The future of hockey in Binghamton is unclear. The Binghamton Senators will head to Belleville, Ontario for the 2017-18 season and no team has been named as a replacement for Binghamton, but B-Sens Vice President Tom Mitchell says that he is 99% sure that the AHL will be in Binghamton next year. That 1% uncertainty in Mitchell’s mind is for, as he says, “you can never say 100%, the building could burn down tomorrow.” But, in the meantime, the Binghamton Senators are here and the season starts Saturday.
The players and coaching staff know how special Binghamton is as a hockey market and want to go out with a bang to thank the fans. Kurt Kleinendorst, returning to the B-Sens after leaving in 2012 and winning a Calder Cup in 2011, says the fans deserve another championship.
“I think the fans here, they have a soft place in my heart. If you tell me I have a soft place in their heart, that’s a good thing because it means it’s mutual,” Kleinendorst says. “I’m just hoping we can have a great year, a special year, a championship year and just go out on a high note. I think that the fans of Binghamton are as good as they come. I think they’re about as loyal as it gets. It would be awesome if we could have a special season, for sure.”
“I think its a special opportunity. I think all the guys are privileged to be here in this final year and we want to make sure that we make it a memorable one,” says Zack Stortini, last year’s team captain. “For us it’s about coming each and every day, whether it’s a practice or a game, and making sure that the fans are entertained and it’s going to be a special year.”
The B-Sens host Hershey on Saturday at 7:05. It’s the final home opener in Binghamton Senators history.