Ottawa Goes Binghamton Stays

The long-rumored move of the Ottawa Senators affiliation to Belleville, Ontario came true this (Monday) morning.  Belleville City Council announced approval for $20 million for renovations and improvements to their existing arena at a late morning press conference.  Ottawa followed by announcing that their American Hockey League affiliation in Binghamton will continue through the 2016-17 season and then align with Belleville.  The Belleville franchise has been purchased and will be owned by Eugene Melnyk, owner of the NHL's Ottawa Senators.

On the heels of those announcements the Binghamton Senators announced that AHL hockey is here to stay in Binghamton.  Director of Hockey Operations and part-owner of the Binghamton hockey team, Tom Mitchell, says fans can be assured that there will be an American Hockey League team in Binghamton following this season and beyond.

Mitchell would not say if there is already a deal struck to bring a new affiliate to Binghamton or whether that is still pending. Rumors have been flying since word of Ottawa's pending departure.  The New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils have surfaced as possibilities although there has been nothing further in that regard.  New York enjoyed success from 1990 - 97 working with Binghamton. The Binghamton Rangers made the playoffs in six of those seven seasons and captured one regular season championship during the 1992-93 campaign.