Game Preview: Hat Tricks at Binghamton Black Bears | Nov. 2, 2024

LAST TIME OUT

Watertown forward Carter Thornton’s game-winner at 3:13 of overtime was the difference in a 3-2 Watertown win over the Hat Tricks on Friday night in Danbury’s first game of the weekend. The Wolves came from behind twice in the second period to pick up two points and improve to 4-1-1-1. Despite the loss, Danbury has now secured points in four straight games (8) but falls to 2-1-2. 

The first period was a goaltending battle between Danbury’s Frankie McClendon and Watertown’s Anton Borodkin, until Hat Tricks forward Gleb Bandurkin notched his first professional goal in his pro debut at 14:49. 

Despite 17 combined shots in the third period, no one found the back of the net, sending the game to overtime when Thornton sniped home the game-winner over the blocker of McClendon.

McClendon made 32 saves on 35 shots in his first start of the season, while the Hat Tricks were outshot 35-33. Forwards Connor Woolley and Jacob Ratcliffe provided points for the second straight game and third-year defenseman Zach Pamaylaon logged his first point of the season, an assist on Ratcliffe’s goal.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Hat Tricks visit the Binghamton Black Bears for the first time this season. On Oct. 25, Danbury lost the season’s first meeting in overtime, despite having a 2-1 lead after two periods. Cameron Clarke tapped home the game-winner on the power play at 3:03 of OT to seal the victory for the Black Bears and push their win streak to three. All five goals in the game came on special teams, four on the power play, and one shorthanded. Black Bears goalie Connor McAnanama made 42 saves, while Connor McCollum stopped 51 shots. Forward Cory Anderson scored shorthanded in the second period for his first goal of the season.

After Saturday night, the two sides will face off 10 more times, five in Danbury and five in Binghamton, N.Y. The series shifts back to Connecticut for two more games from Nov. 15–16 and an additional on Nov. 23. Danbury returns to Binghamton on Nov. 27 before again hosting on Dec. 28. After that, the Empire Division foes will not meet again until March, when the Hat Tricks revisit the Black Bears on March 14 and March 28. On March 29, Danbury is back home versus Binghamton for one game until it travels to Binghamton for one final time on April 11.

Last season, the Hat Tricks went just 1-10-2-5 against the Black Bears, with three wins coming in shootouts, two in overtime, and one in regulation. Danbury allowed a combined 74 goals to Binghamton in 18 games, which held the second-highest goal differential (+106) in both the regular season and the playoffs (+13). Danbury finished last season with a 22-19-6-9 record in the regular season, 30 points behind Binghamton for first in the Empire Division.

ABOUT THE BLACK BEARS

Binghamton has won six of its first seven games, securing first place in the Empire Division with 15 points. It rides a three-game overtime win streak with victories over the Hat Tricks, Port Huron Prowlers, and Hudson Valley Venom. 

The reigning Commissioner’s Cup champions have relied on returning captain Tyson Kirkby’s FPHL-leading 15 points (5g, 10a) to kickstart another Cup run. Forward Austin Thompson has tallied six goals, including a hat trick against Hudson Valley on Oct. 18, good for the league’s third-most after finishing each of the last two seasons with 56 points. Binghamton’s offense is further bolstered by eight returners with eight or more points through seven games. 

The Black Bears have scored the most power-play goals in the league (12) but struggle on the penalty kill (73.0%), allowing 10 goals.

HAT TRICKS HEADLINES

The Hat Tricks finish off a three-game road stretch Saturday night in Binghamton after taking down Hudson Valley on Saturday (Oct. 26) and falling in overtime Friday night against Watertown. 

Through its first five games, Danbury has scored seven power play goals and is tied with Watertown for third-most in the FPHL. Despite two losses, the Hat Tricks have recorded points in four straight games (8) since starting the season with a regulation loss against Motor City, 4-2, on Oct. 18. Danbury has been outshot in both of its losses including 10-1 in the extra frame.

