Don’t call this a come back…ok you can

It’s time to give this writing thing a try once again. Why? Well it’s a complicated story, however the quick version is that after Joy Lindsay left the Press & Sun Bulletin many around me asked and/or encouraged me to go for the position. Many, including my very supportive wife have tried to encourage me to apply and go for the B-Sens new beat-writer position at the Press. But that position is not for me; it’s not my style. At least not at this point in my professional career.

I am a broadcaster, an interviewer and even a visionary to a degree. I see a great oppurtunity for many people who want to continue to cultivate the online media format; not just for the sports world but for the American Hockey League as well. There are so many avenues for people like myself, bloggers and budding beat-writers to grow our talents; express our passions via the world wide web. That’s what I wish to do; grow my talents and continue to encourage many other brilliant broadcasters, writers and passionate hockey minds who want to promote the sport that we love more then anything.

“To be a hockey fan is to live hockey through your soul” Yes, that’s my motto. So here I am, writing again about the team I cover, have followed and the city that has inspired me since I was 8 years old.

The Binghamton Senators have an interesting year a head of them with a lockout in order and with some experts saying this could go another full season or more. The Baby Senators will be young; inexpierenced and will struggle. They will have to rely on the “expected” talent of Robin Lehner who will be entering into his 3rd season with only a Calder Cup & Finals MVP run to hold his hat on. Robin in the regular season has not shown consistency and he doesn’t have the NHL call-up this season to fall back on for motivation. Will he come in with heart, passion and motivation or will free agent signee Nathan Lawson do what Barry Brust did 2 seasons ago? That’s 100 % up to Robin.

Robin has all the talent. I will not question that. Does he have the ability to take over a game? Steal a game from the oppenents? Show the world that he’s not a one trick pony?

The B-Sens will have a solid defensive corp in my opinion. The return of Andre Benoit will not only be the key to this years defense but to the teams on ice leadership. Benoit returns to a different style of defense then what was here back in 2011 when he played more minutes then most defensemen in the entire league. This years defense will actually be more talented with the likes of Jared Cowen, who wouldn’t even be with the B-Sens if the lockout wasn’t happening. Mark Borowiecki, an All Star last season for the B-Sens was expected to compete for the 7th position in Ottawa this season. Cowen & Boro are smart defensemen who use their speed, size and lack of fear to move the puck, win battles anywhere on the ice and both will rack up points this season in the AHL.

With Benoit, Borowiecki and Cowen as your top three D-men and Robin’s potential in goal; the B-Sens offense will not have to score 5 goals every single night to win games. And trust me, the B-Sens will not score that much on a regular basis. But I am getting ahead of myself here.

The B-Sens will have recently signed Tyler Eckford, 3rd year pro Eric Gryba, the very talented puck mover Patrick Wiercioch and rookie prospect Ben Blood to round out the defensive corp. To be honest I will take the B-Sens defense and goalies pretty much up against any in the East Division or East Conference. I believe if this group of guys get along with each other like in 2011 and get just a little defensive help from the forwards that the B-Sens can make the playoffs, or not finish in dead last in the league like last season.

Training camp starts in 3 days. I will talk more about this team; the forwards in a post and the coaches in a post before Friday happens.

As always, thanks for reading! I promise to only get better and comments are always welcomed.

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