Double down on glory: Bucky Benders expand reach, chase elusive C-League hardware

MADISON, Wis. — The ice is freshly cut, the tape is restocked, and the wait is almost over. With just one week until puck drop, the Bucky Benders are gearing up for the most ambitious and high-stakes campaign in franchise history.

For the Benders, this season isn't just a fresh start; it’s an urgent mission to settle unfinished business. The past two campaigns followed an agonizingly familiar script: dominant, electric regular-season runs brought to a sudden halt in the semifinals. The sting remains particularly sharp from the Fall 2025 campaign, where the Benders steamrolled the competition with a flawless, undefeated regular-season record, only to have championship dreams cut short one game before the final.

This year, the margin for error shrinks even further.

After seasons of battling through a traditional six-team field, the C-League has consolidated into a cutthroat four-team gauntlet. With fewer opponents on the schedule, familiarity will breed animosity fast. There are no trap games, no off-nights, and no room for complacency—every single matchup directly shifts the playoff seeding and survival odds. The mandate for the locker room is clear: dominance means nothing without the finish. The talent, chemistry, and goaltending have consistently proven capable of beating anyone; now it comes down to executing when the season is on the line and finally breaking through that semifinal wall to hoist the cup.

Injury Report: Testing Early Leadership & Depth

The path to opening night hasn't been without friction, as the training staff manages key personnel questions across the leadership core.

Captain Marco Salomone remains officially questionable for Week 1 action. Salomone has been limited at practice following a Grade II ankle sprain suffered in mid-August. While his presence on the bench and off-ice direction continue to steady the room, his availability to lace up and take regular shifts for opening night will likely come down to a game-time decision.

Meanwhile, Assistant Captain Viktor Mitchell was added to the injury report after being held out of practice on Wednesday, September 23, due to an illness. The good news for the Benders' forward group is that Mitchell’s absence is expected to be short-lived, with the assistant captain slated to return to full strength and dress for next week's opener.

A Program on the Rise: Entering the B-League

Redemption in the C-League isn't the only narrative surrounding the club this fall. In a historic move for the organization, the Benders are officially expanding into the B-League.

Stepping up a division represents a bold new chapter. The B-League brings a noticeable jump in pace, heavier forechecking, and relentless transition play. Taking on the challenge speaks volumes about the club's growing depth and appetite for competition. Running concurrent campaigns across both tiers transforms the Bucky Benders into a dual-threat powerhouse, simultaneously hunting elusive hardware in one division while testing their absolute ceiling in another.

Pack the Glass: Opening Week Schedule

A two-front war demands a packed barn. Bender Nation, clear your calendars and get to the glass early—opening week brings back-to-back nights of high-stakes hockey:

• B-League Season Opener: Wednesday, September 30 @ 9:00 PM

• C-League Season Opener: Thursday, October 1 @ 7:45 PM

Between the pipes and along the blue line, preparation is already locked in. The sting of back-to-back semifinal exits has had seven months to simmer, and the energy heading into game week reflects a team ready to shed the "what-ifs."

The opener is just seven days away. Whether Marco gets the green light or leads from behind the glass, the mission remains unaltered. The quest to bury past playoff heartbreaks and conquer two divisions at once begins now. Show up, get loud, and back the boys from the first drop of the puck.