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Day After Game Report: Challenge Accepted by Everyone April 27, 2025 | ||
Posted by: Bob Howard Credit: Binghamton Hockey.net | ||
April 27, 2025 - by Bob Howard - BinghamtonHockey.net Simply put, when you challenge Binghamton Hockey, you get results. After Friday night’s game in Port Huron, Michigan, everyone knew last night was going to be a challenge. This was first time in the last ten playoff games that the Black Bears were on the ropes. Potentially eliminated. However the challenge was felt by the players, Head Coach Brant Sherwood and the Binghamton fans. The fans knew if they were loud and behind the players, they could be the 7th man. Yesterday morning I challenged the fans to be the 7th man, they came through. If you closed your eyes and didn’t know this was the second round of the playoffs, then you would have thought this was a game 7 atmosphere. The Binghamton Hockey fans came through. They willed the Black Bears players on the ice to have the game they did. The connection and relationship between Binghamton Hockey fans and the Black Bears players are unmatched and last night’s game was 110% proof of the game. Every big hit got a cheer, booing Reggie Millette every time he touched the puck, the huge cheers or chants for goals, the Black Bears fans were totally engaged in the game, it was simply electric last night. There was 4,488 fans at the Arena, you were too were an Impact Player for the last night’s game, you accepted the challenge and came through. But that wasn’t all. Players individually accepted the challenge last night and the first I want to talk about is Donald Olivieri. No one, masterfully took that game on his shoulders more than Don. The Don Father was so important last night, so invested in the first three goals. I mentioned to the people in the press box last night, he doesn’t just have three assists, they were all primary assists last night. His big league passing and decision making on those three goals were outstanding, all three. It’s fine when a player has one maybe two primary assists, sure you can say he had an impact on the game. But Don isn’t playing in his first or second season of his career, this could be his last, you never know when it will be his last. And he can still play. His feed to Gavin Yates at the 10:43 mark of the first was an east to west pass that set up Gavin to get the puck past Nousianen who couldn’t get over quick enough to the post, Gavin beat him blocker side with no problems. And no one knew that was going to be the game winner. But then 8 minutes and 2 second later as the period was getting close to the end, another east to west pass, this time to Tyson Kirkby who was able to chip the puck in past Nousianen on the same side as the Yates goal, made it 2-0. Don’s instincts and passing set the Black Bears up for the first two, which when it was all said and done, the first would have been enough. Now the third one, in the 2nd period shouldn’t have counted, however it did. The puck had come in, shot up after Nousianen made the save and lightly touched the netting. Even up in the press box, many saw it and knew the play should have been called dead, none of the four officials saw it. Olivieri 45 seconds later set up Dan Stone for the third goal of the game and this one was quickly being taken over by the Black Bears and the Don of Binghamton. The fourth goal of the game, I am so happy was scored by Chris Mott. Yes, short-handed, the second short-handed goal of the playoffs for the Black Bears and he was set-up by once again Austin Thompson. Mott after he was sent the puck from Thompson came in, made some weird move, trying to fool Nousianen, but ultimately cashed in with a wrist-er that Nousianen was not going to save. This was Mott’s first game of the playoffs and from winning face-offs, playing smart hockey and bringing in some energy to the team, he did exactly what Brant Sherwood wanted from him. Austin Thompson doesn’t have a goal yet in this playoffs, he has done everything else for the Black Bears and his game last night was still outstanding. Sometimes you see plays develop differently when your in the press-box and when you see Austin playing a role that doesn’t always get noticed, you know the impact hes making. He takes a beating, he puts his body on the line and battles and CREATES smart chances for his fellow teammates and that is what he did last night for Mott’s short-handed goal. Listen, last night the Black Bears played an upbeat, high tempo game. They scored early, getting the first two in the first period and then they were able to sit back a little and play outstanding defense last night. Connor McAnanama only saw 17 shots in his second playoff shutout and that is because the team in front of him just flat out shut the Prowlers down. Personally I think last night’s game was better than the 4-0 shutout of the Wolves the week before. Yes the same score and result, but their backs against the wall, the challenge in front of them, the Black Bears more than exceeded what anyone could have thought they would have done. Challenge accepted by the players, fans and everyone in that building. Listen, when everyone is on board and everyone is at their best mind-set and are focused, nothing can beat these Binghamton Hockey fans or the Binghamton Black Bears. Game 3 is tonight at 6:00 PM. Will you be there to will and push the Black Bears players to their best for a second straight night, if there was ever a time for the Black Bears fans to be present, other than last night, it is tonight.
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