BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Tyson Kirkby has been a household name for hockey fans in the Greater Binghamton area for the past five years, and his time with the Black Bears has officially come to an end.
The Black Bears released a statement ahead of the FPHL expansion draft that he was a part of the unprotected list. It has now been determined where he’ll be heading.
The veteran captain of Binghamton is the franchise leader in games with 198 played, goals with 136, assists with 176, points with 312, and power-play goals with 41.
A statement was released by the Black Bears before the expansion draft, where Kirkby spoke about his time with the team and being in the city of Binghamton.
“Binghamton has become my home away from home these past five seasons. In my first game playing here in 2022, I knew there was something special about this city. From winning championships the past three years, to getting married to my amazing wife Morgan, this chapter of my story has been truly incredible. Each championship season told a different story, but I am proud that it ended with the same result! I would like to thank all the fans for the support you have given me and my family on and off the ice. Binghamton is truly a special place to play and will never take my time here for granted. I am excited to take on a new challenge and join a new team. I believe this decision will be the best for my future and give me the opportunity to learn more in hopes of learning about managing an organization from the ground up.”
Kirkby captained the three-peat for Binghamton, winning back-to-back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup Championships.
In the expansion draft, Kirkby was taken as the #2 pick by the Mid-South Monarchs.
He became the first player in this new franchise’s history. Mid-South also recently assigned Mac Jansen as its head coach, who retired in the past weeks from Binghamton.
The Monarchs are also under the ownership of Andreas Johansson and are located in Southaven, Mississippi.
Camron Cervone was also drafted as the #7 pick in the 2nd round of the expansion draft to Mid-South to join Kirkby.
Cervone would play two seasons in Binghamton, where he would play in 70 total regular-season games on the blue line, scoring four goals while also adding 13 assists. He also has a game-winning goal on his resume.
Cervone also tallied seven postseason games this past season.
Emerson Emery would be taken by Mid-South in the 3rd round as pick #12. Emery would play the last two seasons with Binghamton, totaling 85 games.
Emery would record five goals and have 20 assists in his time with Binghamton in the regular season. He would be rostered in five games of this past season’s postseason.
As the fourth of four picks available from Binghamton, the Fresno Falcons selected Connor McAnanama as the #14 pick in the 3rd round.
C Mac was the star netminder of the first two FPHL Championships that came for Binghamton. This season he would spend a stint in the SPHL, with the #1 goaltender becoming Dominik Tmej.
McAnanama played in 127 games over the past three seasons, holding a record of 62-8-0-5. He held a goals-against average of 2.25 and had a save percentage of .918.
He would play in 15 postseason games with Binghamton, from 2023-2025. Across those two seasons, he held a 14-1-0-0 record with a goals-against average of 1.65 and a save percentage of .947.
In his time with the Black Bears, McAnanama had 11 shutouts across the regular season and postseason.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT – News 34.