The Federal Prospects Hockey League and the Binghamton Black Bears have officially unveiled the 2026-27 regular season schedule, setting the stage for the franchise's sixth season and another pursuit of the Commissioner's Cup. The 56-game schedule brings new opponents, a new conference alignment, and one of the most diverse schedules the Black Bears have faced since joining the FPHL in 2021.

For the third consecutive season, the Black Bears will begin their campaign against the Watertown Wolves. Opening Night is set for Saturday, October 10, when the Wolves visit Visions Veterans Memorial Arena for Binghamton's home opener. Before the puck drops, the organization will celebrate its historic run by raising its third consecutive Commissioner's Cup Championship banner to the rafters.

The long-standing rivalry with Watertown remains one of the league's marquee match-ups, with the teams meeting 11 times during the regular season. Six of those contests will be played in Binghamton, while five will take place at Watertown Arena. Fittingly, the rivals will also close out the regular season with a two-game series in Binghamton on April 16th and 17th before the Commissioner's Cup Playoffs begin.

New Conference, Familiar Rivals

The 2026-27 season also marks the beginning of a new era for the FPHL, with the Black Bears joining the newly formed Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division alongside the Danbury Hat Tricks, Blue Ridge Bobcats and Twin City Thunderbirds.

Binghamton's fiercest divisional rivalry with Danbury continues in a big way, as the clubs will square off 11 times. Their first meeting comes on Friday, October 30th, in Danbury before the teams complete a home-and-home series the following night on Halloween in Binghamton. Interestingly, all 11 meetings between the rivals will take place before January 22nd, meaning the season series will be decided before the second half of the schedule is underway.

The Black Bears will also meet the Blue Ridge Bobcats five times, including just one appearance at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday, January 23rd. Against the Twin Cit
y Thunderbirds, Binghamton will play six games, making two separate two-game trips to Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Outside of the Atlantic Division, the Black Bears will play every member of the Great Lakes Division. They'll face the Port Huron Prowlers eight times, the Motor City Rockers six times, the Indiana Sentinels twice and the Wolves eleven times.

New Opponents Visit Binghamton

Fans will also get to see several teams making limited appearances in Binghamton this season.

OOne of the biggest weekends on the calendar comes February 26th and 27th, when the expansion Mid-South Monarchs make their only trip to Binghamton. The series is expected to feature the return of several familiar faces, including Mac Jansen, Tyson Kirkby, Camron Cervone, and Emerson Emery, all of whom helped the Black Bears capture Commissioner's Cup championships before joining Mid-South.

Another unique weekend arrives November 13th-15th when the Baton Rouge Kingfish visit Binghamton for the only three-games-in-three-days series on the Black Bears' schedule. The Friday, Saturday, and Sunday set will also mark Baton Rouge's only trip to Visions Veterans Memorial Arena as well as the only games this season between the two franchises.

The Black Bears will also make road trips to face two opponents they will not host during the regular season, traveling to Columbus for two games against the River Dragons and to Indiana for a pair against the Sentinels./p>

Holiday Traditions Continue

Several fan-favorite dates also return to the calendar.

TThe Black Bears will once again host their traditional Thanksgiving Eve game on Wednesday, November 25th, when the Danbury Hat Tricks come to town.

The annual New Year's Eve game also returns, with the Watertown Wolves visiting Binghamton on Thursday, December 31st. It will be the only Thursday home game on the schedule./p>

Breaking Down the Schedule

The Black Bears will once again enjoy a balanced 28-game home and 28-game road schedule.

As has become tradition, weekends dominate the calendar. Binghamton will host 10 Friday night games and 14 Saturday night contests, accounting for 24 of its 28 home dates. The remaining home schedule consists of two Wednesday games, one Thursday game, and a lone Sunday afternoon contest.

By month, the busiest stretches come in December, January, and March, each featuring nine games. March will present the toughest challenge, with just two home games and seven on the road.

