Series Preview: Picking Up Where We Left Off

The Port Huron Prowlers will begin the 2026-27 season where 2025-26 ended; Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, New York. They’ll start their quest for the Commissioner’s Cup against the team that won it the last three years and knocked Port Huron out of the playoffs each of the last two.

The Prowlers have a strong group of returners to the tune of 21 players on their roster that ended the season in Port Huron last year. They have four new players, all rookies coming from NCAA DIII or Canadian college hockey. Alex Gomez and Riley Sutherland are the new faces up front, Matt Connor adds to the back end and Port Huron native Andrew MacLean joins the crease rotation. As of Wednesday morning, however, the team will be short four players (Vincent Dekumbis, Arttu Hekkilä, Lukas Lacny and Blake Anderson) as they await approval on their visas and could be short four more (Nick Favaro, Reid Cooper, Ryan Alexander and Sutherland) due to the visa process. They’ll still have some of their top scorers from last season in Bobby Price, Reggie Millette and Matt Graham along with five returning defensemen plus the rookie Connor. After falling a win short of the finals the last two years, this Prowlers team has ambitions of getting over the hump and delivering Port Huron its second Commissioner’s Cup.

The Black Bears played a single game last weekend as they raised their championship banner. They took down the Watertown Wolves 5-2 behind two goals and an assist from each reigning FPHL Forward of the Year Ivan Bondarenko and newcomer Chance Gorman. Defending FPHL Goaltender of the Year Dominik Tmej made 15 saves for the win. Binghamton lost a few players, most notably Mac Jansen and former captain Tyson Kirkby to the Mid-South Monarchs, but still fields a talented team that will be a force in the Atlantic Division. The Bears lead the Atlantic at 1-0-0 with two points.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Prowlers - Alex Gomez (F) - One of the Prowlers expected to make his pro debut this weekend, the Colorado native stands 6’4” and has NCAA DI experience on his resume.

Black Bears - Sam Dabrowski (F) - After two-plus seasons in the SPHL, Dabrowski signed to be another strong piece in the Binghamton lineup. He dished out three assists in his Black Bears debut.

STAT CENTRAL

4 of the Black Bears’ 5 goals on Saturday against Watertown were power play goals … The Black Bears have 3 players with 3 points through 1 game (Bondarenko, Gorman and Dabrowski)

SERIES SCHEDULE

Oct. 16, 7:00 P.M. at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY)

Oct. 17, 7:00 P.M. at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY)

Both games will be available live for free on the PHP Network YouTube channel.