BINGHAMTON BLACK BEARS at DASHERS of DANVILLE
Big First Powers Bingo
by Devin Dobek
Danville, IL - The Dashers Hockey Club returned home for the 4th straight weekend, looking to shock the league and steal some points from the top-seeded Binghamton Black Bears. However, a star studded team on the road would put the game out of reach early, and the Dashers were not able to keep up as the Bears ran away with another big win.
The 13 game slide had to end sometime, but would it be tonight? The Empire’s best Binghamton Black Bears came into town with a mission to make sure that would not happen. The first period began with a flurry of Binghamton opportunities. Out of the first media timeout, the Dashers had some of their own chances, but couldn’t convert on their odd-man rushes and plays in front of the crease. Around the midway point, Scott Ramaekers opened the scoring with a great tip off a Khaden Henry wrist shot that snuck by Wahlgren. Wahlgren would have to play from behind early, still searching to earn his first win. 1:46 later CJ Stubbs sniped a top corner shot to double the margin and put the Dashers on their heels early. In the midst of all this, the Dashers had a golden opportunity when Brandon Stojcevski gave a perfect pass to Yosuke Jumonji across the crease, but Black Bears star goalie Connor McAnanama slammed the door shut. To add insult to injury, with just under 3 minutes to go, an unfortunate bounce from behind the goal presented Austin Thompson with a goal on a platter in front to make it 3-0. The Dashers had their work cut out for them early on for the rest of the way.
Period 2 began as a brief continuation of the first frame, as it took just 55 seconds for captain Tyson Kirkby to tip home an Austin Thompson low angle shot and make it 4-0. There was life for the Dashers when 3 minutes later Jhuwon Davis slammed home a rebound off a Colton Wiacek shot to put the home squad on the board. Binghamton continued to bring a fast and physical game, which led to 5 minor penalties presenting just about half the frame as a Dashers powerplay. Dakota Bohn was also booked for a misconduct penalty for abuse of officials. Nonetheless, the Dashers couldn’t capitalize with all of their man-advantage time, but had plenty of opportunities to do so. Binghamton’s 2nd best penalty kill in the Fed helped their netminder Connor Mcananama hold strong, and as the horn sounded the score stayed at 4-1.
Out of the break with the same deficit as the first intermission, the challenge would be even tougher for a struggling Dashers group. There was life when Brandon Stojcevski lifted home a rebound to make it 4-2 with 18 minutes to go. The physicality picked up big time, with both teams pushing, shoving and swinging as tensions rose. The officials did a great job of getting in the middle of all the bad blood to calm down both sides. The Dashers chances continued to grow and grow, but the wind was taken right out of the sails when Scott Ramaekers grabbed a tally to push the lead back to 3. After that, the Black Bears began to run away with the contest, A post and a crossbar were hit moments later, but the final blow came off a rocket of a snipe from Kyle Stephan to put the game out of reach at 6-2.
The Dashers fall for the 14th straight time, including the 7th straight on their 8-game homestand which concludes tomorrow night. Their record drops to 1-14-2 as Binghamton improves to 15-3-1. Tomorrow night the two sides will square off once more with puck drop at 7:05 CST inside the David S. Palmer Arena.
9-9 PK Does the Job
by Brooks Hill
Danville, IL - The Binghamton Black Bears defeated the Dashers Hockey Club 6-2 on Friday Night. Binghamton was able to net six goals in their first ever trip to the David S. Palmer Arena, all of which came at even strength. The Black Bears penalty kill units slammed the door closed, successfully denying the Dashers on all nine of their power plays.
The teams started off the contest trading chances on both ends. Scott Ramaekers started the scoring halfway into the first period. CJ Stubbs followed the opening goal with his second of the year, just 90 seconds later. The Black Bears weren’t done yet. Austin Thompson and Tyson Kirkby were able to connect from down below the goal line, as Thompson tallied his 11th of the year. All Black Bears in the opening 20.
Captain Kirkby started off the period right where he left off… on the scoresheet. Kirkby was able to deflect a shot right in front of the net, picking up his 14th of the season. The Dashers were able to get on the board thanks to Jhuwon Davis at the 3:23 mark of the period. All the scoring was wrapped up before the first media break in the second period. However, the Black Bears found themselves in the penalty box multiple times. The PK unit killed all 5-5 opportunities for the Dashers, including a 5-on-3 in the second period.
The Dashers were able to grab another goal from Brandon Stojcevski, but that is where the scoring stopped for the home team. Ramaekers potted his second of the night after another big penalty kill, and Kyle Stephan added the exclamation point to cap off the first night in Danville. Binghamton wins 6-2, posting 41 shots, 9-9 on the PK and Connor McAnanama made 26 saves in net.
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