The Black Bears' longest home-stand spans four games from February 19th through February 27th. Immediately afterward, they'll embark on their longest road trip of the season—a demanding seven-game stretch from March 5th through March 20th. The trip includes stops in Michigan against the Motor City Rockers, Winston-Salem to face the Twin City Thunderbirds, and concludes with three games in four nights against the Watertown Wolves.

A Fresh Look for Year Six

After facing only seven different opponents during the 2025-26 season, Binghamton will battle ten different teams in 2026-27, giving fans a much greater variety of opponents throughout the year. Between a new divisional format, expanded travel, fresh match-ups, and the return of former Black Bears in opposing jerseys, this season's schedule offers something unique nearly every weekend.

As the Black Bears prepare to raise another championship banner on Opening Night, the journey toward an unprecedented fourth consecutive Commissioner's Cup begins with what may be the most balanced, challenging, and entertaining schedule in franchise history.

Click here to see the full 2026-27 schedule.

History has officially been written in Binghamton. The Binghamton Black Bears are once again champions of the FPHL, defeating the Pee Dee IceCats 4-2 in Game 4 of the Commissioner's Cup Finals on Saturday night at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena to capture their third consecutive Commissioner's Cup Championship. With the victory, the Black Bears became just the fourth minor professional hockey franchise in the last century to complete a three-peat, joining the Springfield Indians (AHL), Fort Wayne Komets (IHL), and Florida Everblades (ECHL). In front of another packed and deafening crowd in Binghamton, the Black Bears overcame an early deficit before dominating the middle portion of the game to secure the championship-clinching win.

The opening period carried the intensity expected from a potential championship-clinching game. Both teams exchanged physical play early, with scrums after whistles and several momentum swings throughout the first twenty minutes. Binghamton controlled much of the puck possession and outshot the IceCats 12-9 in the frame, but Pee Dee found the breakthrough late in the period. After Noah Robinson was sent to the box for holding at 18:03, the Black Bears appeared poised to head to the power play with an opportunity to strike first. Instead, the IceCats delivered a massive momentum swing. Houston Wilson intercepted a play and broke free shorthanded before beating Dominik Tmej at 18:47 to give Pee Dee a 1-0 lead. Drew Welsch earned the assist on the goal as the IceCats grabbed the advantage despite being outshot.

Championship teams respond, and the Black Bears responded like champions. Just 36 seconds into the second period, Gavin Yates tied the game after finishing off a setup from Tyson Kirkby and Dan Stone. The goal ignited the building and completely shifted momentum in Binghamton's favor. Less than two minutes later, Gehrett Sargis gave the Black Bears the lead for good. Kyle Stephan created the opportunity, and Sargis buried the chance at 2:12 to make it 2-1. The Black Bears continued pouring on the pressure, and at 5:11, the two connected again—this time with Sargis returning the favor to Stephan, who extended the lead to 3-1. Binghamton's dominant period was capped off midway through the frame when Scott Ramaekers blasted home a power-play goal at 10:51. Ivan Bondarenko and Tyson Kirkby earned assists as the Black Bears pushed the lead to 4-1 and brought the crowd to its feet once again. While the IceCats attempted to generate momentum later in the period, the Black Bears continued to control play defensively and received steady goaltending from Dominik Tmej whenever called upon. By the end of the second period, Binghamton had completely flipped the game and moved within twenty minutes of history.

