Hans Peterson Collection Highlights Broome Sports Foundation Auction

The Broome Sports Foundation held its annual sports collectibles and memorabilia auction this past weekend during Binghamton Senators' games at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.  The B-Sens host the auction each year.  Proceeds go to benefit the Tommy Mitchell Memorial Scholarship Fund.  Overseen by the Broome Sports Foundation the scholarships were created in memory of the late Tommy Mitchell, a youth hockey player who was tragically killed in a car accident on the way to a hockey game.  He was the son of Binghamton Senators Executive Vice - President of Operations and part owner Tom Mitchell.

The auction and other fund-raising events done through the Foundation have raised over $150,000 in scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to outstanding area student athletes looking to further their education after high school.

Highlights of this year's two-night auction came from the late Hans Peterson Collection.  Hans, known to fans and players as "Chicken Man", was Binghamton hockey's highest profile fan for decades.  Opposing players, coaches and officials knew he would be on hand to try and rattle them with signs, banners and  satirical messages while cheering on his home team.  Hans passed away in 2011 leaving an extension collection of souvenirs and memorabilia.  His family presented that collection to the Broome Sports Foundation in his memory.  A portion of that collection was bid on by fans over the two- day event.