Bulldogs to Black Bears: Four MD1 Alum Sign Pro Contracts
A quartet of Bulldogs is making a splash in the pro ranks this summer, all joining the Binghamton Black Bears of the Federal Prospects Hockey League for the upcoming 2023-24 season. This group of four players set to join pro ranks this fall sets a record for the team for pro players produced in an off-season.
"I think more so these professional coaches are seeing the growth of ACHA hockey and how competitive it truly is," said MD1 Head Coach Gary Astalos when I asked what he believed the difference was from when he began his tenurs with the Bulldogs seven years ago, "We now have coaches calling us and asking which players are available, where as maybe seven years ago, that was not the case. I am really happy for these four guys, they are all great people and hockey players."
Brenden Stanko and Connor Smith signed tryout contracts for the end of the FPHL season this past spring and competed with the Black Bears in five and six games respectively.
The Black Bears would announce the addition of top-four defenseman Dakota Bohn, who led all ACHA defensemen in points last season, in mid-June after announcing Stanko and Smith on their list of protected players for the upcoming season.
"Dakota Bohn [is an] elite defenseman who was a huge leader on our back end. Another super positive person who always does the right things," said Astalos of Bohn, "I can see him having success on both sides of the special teams units in Binghamton."
Smith, a native of Pinckney, Michigan, and the second all-time leading goal scorer in team history re-signed shortly after, announcing his return on July 5th.
"Connor Smith, [he] can score from anywhere on the ice, one of the best shots I have ever seen, at any level. Ultra-competitor who will score a lot of goals at the next level," said Astalos.
Stanko, who finished his career third all-time in career points, would officially be back for his first full pro season a week later.
"Brenden Stanko [has a] super high hockey IQ. He is a guy we loved having in our locker room; always a smile on his face and willing to help the person next to him," said Astalos of Stanko, "Definitely a glue-guy for our program who will have lots of success in Binghamton."
The Black Bears then announced the addition of former Captain and standout defenseman Dan Stone this past week. Stone comes out of retirement after finishing his career with the D1 Dawgs leading his team to the 2021 National Championship after beginning his career the same way in 2017-18.
"Dan Stone was an unbelievable team captain for us with his time at Adrian," said of Astalos of the former captain, "High-end defenseman that could log 30 minutes a game if we needed him to. Great person, unreal leader. I am really looking forward to following his success next season."
The day after this article was published, Dakota Bohn signed a PTO with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs of the SPHL. Bohn joins 2018 National Championship MVP Austyn Roudebush.
The Black Bears and our #ProDawgs begin their season on Friday, October 13th against the Elmira River Sharks.
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