With a championship within reach, the Black Bears locked things down defensively in the final period. Pee Dee attempted to mount one final push and cut the deficit to 4-2 at 10:53 when Charlie Bedard scored off a feed from Nicholas Magill-Diaz. The IceCats generated more pressure throughout the third period, outshooting Binghamton 10-4 in the frame, but Dominik Tmej and the Black Bears defense held firm. Binghamton successfully killed off third-period penalties to Jacob Shankar and Zac Sirota while continuing to clog shooting lanes and protect the front of the net. As the final seconds ticked away, the crowd inside Visions Veterans Memorial Arena rose to its feet knowing history was moments away. When the horn finally sounded, gloves, sticks, and helmets flew into the air as the Black Bears officially secured their third straight Commissioner's Cup Championship. The championship run once again highlighted the core leadership and culture built inside the organization under head coach Brant Sherwood, who has now coached all three title teams. Several players also cemented their place in Black Bears history by being part of all three championships: captain Tyson Kirkby, Gavin Yates, Kyle Stephan, Jesse Anderson, Connor McAnanama, Scott Ramaekers, Dan Stone, and Dan Wieber all played key roles across the dynasty run.

For the Pee Dee IceCats, the loss closes one of the most remarkable inaugural seasons in recent FPHL history. From expansion franchise to Commissioner's Cup Finalists, the IceCats proved throughout the postseason that they belonged among the league's elite. But this night belonged to the Black Bears. Three straight years. Three straight championships. A dynasty officially etched into minor professional hockey history.

Click here to see the BinghamtonHockey.net Boxscore.

The Binghamton Black Bears (6-2) defeated the Pee Dee IceCats (5-3) in Game 3 of the Commissioner Cup Finals in Binghamton in an epic 8-1 style. In front of a sold-out crowd at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, the Black Bears struck first in Game 3 thanks to an aggressive penalty kill and an outstanding individual effort from Zac Sirota. After Scott Ramaekers was sent to the box for interference early in the opening period, the Black Bears turned defense into offense. Ivan Bondarenko sprung Sirota in deep on a shorthanded rush, where the forward made a smooth move around Breandan Colgan before finishing the play at 5:29 to give Binghamton a 1-0 lead. The goal marked the first shorthanded tally of the Finals for either team and immediately energized the packed home crowd. The Black Bears controlled much of the opening frame, carrying the pace offensively and limiting Pee Dee's chances through the neutral zone. Binghamton consistently pressured the IceCats in their own zone and held a commanding advantage in shots on goal throughout the period. But late in the frame, Pee Dee found a way to answer. With traffic building in front of Dominik Tmej, the IceCats were able to capitalize on a scramble opportunity in the offensive zone. Timur Rasulov found the loose puck through a screen and buried the equalizer at 17:18, silencing the crowd momentarily and sending the game into the intermission tied at 1-1. Domenic Dellan Civita earned the lone assist on the play. Binghamton nearly had a chance to regain momentum immediately afterward when Nick Gullo was called for tripping with 2:20 left in the period, but the IceCats successfully navigated the late penalty kill to keep the game even heading into the second. Despite the tie score, the Black Bears controlled much of the opening twenty minutes and outshot Pee Dee 16-6.

The Black Bears exploded offensively in the second period, turning a tightly contested game into a rout in front of a roaring crowd in Binghamton. Just 49 seconds into the middle frame, Austin D'Orazio gave the Black Bears the lead for good. Dan Stone sent the puck toward the offensive zone where Gavin Yates helped keep the play alive, allowing D'Orazio to finish the opportunity and make it 2-1 early in the period. Moments later, Pee Dee found itself in penalty trouble, and Binghamton made the IceCats pay. With Alexander Legkov serving a high-sticking minor, the Black Bears went to work on the power play. Zac Sirota found Gehrett Sargis stationed at the back door, where Sargis tapped home an easy finish at 4:09 to extend the lead to 3-1. Gavin Yates collected the secondary assist on the play as Binghamton's momentum continued to build. The offensive surge did not stop there. At 7:35, Kyle Stephan joined the scoring party with his first goal of the playoffs. CJ Stubbs and Jesse Anderson helped set up the play as Stephan buried the opportunity to make it a 4-1 game and send the sold-out crowd into a frenzy. Later in the period, another Pee Dee penalty opened the door for Binghamton's power play once again. With Patriks Marcinkevics in the box for hooking, Gehrett Sargis struck for his second power-play goal of the night at 14:14. Ivan Bondarenko and Mac Jansen picked up assists on the play as the Black Bears continued to overwhelm the IceCats offensively. Binghamton capped off its dominant five-goal period late in the frame when Gavin Yates netted his first goal of the postseason at 17:52. Tyson Kirkby and CJ Stubbs each earned assists as the Black Bears pushed the lead to 6-1 heading into the second intermission. While the offense stole the headlines, Binghamton also continued to control play defensively, limiting Pee Dee's speed through the neutral zone and keeping pressure away from Dominik Tmej. By the end of the period, the Black Bears held a commanding 35-15 advantage in shots on goal.

