Wolves Fall 5–2 in Season Opener at Binghamton

Photo courtesy of Rachael Giargiano

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Watertown Wolves dropped their season opener 5–2 to the Binghamton Black Bears on Saturday night at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, where the Black Bears raised their 2025–26 Commissioner Cup banner in a pregame ceremony.

Special teams told the story. Binghamton scored four of its five goals on the power play, converting 4-of-8 with the man advantage. The Black Bears jumped out to a 2–0 first-period lead on goals from C.J. Stubbs (10:56) and Chance Gorman (14:11), both on the power play.

The Wolves answered with one second left in the opening frame — Donovan Powell buried a power-play goal with help from Matthew O'Shaughnessy, cutting the deficit to 2–1 at the first intermission.

Binghamton extended the lead in the second with two more power-play goals from Ivan Bondarenko (6:31 and 19:52) to make it 4–1 through 40 minutes. In the third, Gorman added an even-strength marker at 10:04 before the Wolves responded again on the power play, with Jake Schultz finishing from Powell at 11:33.

Goaltender Nolan Egbert made his Wolves debut with 38 saves on 42 shots through two periods, and Samuel Zgiet turned aside 15 of 16 in relief in the third. The Wolves finished 2-for-7 on the power play while Binghamton outshot Watertown 58–17.

The Wolves return home Friday, October 16 for their home opener, to host the Danbury Hat Tricks at the Northern Credit Union Community Arena.  Tickets are available online at Clubhouse Cards.