Picking up where they left off last season, it’s been an exciting start to the 2021 campaign for the Binghamton Devils currently sitting with a record of 2-0-1. The Devils have trailed in each of their first 3 contests, coming back to force overtime in all of them. Their only loss has come by way of a shootout. Head Coach Mark Dennehy says he’s loved the resiliency he’s seen from his team, especially with them being such a young group. 

“I’ve liked their willingness to learn,” says Dennehy. “I’ve seen improvement already. I talked to Nolan Foote the other day and from where he was at the start of training camp to where he is now is a testament to how much information he can take in. When you also look at our returners and their willingness to play with these young guys I think it speaks volumes about their potential. I don’t think there’s a young player that’s come into the lineup that hasn’t had an effect.” 

Two of the team's biggest early contributors are both first year pros, Forward Nolan Foote who Dennehy mentioned and Defenseman Michael Vukojevic. The pair are tired for the team lead in points with 4 (each with 1 goal and 3 assists) a piece. The 20 year-old Foote and 19 year-old Vukojevic each place much of their early success on the team’s veterans. 

“Obviously it’s nice just to be playing games again. It's been so long for all of us,” says Foote. “First 3 games I was playing with a really good line, Brett Seney went up to the taxi squad now. But playing with veterans helps a lot. In practice talking to them they are there for you, it’s huge.”

“I think it was just a smooth transition coming from juniors to the pros,” says Vukojevic. “It was a challenging step but the guys in the locker room welcomed me with open arms from day one. They made it really easy and made the transition a lot smoother. I felt comfortable and part of the team right away and that’s what helped with my confidence and feeling like I belonged because they made me feel like I belong.” 

Foote has played on the BDevs top offensive line with Ben Street and Brett Seney. With Seney being called up to the taxi squad we'll see what changes are made to the lines in the team’s game against Hershey Wednesday Night.