Any hopes of a Pee Dee comeback were quickly erased in the third period as the Black Bears continued to dominate every aspect of the game. After controlling possession and limiting the IceCats to almost nothing offensively through the opening half of the period, Binghamton added another power-play goal midway through the frame. Patriks Marcinkevics, who spent much of the night in the penalty box, was called once again for interference at 8:27, and the Black Bears immediately capitalized. At 10:04, CJ Stubbs blasted home Binghamton's third power-play goal of the night to extend the lead to 7-1. Ivan Bondarenko and Austin D'Orazio earned assists on the play as the Black Bears special teams continued to overwhelm the IceCats. Just over two minutes later, the captain added the finishing touch. Tyson Kirkby scored Binghamton's eighth and final goal of the night at 12:22, burying a setup from Cheechoo Lathlin to put the finishing touches on a dominant 8-1 victory in Game 3 of the Commissioner's Cup Finals. The third period also highlighted just how completely the Black Bears controlled the defensive side of the game. Pee Dee registered its first shot on goal of the period just 1:34 into the frame and did not record another shot until the 19:38 mark, leaving a staggering 18-minute stretch where the IceCats were unable to generate a single official shot on Dominik Tmej. Whenever Pee Dee managed to enter the offensive zone, the Black Bears swarmed immediately, clearing rebounds, blocking lanes, and eliminating second-chance opportunities in front of the FPHL Goaltender of the Year. Frustrations boiled over late in the game as multiple scrums erupted during the final minutes, resulting in a series of roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct, and misconduct penalties for both teams. When the final horn sounded, the sold-out crowd at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena celebrated one of the most complete performances of the Black Bears' season. Binghamton outshot Pee Dee 44-17, dominated special teams with three power-play goals, and now sits just one win away from a third straight Commissioner's Cup Championship. If the Black Bears can finish the job, they would become just the fourth minor professional hockey franchise in history to complete a three-peat, joining the Springfield Indians (1960-1962 Calder Cup Champions), the Fort Wayne Komets (2008-2010 Turner Cup Champions), and the Florida Everblades (2022-2024 Kelly Cup Champions). Now, the opportunity is right in front of them heading into Game 4 on Saturday night in Binghamton.

Click here to see the BinghamtonHockey.net Boxscore.

The Binghamton Black Bears (5-2) defeated the Pee Dee IceCats (5-2) in Game 2 of the Finals down in Florence, SC to tie the series up at 1 game a piece on Saturday night. The Black Bears came out with the urgency expected from a defending champion facing an early series deficit, and their strong opening twenty minutes was rewarded with a two-goal lead. After Pee Dee successfully killed off an early penalty, the IceCats found themselves in even deeper trouble midway through the period. Consecutive penalties to Timur Rasulov and Charlie Bedard gave Binghamton an extended two-man advantage, and the Black Bears wasted little time capitalizing. At 11:52, Austin D'Orazio blasted home a power-play goal from the point, finishing off a setup from CJ Stubbs and Ivan Bondarenko to give Binghamton a 1-0 lead. The Black Bears continued to control the pace for the remainder of the period, hemming Pee Dee in its own zone and limiting any offensive opportunities. Their dominance was reflected on the shot clock, as the IceCats failed to record a single shot on goal over the final ten minutes of the frame. Binghamton doubled its lead late in the period at 18:05. Following a clean offensive-zone faceoff win, Dan Stone fired a shot from the point that found its way through traffic and past Breandan Colgan. Tyson Kirkby earned the lone assist on Stone's first goal of the postseason, giving the Black Bears a 2-0 advantage heading into the intermission. By the end of the period, Binghamton had thoroughly dictated play, outshooting Pee Dee 20-3 while establishing the type of puck possession and territorial control that has defined their championship pedigree.

