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B-Sens bid to host AHL All-Star game
Binghamton among finalists for 2008 contest

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By Michael Sharp
Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- The Binghamton Senators are in the running to host next season's American Hockey League All-Star game, a league official confirmed Wednesday.
"I can comment that they're in the mix," said Jason Chaimovitch, the AHL's vice president of communications.
The league has received bids from two to three teams to host the 2008 event, Chaimovitch said, adding that league officials hope to make a decision in the next couple weeks.
"We're looking into it," said Tom Mitchell, executive vice president of operations with the B-Sens.
He said team officials submitted an application to host the all-star event at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena about three months ago, and that this was the first time in the franchise's five seasons that the B-Sens had applied.
The now-defunct B.C. Icemen hosted the United Hockey League's all-star game at the Arena in January of 2001.
"I just think it would be great exposure for our community, and I think we could do a really good job," Mitchell said.
"It means international exposure, really. So if we could land it, it'd be a real plus for the community I would think."
An announced crowd of 7,839 fans watched Monday night as the PlanetUSA team scored with 3.3 seconds left to defeat Team Canada, 7-6, in the 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.
Rogers Sportsnet televised the event live across Canada, and 18 regional networks -- including Fox SportsNet New York -- carried the game and Sunday's skills competition in the United States.
B-Sens officials made the bid despite the fact they have yet to finalize an extension with Broome County officials on the team's lease to use the Arena, the final step to finishing a new five-year affiliation agreement with the Ottawa Senators.
The current arena lease and affiliation agreement expire after this season.
Chaimovitch labeled Binghamton a "legitimate candidate, assuming the lease gets taken care of," and said arena size was not a concern with the B-Sens' bid.
Seating capacity at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena is listed at 4,710, considerably smaller than the all-star crowds drawn at Toronto's Ricoh Coliseum (7,839), Winnipeg's MTC Centre (15,015) and Manchester's Verizon Wireless Arena (9,916) over the past three years.
IMPENDING ROSTER MOVE?
Center Mike Fisher's return to the Ottawa lineup from a knee injury Tuesday night has fueled speculation of a looming roster move by the big club.
The Ottawa Sun reported Wednesday: "(Denis) Hamel will likely be sent to the club's AHL affiliate in Binghamton if the Senators aren't able to trade him."
Should he be sent to Binghamton, though, Hamel would first have to clear waivers before returning to the B-Sens, with whom the veteran left wing scored a franchise-record 56 goals last season.
Ottawa Senators officials said general manager John Muckler and coach Bryan Murray were unavailable for comment Wednesday, an off day for the big club.
The recent return of Fisher and Jason Spezza from knee injuries, plus the Jan. 3 trade for Mike Comrie, gives Ottawa 22 active players. Hamel and right wing Brian McGrattan were healthy scratches Tuesday night, when the Sens beat Washington, 3-2.
SLAP SHOTS
The B-Sens returned to practice Wednesday following the three-day all-star break. ... Right wing Danny Bois (head) practiced full-contact, and head coach Dave Cameron said he was "ready to go" for Friday's game at Albany. ... Defenseman Jamie Allison (head) returned to practice for the first time since his Jan. 13 injury and is day to day, Cameron said.