Forward Jacob Ratcliffe has scored goals in back-to-back games for the first time since April 12 of last season and currently leads the team with nine points and seven assists. Corey Cunningham, Aleksandr Gamzatov, and Chase Harwell are all tied with a team-high three goals.

RATCLIFFE’S STRONG START

Forward Jacob Ratcliffe has registered a team-high seven assists and nine points through the Hat Tricks’ first five games, including back-to-back goals over the last two. In his second season last year, he recorded a career-high 46 points (15g, 31a), the second-most behind Jonny Ruiz. This past summer, the Canterbury, New Zealand, native won an AIHL championship with the Canberra Brave and was named the Finals MVP with four points (2g, 2a) in a 5-0 win. He also won the Team MVP after notching 42 points (17g, 25a) in 21 games.

PAMAYLAON GETS ON THE SCORESHEET

Defenseman Zach Pamaylaon tallied his first assist of the season in Friday’s overtime loss. The Aiea, Hawaii, native provided 16 helpers last season, his second with Danbury, after registering 17 during the Hat Tricks’ 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup run. Before arriving in Danbury in 2022, Pamaylaon competed at Bryn Athyn College of the ACHA (Division II) from 2017 to 2022. 

OVERTIME OBSTACLES

The Hat Tricks have dropped their only two overtime games of the season to the Empire Division-leading Binghamton Black Bears and Watertown Wolves. Danbury led Binghamton by one goal entering the third period on Oct. 25 and allowed two straight goals to Watertown in Friday’s road loss. Last season, the Hat Tricks lost just six of the 15 games that went to overtime or resulted in shootouts.

BANDURKIN SCORES FIRST GOAL

First-year forward Gleb Bandurkin scored his first goal of the season on Friday in his pro debut. A native of Moscow, Russia, Bandurkin gave the Hat Tricks their first score of the night in Watertown after signing a four-game PTO prior tothe game. This season marks Bandurkin’s first in the FPHL after spending the 2022-23 season with Dynamo-Altay Barnaul of Russia’s Supreme Hockey League.

MCCLENDON BACK IN THE NET 

In his first start of the season on Friday, goaltender Frankie McClendon, in his fourth year with the Hat Tricks, made 32 saves in Danbury’s overtime loss to Watertown. Before this season, the Oakland, Calif., native played for six other teams in the FPHL/FHL, including the Carolina Thunderbirds, Columbus River Dragons, and the Elmira River Sharks last season across the past 10 seasons. McClendon also helped Carolina to the Commissioner’s Cup in the 2018-19 season.

WOOLLEY’S IMPRESSIVE THIRD SEASON

Winger Connor Woolley holds three assists through five games as he begins his third professional season. The Pawling, N.Y., native finished Danbury’s first road win of the year with one goal and one assist in his top performance this season. A former four-year player at Salem State of the MASCAC (Division III), Woolley helped guide the Hat Tricks to their first Commissioner’s Cup championship in 2023 and turned in a career-best 34 points (12g, 22a) last season.

Single-game tickets and full/ partial season membership plans are still available for purchase. If you are interested, email herm@danburyhattricks.com or go to Tixr.

To stay up to date on all things Danbury Hat Tricks hockey, go to danburyhattricks.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok (@DanburyHatTricks).

ABOUT DANBURY HAT TRICKS:

The Danbury Hat Tricks are a professional hockey team based in Danbury, Connecticut, competing in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). Since their founding in 2019, the Hat Tricks have brought thrilling, hard-hitting hockey to the Danbury Ice Arena, earning a reputation for their fierce competitive spirit and strong community presence. The team is dedicated to providing an exciting game-day experience for fans of all ages, with a focus on building long-lasting connections within the local community.

Proudly representing Danbury, the Hat Tricks are committed to excellence both on and off the ice. In addition to developing top-tier hockey talent, the team engages in numerous community outreach programs, fostering relationships with local schools, businesses, and charities. The Hat Tricks aim to continue growing the sport of hockey in the area and provide entertainment that brings the community together.

Whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or new to the sport, the Danbury Hat Tricks promise an unforgettable experience every time they take the ice.