Game Recap: Hat Tricks Fall 6-3 to Binghamton in First Road Test

DANBURY —The Danbury Hat Tricks dropped their third straight game of the season, and first on the road, in a 6-3 loss to the defending Commissioner’s Cup champion Binghamton Black Bears. Danbury starts the season 0-3 for the first time since 2019-20.

It was a one-goal game with two minutes remaining until Binghamton sealed the win in a 40-second span. Gavin Yates scored an empty-netter before Scott Ramaekers tapped in a cross-slot pass from Jacob Shankar following a Hat Tricks turnover. Despite the loss, goaltender Connor Penton stopped 44 of 49 shots in his second professional start.

Forward Cameron Clark opened the scoring for Binghamton, burying a rebound off Penton’s right pad at 2:41 of the first period. Less than two minutes later, Ivan Bondarenko doubled the lead, sliding the puck through Penton’s five-hole.

Danbury got on the board late in the period when newly acquired rookie Jordon Kromm scored his first professional goal at 19:36. In his Hat Tricks debut, Kromm rang a shot off the right post, off the back of goalie Connor McAnanama, and over the line.

Bondarenko struck again early in the second period with a backhander around Penton’s outstretched left pad to make it 3-1. Captain Jonny Ruiz answered on the power play at 5:38, ripping a shot from the right circle off a feed from Noah Robinson, who recently returned from loan to the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen, for his first goal of the season. But Austin Thompson restored Binghamton’s two-goal advantage late in the frame with a low wrister from the slot.

In the third, Austan Bellefeuille recorded his first goal in black and orange at 7:09, bringing Danbury within one after the puck deflected off a Black Bears defender. The goal marked the Hat Tricks’ first even-strength tally of the 2025–26 campaign. Bellefeuille also became the second member of his family to score while wearing a Danbury sweater—his uncle, Blake Bellefeuille, notched the inaugural goal for the Danbury Trashers in 2004–05.

Next up, the Hat Tricks return home Saturday, Oct. 18, to face the Black Bears again in search of their first win of the season. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Danbury Hat Tricks continue their sixth season in the Federal Prospects Hockey League on Friday, Oct. 17 against the Binghamton Black Bears at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton before returning home versus the Black Bears on Saturday, Oct. 18. Single-game tickets and season ticket packages are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Hat Tricks office located inside the Danbury Ice Arena at 1 Independence Way in Danbury, by calling (973-713-7547) or emailing (herm@danburyhattricks.com) the office, or online through Tixr. For the latest Hat Tricks news, visit www.danburyhattricks.com, follow the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/danburyhattricks), Instagram (@danburyhattricks), X (@DanburyHatTrick), TikTok (@danburyhattricks), and YouTube (@DanburyHatTricks), and subscribe to the Hat Tricks' newsletter.

ABOUT DANBURY HAT TRICKS:

The Danbury Hat Tricks are a professional hockey team based in Danbury, CT and compete in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). Since their founding in 2019, the 2023 Commissioner's Cup Champions have brought thrilling, fast-paced, and hard-hitting hockey to the Danbury Ice Arena, earning a reputation for their competitive spirit, electric atmosphere and strong community ties. The team is dedicated to providing an unforgettable game-day experience for fans of all ages while proudly representing the city of Danbury.

Off the ice, the Hat Tricks are committed to fostering connections within the local community through outreach programs with schools, businesses and charities. By developing top-tier hockey talent and growing the sport in the region, the Hat Tricks aim to bring the community together and deliver entertainment that leaves a lasting impact.