ALong the same lines as the NHL thread going on. I'm a Binghamton Senators fan. I've lived in Binghamton for the better part of 16 years. When I first moved here it was the Binghamton Whalers (Hartfords affiliate) then they switched to the Binghamton Rangers (being a Rangers fan it was a GREAT thing, I remember watching Tie Domi and others back in the day). When the Rangers moved to Hartford and became the Wolfpack, the AHL left Binghamton for a few years. The UHL moved into town and it sucked, I'd rather watch college hockey than the UHL. Thankfully the B-Sens came to town a couple years ago and I've been following them ever since. It's nice to see the future stars developing in my hometown. Jason Spezza spent his first season here and was a big hit, luckily the Sens have got some good talent in the pool.
Nice thread. I was wondering if you ever saw a Bing Rangers game since I saw Binghamton as your location. I don't really follow the AHL but I do check in on the Wolfpack from time to time. I figure if they're the Rangers farm club I might as well root for them. I still haven't gone to a game, but maybe next season when they come up to Providence to play the P-Bruins I'll go. Dunkin Donuts Center, really not that bad of an arena.
I grew up on the late, great New Haven Nighthawks, but since they're gone now (along with the decrepit old New Haven Coliseum) I try to make it out to Bridgeport Sound Tigers games whenever I'm home. Nice new arena and a quality team, but it's a shame they can't get more (and more rabid) fans than they have so far. Back in the old days New Haven fans used to be absolutely out of their mind; they had a New Haven Fan night at a Sound Tigers game last year, and a bunch of them still showed up - still looking like a freakshow or the cast of a Fellini movie, and still louder than the rest of the building. good times...
Wow, this is pretty incredible, so I attended Oneonta State from 1980-84 and took many a drive down 88 to the Broome County Arena to see the Whalers play and also a few concerts. Looks like you now only have a FHL team playing in Binghamton.
If it makes you feel better, when you graduated for Oneonta (now SUNY Oneonta) I was still in elementary school lol Binghamton's now has a FPHL team, the Binghamton Black Bears and they're probably the best team in the league. They've won the last two Commissioner's Cups and are still lighting it up this season. It's fun to watch, not a great level, but still fun to watch. I would love to see a return of the AHL, but doubt it will happen any time soon.
yeah, believe me...I am OLD. I think that there is a team playing in these parts (Danbury) in that league. So on one my college trips down 88, I get tickets in the last row directly below the press box and Marty Howe of course is one their best players. I'm sitting there and look up into the open press box and who should sit down right behind me...yep, Mr. Hockey himself. I have his autograph somewhere here on a Binghamton Whalers program...I really miss those days.
Yes, the Danbury Hat Trick. I went and watched Binghamton play them at the end of November. That's a cool story, the old Whalers. Binghamton used to keep it nice and simple, adopting the name of their NHL parent team with their own unique spin on the logo. I really like how simple they kept the Whalers logo, just taking Hartford's and turning it 90 degree counter-clockwise so it was a B.
Saw at least a couple of great concerts that I can remember at the Broome County Arena including Tom Petty and then Squeeze.
Sadly they don't have many there like they used to. I've seen Metallica, Tool, DMB, Green Day and many more there. Now we're lucky to get one concert a year and it's never a big act.
Hershey Bears. Caps fan since Day 1, and I've visited Hershey many times for the park as well as kids soccer/hockey tournaments. It's a great little city. Went to the Christmas 'festival' many years ago, including the tour of the city. I got to watch my son play hockey in the old arena and even score a goal in a hockey tournament in the new one that had just opened.