The IceCats responded with a much stronger second period, cutting into Binghamton's lead and generating significantly more offensive pressure. Just 3:25 into the middle frame, the IceCats capitalized on an odd-man rush. Alexander Legkov carried the puck into the offensive zone and slid a perfect pass across to Dzianis Zaichyk, who finished the play to bring Pee Dee within one at 2-1. The goal was Zaichyk's second of the Finals and once again highlighted the IceCats' speed in transition. Pee Dee continued to push the pace throughout the period, forcing the Black Bears into a series of penalties. Binghamton successfully weathered the storm, killing off four separate minors in the frame and preserving its lead thanks in large part to the steady play of Dominik Tmej. One of the biggest moments of the night came late in the period. With 3:24 remaining, Drew Welsch broke in alone after Austin D'Orazio made a desperate diving effort to disrupt the rush. A penalty shot was awarded on the play, giving the IceCats a golden opportunity to tie the game. But Tmej came up with one of his biggest saves of the postseason, denying Welsch and keeping Binghamton in front. That stop loomed large as the Black Bears carried their 2-1 lead into the second intermission, despite being outshot 12-6 in the period. Through forty minutes, Binghamton still held a 28-15 advantage in shots on goal.

With a one-goal lead entering the final twenty minutes, the Binghamton Black Bears delivered the kind of disciplined, championship-caliber defensive effort that has defined their postseason success. Neither team found the back of the net in the third period, but the Black Bears effectively controlled the pace and limited Pee Dee's quality scoring opportunities. After the IceCats generated momentum in the second period, Binghamton tightened up defensively, closing passing lanes, winning battles along the boards, and preventing Pee Dee from establishing sustained offensive-zone pressure. An early bench minor for too many men gave the Black Bears a power-play opportunity just 52 seconds into the period, and another IceCats penalty midway through the frame provided Binghamton with additional time on the man advantage. While the Black Bears were unable to add an insurance goal, they successfully managed the game and kept Pee Dee from mounting a serious late push. The IceCats did not pull Breandan Colgan for an extra attacker until just 15 seconds remained, a testament to Binghamton's ability to keep the play away from dangerous areas in the closing minutes. When the final horn sounded, the Black Bears had secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory, evening the Commissioner's Cup Finals at one game apiece as the series now shifts north to Binghamton. After being heavily outshot in the second period, Binghamton regained control in the third, finishing the night with a 40-25 advantage in shots on goal.

Click here to see the BinghamtonHockey.net Boxscore.

The Binghamton Black Bears (4-2) lost to the Pee Dee IceCats (5-1) in Game of the Commissioner's Cup Finals by the score of 5-2 in Florence, SC. The IceCats wasted little time making their presence felt in their first-ever Commissioner's Cup Finals game, striking first on the power play just 5:34 into the opening period. With Scott Ramaekers in the penalty box for hooking, Elijah Wilson capitalized on the man advantage, finishing off a setup from Jacob Hamilton and Nick Gullo to give Pee Dee a 1-0 lead. Binghamton answered quickly, and fittingly, it was Ramaekers himself who responded. After serving the game's first penalty, the veteran forward redeemed himself by netting his first goal of the postseason at the 8:07 mark. Gehrett Sargis and Zac Sirota each picked up assists on the equalizer, knotting the score at 1-1. The IceCats regained the lead late in the period thanks to a fortunate bounce near the Binghamton crease. A loose puck found its way into the slot area in front of Dominik Tmej, where Dzianis Zaichyk pounced and buried the opportunity at 15:51. Nicholas Magill-Diaz and Alexander Legkov assisted on the play, giving Pee Dee a 2-1 advantage heading into the first intermission. After twenty minutes, the IceCats held a slim edge on the scoreboard, while Binghamton carried a slight 12-9 advantage in shots on goal.

