What happens when a hockey player reaches the point where he thinks he might be ready to walk away from the game?

For Austin D’Orazio, the answer was a journey that eventually brought him to Binghamton.

In this special re-release of the Power Play Post Show, Bob Howard sits down with the rookie defenseman of the Binghamton Black Bears to talk about his journey through junior hockey, his time at Utica University, and the unexpected path that led him to the Black Bears.

D’Orazio grew up in Vaughan, Ontario, where hockey was a way of life. He played alongside fellow Vaughan native Zac Sirota during their junior hockey days, and that connection would eventually play a major role in bringing Austin to Binghamton.

Austin talks about:

🏒 Growing up playing hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League
🏒 His years with the Vaughan Kings and the importance of his early development
🏒 The challenges of moving around during junior hockey
🏒 Playing for Newmarket, Markham and Trenton
🏒 His unforgettable final junior season with Trenton, where he recorded 14 goals and 40 assists for 54 points in 51 games
🏒 His experience playing NCAA Division III hockey at Utica University
🏒 The difficult decision to leave Utica and the possibility that he might walk away from hockey altogether
🏒 How a conversation with Zac Sirota helped reignite his passion for the game
🏒 His first conversation with Head Coach Brant Sherwood and why that conversation meant so much
🏒 His first impressions of the Black Bears organization and its facilities
🏒 The incredible support of Binghamton's fans
🏒 What it's like playing defense alongside veteran Dan Stone
🏒 Scoring his first professional goal as a Black Bear
🏒 The chemistry among Binghamton's rookie class
🏒 Rooming with Cheechoo Lathlin
🏒 His thoughts on Zac Sirota's “rat” style of hockey
🏒 And the hunger among Binghamton's rookies to help bring a third consecutive Commissioner's Cup Championship to the city

One of the most compelling moments comes when Austin talks about the realization that he still wasn't finished with hockey.

After considering a normal 9-to-5 life, seeing his friends head back to play hockey made him realize something:

He still loved the game.

That realization eventually led him to Binghamton—and he couldn't be happier that it did.

Austin also shares what it was like to score his first Black Bears goal, admitting that he essentially “blacked out” during the moment and didn't remember much of what happened until he watched it back.

It's a great conversation about hockey, perseverance, finding the right fit, friendships, confidence, and rediscovering your passion for the game.

🎙️ Originally recorded November 13, 2025
🏒 Power Play Post Show
🎤 Hosted by Bob Howard

If you're a Black Bears fan, this is a great chance to go back and hear the story of Austin D'Orazio's first season in Binghamton—and the journey that brought him here.

#PPPShow #BinghamtonHockey