history. They did play 80 games, that season is still widely talked about and those players, many who played in the NHL, now many of them still work in all levels of hockey. The Rangers saw 43 wins in the 94-95 season but again as impressive as it was to get 40 + wins in that day and age of hockey in the 90’s, they had 80 games to go for it, unlike the Black Bears 56 games. The BC Icemen, who the Black Bears and the Binghamton Hockey Hall of Fame celebrated last night, had one outstanding year in the 1999-2000 season where they won 47 games in 74 games played for .635 winning percentage. It was the Icemen’s best season and again like the 92-93 season, the Icemen could not get our of their own way in the playoffs which led to a disappointing end to what was a great season overall. The Binghamton Senators also had a 47 win season in 2004-2005, exactly 20 years ago. They boasted a .663 winning percentage that season and it was a great run until the Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Penguins took the team out of the playoffs early in the first round. The lock-out year was great hockey to watch, they won 47 of their 80 games, but there was nothing but disappointment from that team. The B-Sens won the Cup in the 2010-11 season and you would think they were dominant in the regular season, but they weren’t. They won 42 of 80 games, the last season the AHL played an 80 game regular season. The winning percentage that season was an average .575, but then they took the fans on a ride in the playoffs that no one will forget. The B-Sens that season in the playoffs did everything they needed, it was amazing. The Binghamton Devils were never able to match anything the former teams in Binghamton ever did. Part being the New Jersey Devils minor league system never took top spot in the organizations priorities and in the case of the B-Devs, COVID19 got in the way as well. It’s unfortunate too, in the shortened 3rd season of the Devils here in Binghamton, they won 34 games, were starting to get hot and many in Binghamton thought they were going to make a good run in the playoffs. But that never happened. What no team has done and the Black Bears have done is finish a season with a .800 winning percentage and higher. To me, when you look at the 52 seasons of Binghamton Hockey, they only thing you can truly compare is winning percentage, due to games played differences, level of hockey being played and other smaller circumstances. The Black Bears are now 48-6-1, with a .848 winning percentage, something I don’t think we will ever see again. Last season they boasted an amazing .714 which was second in Binghamton Hockey History, now they own the top spot in that category, just amazing. Last night was simple. Dakota out, Jesse Anderson stepped up in his position and banged two goals home and was an inch from the Hat-Trick. The Captain scored his 36th goal of the season, as well as all the big players scored last night for Donald Olivieri, CJ Stubbs and Gavin Yates. Austin Thompson had three assists and the game was one of the more easier contests for the Black Bears over the Hat Tricks who didn’t have Jonny Ruiz and Kyle Gonzalez in the game. Connor McAnanama scored his 30th win of the season and sits at 49 wins in his pro-career in regulation play. The Binghamton Hockey Hall of Fame inducted Dieter Kochan, Jason Spezza and Johnny Hart into the Hall of Fame last night and it was great to meet Dieter for the first time and to speak with Jason again after 20 years. However for me, as a cartoonist of old, pencil drawings were early years love for myself, meeting Johnny Hart’s grandson Mick was the tops for me. He was so kind and listened to my stories about meeting his grandfather and about my love for his work. The HOF in Binghamton is about remembering and honoring the past, maybe even teaching the future fans of Binghamton Hockey about what a great presence in the minor-pro world, our city has. Jason and Dieter were so gracious, but the Hart family is our family, they are and have been apart of our community and Johnny’s contributions to the whole community is great and ever more grand then most. Tonight is the end of the regular season. Are you ready for it? The Black Bears could rest a few players, Brant Sherwood talked about it with Tyson on the Power Play Post Show this week. I don’t think it matters who plays tonight, the Black Bears from Tyson to the newest college graduates will be ready to not only play for the fans, but will win for each other. |
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