| Binghamton Hockey Booster Club History |
| 1973 - 1979 The Duster Years |
| Pro hockey began in Binghamton with the North American Hockey League (NAHL) in 1973 as the BROOME DUSTERS. Our first booster club was started in that same year with Ward Wilson as our first president, followed by Dick Kendrick, Paul Feheley, Ed Harvey and Betty Waffle. Our first booster club MVP award winner was Rod Bloomfield. In 1974-75 the DUSTERS went all the way to the LOCKHART CUP FINALS but lost to the Johnstown Jets. Throughout the Duster years we were fortunate to see an array of players such as Randy Macgregor, Ken Holland, Paul Stewart, and many more. The BROOME DUSTERS and our booster club joined the American Hockey League (AHL) in the 1977-78 season. |
| 1980 - 1989 The Whaler Years |
Through an ownership and affilation change we became the BINGHAMTON WHALERS in 1980.
Betty Waffle continued on as club president followed by Mike Dailey, Dot Boyd, Peggy Waffle,
Betty again, Tim Kavulich and Betty again. We followed such great players as Bob Sullivan, Ross
Yates, Peter Sidorkowicz and Kay Whittmore, as they went to the CALDER CUP FINALS in
1981-82 losing to the New Brunswick Hawks. In 1984-85 they posted the best season record in
the AHL.
Betty Waffle continued on as club president followed by Mike Dailey, Dot Boyd, Peggy Waffle,
Betty again, Tim Kavulich and Betty again. We followed such great players as Bob Sullivan, Ross
Yates, Peter Sidorkowicz and Kay Whittmore, as they went to the CALDER CUP FINALS in
1981-82 losing to the New Brunswick Hawks. In 1984-85 they posted the best season record in
the AHL.
| 1990 - 1996 The Ranger Years |
In 1990 the Hartford Whalers ended their affilation and the New York Rangers became our new parent-team.
We were now BINGHAMTON RANGERS. Our new booster club president was Joyce Palmer followed by Bill
Falkin, Dick Havich, Joe Lamphere and Gwen Terpak. With a brand new crop of players we enjoyed seeing
Ken Gernander, Don Biggs, Peter Fiorentino, the Ferraro brothers and Corey Hirsh. In the 1992-93 season our
RANGERS set league records for wins and points as they thrilled us. Our booster club traveled to far reaching
road games in Portland, Me; Sherbrooke, Can; Louisville, Ky and Baltimore, Md. A high light was a trip to
Chicago to see the NY Rangers vs the Blackhawks, and later a marathon tour to Detroit – Red Wings, Auburn
Hills – IHL Vipers and return to Syracuse to see our RANGERS, all in the same weekend.
We were now BINGHAMTON RANGERS. Our new booster club president was Joyce Palmer followed by Bill
Falkin, Dick Havich, Joe Lamphere and Gwen Terpak. With a brand new crop of players we enjoyed seeing
Ken Gernander, Don Biggs, Peter Fiorentino, the Ferraro brothers and Corey Hirsh. In the 1992-93 season our
RANGERS set league records for wins and points as they thrilled us. Our booster club traveled to far reaching
road games in Portland, Me; Sherbrooke, Can; Louisville, Ky and Baltimore, Md. A high light was a trip to
Chicago to see the NY Rangers vs the Blackhawks, and later a marathon tour to Detroit – Red Wings, Auburn
Hills – IHL Vipers and return to Syracuse to see our RANGERS, all in the same weekend.
| 1997 - 2001 The Icemen Years |
The Rangers moved to Hartford and we thought we had lost hockey but a new owner stepped up and we
joined the UNITED HOCKEY LEAGUE (UHL) becoming the BC ICEMEN. Our booster club kept its membership
in the AHL and the UHL formed booster clubs and we joined that also. Gwen Terpak continued as president
followed by Gene Wells and Theresa Prozeralik. Another brand new crop of players for the UHL included Rob
Voltera, Patrice Robitaille, Dieter Kochan, Chris Grenville, Keith Aucoin, Brad Jones, Derek Wood and Justin
Plamondon. The Icemen were the UHL's Eastern Division Chanpions twice. As the host of the 2000-2001 UHL
All Star weekend we got to see the Eastern Conference defeat their Western counterparts in the Skills
Competition. The Western Conference exacted revenge the following night by overcoming a five goal deficit to
defeat the East All-Stars by a score of 11-10.
joined the UNITED HOCKEY LEAGUE (UHL) becoming the BC ICEMEN. Our booster club kept its membership
in the AHL and the UHL formed booster clubs and we joined that also. Gwen Terpak continued as president
followed by Gene Wells and Theresa Prozeralik. Another brand new crop of players for the UHL included Rob
Voltera, Patrice Robitaille, Dieter Kochan, Chris Grenville, Keith Aucoin, Brad Jones, Derek Wood and Justin
Plamondon. The Icemen were the UHL's Eastern Division Chanpions twice. As the host of the 2000-2001 UHL
All Star weekend we got to see the Eastern Conference defeat their Western counterparts in the Skills
Competition. The Western Conference exacted revenge the following night by overcoming a five goal deficit to
defeat the East All-Stars by a score of 11-10.
