BLACK BEARS SWEEP OPENING WEEKEND CONTESTS

Elmira, NY- The Binghamton Black Bears completed their weekend sweep of the Elmira Mammoth on Saturday night winning the contest 6-3.  The Black Bears used another big first period to put themselves in position to play with the lead for the entire game.  

Tyler Gjurich was able to find the back of the net to break the ice just over a minute into the contest.  Gjurich's tally was almost immediately followed up by a coast-to-coast style goal from Nikita Ivashkin.  Before the first media timeout Binghamton had a 2-0 lead in their first road game of the '22-23 season.  

Elmira would take double-minor penalties, and the Binghamton powerplay unit would cash-in.  Jesse Anderson picked up the extra man goal, as he would now score goals in the first two games.  Gavin Abbott, in his season debut, stole the puck from goaltender Harley White and was able to bury a backhander into the net to make 4-0.  

The Mammoth were able to get on the board late in the first frame as Lance Hamilton scored the first goal inside First Arena in Elmira franchise history.  The Mammoth powerplay was able to capitalize on a Tyler Piekarski roughing penatly to break the shutout.  

Period number two had a "night and day" difference than the first.  Only one goal was scored by either side and it was Binghamton's Austin Thompson extending the lead to four.  The two goalies showcased their skills in the middle period as Binghamton's Joe Sheppard stopped all 17 shots he faced, denying Elmira on multiple odd-man rushes.  Trevor Miccuci appeared in relief of White, turning aside 18 of 19 Black Bear shots.  

The final period began with multiple penalties being handed out by the officials.  Elmira's Tim O'Connor was given a match penalty for a slash, just two minutes into the period and the Mammoth would take six more penalties before the clock hit 0:00. Gavin Yates added another power play goal in the middle portion of the period to make it 6-1.  However, Elmira would not go quietly into the night as the home team would score two short-handed goals off of Black Bears turnovers in their own end.   

Binghamton improved to 2-0-0 on the young season and sweep Elmira in home-and-home contests to begin the year.  

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Stay current with the latest team news by visiting www.binghamtonblackbears.com, by calling 607-722-7367, or visiting the front office on the third floor of the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena. Follow the Black Bears all year long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.