For casual hockey fans, The FPHL (Federal Prospects Hockey League) is not something on their radar. It’s far from the bright lights of The NHL. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining and worth your time. While The FPHL is far more niche than even The AHL or ECHL, it has that “small town charm” that true hockey fans love. 

There are currently 14 active teams in The FPHL, with most being located in the Eastern section of The United States. There are also a couple of teams situated more towards the Central United States, but that’s as far as The League goes. 

One team that is particularly noteworthy is The Binghamton Black Bears. Binghamton joined The League in 2021 and enters the 2025-26 season as back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup champions; each time prevailing over the Carolina Thunderbirds. 

With Hockey Season returning in short order, Blittner’s Blue Line caught up with Black Bears Owner, Andreas Johansson, to talk about his team, its spot in the community and more.

*Editor’s Note: Questions and Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Question: There’s a very rich tradition of hockey in upstate New York. What does that mean to you as the owner of a team in the area? 

Johansson: “It’s great. Binghamton’s been great to us. The year we came in, or maybe it was the year after, was 50 years of pro hockey (in Binghamton). So the Binghamton fans are very involved. They know their hockey; they’ve had a bunch of different teams through there. So it was a great tradition to carry on. 

“We’re happy to be there. Like you said, upstate New York’s always been a hotbed for hockey and we have good relationships with a bunch of the other pro teams up there. So we’re very thankful to be where we are.”

Question: In your view, how have the fans adjusted to having an FPHL team in Binghamton as opposed to an AHL team (they used to be the home of The AHL’s Binghamton Devils)?

Johansson: “We’ve got a lot of new fans, actually, who didn’t necessarily follow The AHL, ’cause there are a lot of differences between what we do and what The AHL does. While The AHL is very skilled, it’s not necessarily the most entertaining style of hockey. We’re able to do more with the fans and the players at this level than The AHL and NHL players would typically be able to. 

“So the fans have really taken to us and I think that’s been the key to why it’s been so successful, because of the bond that exists between the players and the organization and our fans. You don’t really see that at other levels and I think that goes for us as well as other teams in our league.”

Question: What do you mean there are more things you can do from an entertainment perspective? 

Johansson: “After every game, our players, for 15 to 20 minutes, are outside the locker room signing autographs or speaking to fans. We go to schools. We have events where we bring the fans in the building, where, of course, that happens at The NHL level too, but it’s probably less structured at this level. The players are a lot more out in the community and they’re visible. Being able to build that kind of connection, absent of player unions and regulations regarding those kinds of things, has gone a long way.”

Question: How have you been able to make such inroads in such a short span of time? 

Johansson: “We’re lucky. Like you said, with Binghamton having a history of hockey, we kind of came into a situation with a built-in, pretty large fan base that already wanted a hockey team. Ultimately, The AHL just wasn’t quite something that Binghamton could support financially any longer. Lower ticket prices are always important, right? 

“So we were able to lower the prices a little bit, as our operating costs are lower than they are in the American League. We got a lot of good cooperation with the youth teams in the area right away. We offered free tickets to any youth player if they came with paying adults. So that really has been successful. Our schedule in our league, in general, is quite favorable. I would say, for us, I think we’re only home Fridays and Saturdays year-round and I think, across The League, that’s more or less what we all do. And that makes a tremendous difference. 

“I mean, if you’re trying to play a Tuesday night versus a Saturday night, even at The NHL level, barring a few markets, you see a big difference in attendance. So that’s really helped us. We have a really, really good team. We’re back-to-back champions and I think we’ve only lost at home maybe once or twice a year, barring the first year and maybe the second year. I think we lost a couple more, but we almost always win at home, knock on wood and fans like to see a winning team. 

“So, I think all of those things combined, plus, we kind of became the underdog. We replaced an AHL team that, before that, replaced another AHL team, which, before that, replaced another AHL team. So, with us coming in, you’re no longer dealing with like a billion-dollar company that has their farm team in Binghamton, but the players don’t necessarily want to be there, ’cause they want to go back to the big club or maybe get traded or go to Europe or whatever. 

“Well, for us, we’re independent. It’s my team and our players and our staff. There’s very little divider between fans and the organization, if that makes sense, where we’re all kind of in it together. Sometimes, you kind of feel like there’s a bigger distance between the organization and the fans the higher up you go. (That’s not present here).”

Question: Who is the one team you guys play against that your fans and hockey fans in general should make sure to tune in for the game(s)? 

Johansson: “We’ve always had a rivalry with Danbury, going back to the first year, ’cause I think the first and second year, they beat us in the playoffs and we always had a lot of pretty spirited games against them. Both on the ice and between the benches and coaches and all of that. It’s actually like we’re good friends. They’re our closest team, other than Watertown, geographically. 

“So we have a good relationship with those guys. But those games, we play them quite a lot. It’s a hostile building to go into and they play a pretty physical style of hockey. So I would say that’s probably been our biggest rival. That’s a game that usually is quite physical. 

“We always have great games with Carolina. We’ve played them two years in a row in The Finals and won. But they’re always a very good opponent. They have a real nice building down there, like the most hospitable place to go. Great fan base, great organization. We always like going there. But those are always good hockey games. 

“Athens, we play them this year at home. We’ve never seen ’em at home before. They have a good team. They were a little unfortunate last year. They kind of stumbled there in the first round of the playoffs, which was a little surprising. I wouldn’t say it’s a rivalry, ’cause we don’t see them very often, but that should be an exciting game. 

“But if I had to pick one, I would say Danbury is probably our big rival.”