If the first period was about execution, the second was all about emotion. The middle frame featured no scoring, but plenty of intensity as both the Binghamton Black Bears and Port Huron Prowlers ramped up the physical play in a tightly contested Game 1. Scrums after whistles, matching minors, and a steady parade to the penalty box defined much of the period. A key sequence came at the 10:09 mark when tensions boiled over, resulting in matching unsportsmanlike conduct penalties to Binghamton’s Jesse Anderson and Port Huron’s Bobby Price, along with roughing minors to Tyson Kirkby and Vincent Dekumbis. The coincidental penalties reflected the growing hostility between the two sides as neither team was willing to give an inch. Special teams opportunities were present throughout the period, but both penalty-kill units stood tall. Binghamton successfully killed off multiple infractions, including penalties to Ivan Bondarenko, Dan Wieber, and Mac Jansen, while Port Huron’s kill unit responded with a strong effort of its own. The most dramatic moment of the period came shorthanded for Binghamton. At 16:15, Jacob Shankar appeared to beat Reid Cooper on a breakaway chance, driving deep into the crease during the play. Officials immediately waved it off and initiated a review, ultimately ruling no goal and keeping the score at 1-0. Despite the lack of scoring, Binghamton continued to control the shot clock, outshooting Port Huron 11-9 in the period and holding a 26-15 advantage through 40 minutes. Dominik Tmej remained sharp between the pipes, turning aside all nine shots he faced in the second, while Cooper continued to keep the Prowlers within striking distance. With tensions high and the margin razor-thin, the series opener heads to the third period with Binghamton clinging to a 1-0 lead.

The Black Bears pushed hard in the final twenty minutes, throwing everything they had at Breandan Colgan in an effort to climb back into Game 1. Binghamton controlled much of the play in the third period, heavily outshooting Pee Dee and generating several quality opportunities, but Colgan and the IceCats' defense stood firm. Tempers flared early in the period following a scrum at 2:41. Zac Sirota and Dominiks Marcinkevics were each assessed matching high-sticking minors, while Patriks Marcinkevics was handed a double minor for butt-ending, giving Binghamton a lengthy power-play opportunity. Despite the extended man advantage, the Black Bears were unable to solve Colgan, a key turning point as Pee Dee preserved its two-goal cushion. Binghamton continued to press, even killing off a Tyson Kirkby tripping penalty midway through the frame. Later, a boarding minor to Dominiks Marcinkevics at 16:45 gave the Black Bears one final late chance to cut into the deficit. With time winding down, Binghamton pulled Dominik Tmej for the extra attacker with 1:22 remaining. The Black Bears sustained pressure in the offensive zone, but the IceCats ultimately sealed the victory when Houston Wilson found the empty net with just seven seconds left. Timur Raslov picked up the lone assist on the insurance marker at 19:53. The final horn sounded on a historic night in Florence, as the expansion Pee Dee IceCats claimed a 5-2 victory in their first-ever Commissioner's Cup Finals game. Backed by a crowd of 5,933 at the Florence Center, the IceCats grabbed a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Despite the loss, Binghamton held a commanding 44-24 advantage in shots on goal, including a 14-3 edge in the third period. But Pee Dee's special teams, timely scoring, and outstanding goaltending from Breandan Colgan proved to be the difference in Game 1.

Click here to see the BinghamtonHockey.net Boxscore.

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