Before the Black Bears vs Port Huron | 2026 Commissioner's Cup Semifinals

BINGHAMTON- The second round is here, and it will once again be Binghamton and Port Huron clashing for a trip to the finals. The last time these two met, it was a fiery, intense game that Binghamton won 5–1. The Prowlers jumped out in front early with a Bobby Price goal, but after that, it was all Black Bears. Tyson Kirkby quickly tied the game, leading to a deadlock after the first period. The Black Bears took control in the second period, rattling off four unanswered goals. Zac Sirota, Austin D’Orazio, Mac Jansen, and Scott Ramaekers all found the back of the net. A shutdown third period from Dominik Tmej sealed the deal, as the Black Bears beat the Prowlers at home once again.

Binghamton finished off the Topeka Scarecrows last week, sweeping the series in two games. Game one took place in Topeka, where the Black Bears jumped out to a 4–0 lead thanks to goals from C.J. Stubbs, Mac Jansen, and Nick Swain. Topeka responded late with multiple goals from Klinck and another from Jacob Gagnon, but it wasn’t enough, as Binghamton held on for a 4–3 win. The series then shifted to Binghamton, where the Black Bears jumped out to another big lead and never looked back. C.J. Stubbs, Zac Sirota, Gehrett Sargis, Tyson Kirkby, and Jesse Anderson all scored in the dominant performance, while Dominik Tmej held the Scarecrows to just two goals. The Black Bears won the game 6–2 and took the series 2–0.

The Prowlers faced off against the Blue Ridge Bobcats last week, and the series certainly did not disappoint. The first game took place in the Virginia mountains, where the teams traded blows. The game went to overtime, where Nick Stuckless scored for Blue Ridge, giving them a 1–0 series lead. The series then shifted to Port Huron, where the Prowlers had their backs against the wall. The two teams traded goals in the first period, but the Prowlers then rattled off four unanswered goals to earn a 5–1 victory. Five goals, combined with a strong performance from Reid Cooper—who allowed just one goal on 30 shots—were more than enough to even the series. The series came down to a crucial Game 3, in which Blue Ridge scored first. However, the lead was short-lived, as Port Huron scored three straight goals and eventually won the game 4–2. With the victory, Port Huron took the series 2–1.

Players to Watch

Black Bears — C.J. Stubbs (F)

Stubbs had a phenomenal series against Topeka, and it seemed to carry over from what was already a masterpiece of a season. The second-year Black Bear scored four times in the two games and was the driving force in the team’s offense. C.J. is disruptive defensively and can create quite a mess for opponents as they try to break the puck out of their zone. Being reunited with Mac Jansen and now pairing with Ivan Bondarenko has only made Stubbs even better. Stubbs will be the focal point of the Black Bears this weekend as they look to secure a trip to a third straight finals.

Black Bears — Austin D’Orazio (D)

When D’Orazio arrived in Binghamton, he was unknown, but now, after a full season, it’s easy to say this rookie is a star. He netted 24 goals in the regular season while also providing lockdown defense on the other end. D’Orazio is the driving force behind the Black Bears’ power play and executes his role with surgical precision from the blue line. Austin is a huge part of this Black Bears team and shows that with his play on the ice every game. D’Orazio is smooth with the puck and can create havoc for any team tasked with stopping him. The Black Bears will need his power-play ability as they take on a team that is often heavily penalized.

Prowlers — Reggie Millette (F)

Millette has a lot of skill, as the former Division I athlete has found a nice home in Port Huron. He doesn’t need to carry the load as much anymore but still finds himself on the scoresheet regularly. Millette has always been smart with the puck, but where his talents truly excel is in his elite shot. He can fire it from just about anywhere in the offensive zone, and teams need to stay alert. The Prowlers will need Millette at his best as they look to slay the mighty beast and punch their ticket to the finals.

Schedule

April 23, 7:05 pm at McMorran Arena (Port Huron, MI.)

April 25, 7:00 pm at The Visions Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY.)

*April 26, 5:00 pm at The Visions Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY.)

*If necessary

You can watch both of the games on the Binghamton Black Bears YouTube channel.

Tickets for Saturday's game in Binghamton can be purchased HERE.