Binghamton Black Bears

Minor professional hockey team

Binghamton Black Bears

City	Binghamton, New York
League	Federal Prospects Hockey League
Division	Empire
Founded	2021
Home arena	Visions Veterans Memorial Arena
Colors	Black, green, white
Owner(s)	Andreas Johansson^[1]
Head coach	Brant Sherwood
Media	Press & Sun-Bulletin WENE
Franchise history
2021–present	Binghamton Black Bears

The Binghamton Black Bears are a minor professional hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) based in Binghamton, New York, with home games at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.^[2]

History

A new Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) team owned by Andreas Johansson, the majority owner of the Watertown Wolves, was approved to play at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, New York, on May 12, 2021.

The team began play in the 2021–22 season, replacing the Binghamton Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL) that had relocated to Utica, New York.^[3] Former ECHL player James Henry was initially named the team's first head coach,^[4] but he left in August 2021 to join the ECHL's Reading Royals as an assistant coach.^[5] Former Danville Dashers and Indianapolis Ice head coach Rod Davidson was then hired to replace Henry.^[6] For 2022-23, veteran coach Gary Gill was hired to take over the team as head coach.^[7] He left the team in December, at which time Brant Sherwood was hired as interim head coach,^[8] and following the 2022-23 season the interim tag was removed.

In late July 2023 prior to the start of the 2023-24 season, the Black Bears announced a lease extension at least through the 2026-27 season. However, the lease allows the team to be replaced if an AHL or higher level professional sports team shows interest in replacing them. ^[9]

Season-by-season results

Regular season										Playoffs
Season	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts^[a]	Pct	GF	GA	PIM	Division Semi Finals	Semifinals	Finals
2021-22	59	32	25	2	94	.531	288	283	1057	L, 1-2 Danbury	—	—
2022-23	56	36	15	5	110	.655	285	195	1422	W, 2-0 Watertown	L, 2-1 Danbury	—

Notes

^ The FPHL awards 3 points for a regulation time win, 2 points for an overtime win, and 1 point for an overtime or shootout loss

References

^ "Staff". Binghamton Black Bears. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
^ "Introducing the Binghamton Black Bears". FHL. May 12, 2021.
^ "Binghamton Black Bears to Join FPHL Beginning in 2021-2022". WICZ-TV. May 12, 2021.
^ "James Henry Named First Head Coach in Black Bears History". OurSports Central. June 16, 2021.
^ "JAMES HENRY, FORMER ADIRONDACK THUNDER CAPTAIN, NAMED ASSISTANT COACH OF READING ROYALS". Reading Royals. August 23, 2021.
^ "BLACK BEARS ANNOUNCE NEW HEAD COACH". Binghamton Black Bears. August 26, 2021.
^ "News: BLACK BEARS NAME GARY GILL NEW HEAD COACH - Binghamton Black Bears". www.binghamtonblackbears.com. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
^ "News: BRANT SHERWOOD NAMED INTERIM-HEAD COACH - Binghamton Black Bears". www.binghamtonblackbears.com. 2022-12-29. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
^ "Black Bears extended through 2026-2027 season". WIVT - NewsChannel 34. 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-29.