BINGHAMTON, NY – The Calder Cup finals move from Houston to Binghamton for games 3, 4, and 5 starting Wednesday night, and the series is currently tied at one win apiece. Most notable about the series moving from Houston to Binghamton is the drastic contrast in arenas. The Aeros’ Toyota Center, built in 2003, holds more than 17,000 for hockey. It’s so big, sections of the upper deck are only open a few times a season, and the lower bowl is rarely full in spite of strong attendance relative to much of the league. Broome County Veterans’ Memorial Arena, on the other hand, was built in 1973 and has a quarter of the capacity at 4,710. It’s intimate, with the seats nearly hanging over the ice, they’re so steep and close to the glass. And while the Aeros (and most of the AHL West) play on NHL-sized ice, the sheet in Binghamton is small. From the diminutive neutral zone to the cropped end zone, it favors a certain style of play, and the Aeros believe theirs is that style. “I think we play a type of game that, number one, we create a lot of turnovers, and turnovers are a big part of playing on small ice,” said Aeros coach Mike Yeo. “I think that our speed is more of a factor on a small ice surface, and I think that with the physicality that we bring and as far as we want to get on their D as quick as possible, I think it’s 2-3 less strides to get there.” Captain Jon DiSalvatore agreed, also saying the players are excited about the speed of the game on such hard ice, compared to relatively soft ice in the South. “We’re just going to manage what we know, as far as where we’ve got to be smart with the puck and where our trouble zones are and how to avoid those,” said DiSalvatore. “Ultimately, I think that the smaller surface is going to work to our favor, allowing us to get on loose pucks quicker.” As far as fans being on top of the game and vocal against opposing teams, Yeo admits it’s a challenge, but one the team can get excited about. “If you don’t get excited about playing games like this, then you’re in the wrong sport, you’re in the wrong business,” Yeo said. “We have a lot of guys that have played in the building for one thing and I, myself, have coached a number of games, coached in here in the playoffs as well, so we know very well what to expect.” “I think that certainly the crowd is going to be great here. They’re going to be getting on us and we’ve seen that in Milwaukee, getting on our goalie (Hackett). And he seemed to really rise to that challenge and enjoy that and feed off of it.” DiSalvatore said the team has heard about Binghamton’s fans, but they know it’s just part of the game. “They going to be there to support their team and do whatever they can to lift them up and bring us down,“ said DiSalvatore. “I’m sure it’s going to be very loud, and it’s going to be a ruckus, but we’re here to quiet that.” —————————————- One Aeros player might be experiencing a little déjà vu as he heads into his second June in a row of battling for the Calder Cup. Center Warren Peters played for the Texas Stars last season as the fledgling franchise made a Cinderella run, ultimately falling short against the Hershey Bears. But he’s not exactly missing the golf course. “I went enough (years) without even making the playoffs, so you won’t hear me complain about it,” said Peters. For a team well balanced with youngsters and veterans, he can offer a perspective even some veterans can’t. “Having experienced it, and just how long, how much time it actually takes to get here. With playoffs, it’s a marathon, it’s not much of a sprint, and it’s a grind.” Peters has quietly racked up 4 goals and 8 assists in the playoffs and says this team is notably different from his former Stars on the ice. “I respect everyone that I played with a great deal last year, but this team is completely different. Right from the way that we play, our style of play is different,” said Peters. “We got it done a different way last year, so it totally changes the dynamic.” Contact Heather.Galindo@prohockeynews.com
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