WolfEagle1499's blog: "NHLFA_Sabres"

You Can Still Get Ice Bowl Tickets ...For A Price http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=51014 If you want to be a part of hockey history in Western New York, be prepared to empty your wallet. Tickets to the NHL "Winter Classic" on New Year's Day come with a hefty price tag. More than 42,000 tickets sold out in less than 30 minutes Tuesday morning, and if you're not a Sabres season ticket holder, online auction sites like eBay and StubHub.com may be your only hope to see the game in person. The bidding starts at just under $200 for a pair of tickets. Of course, the better the seats, the higher the price. Some tickets are listed at $1500 a piece. To view tickets for sale, go to eBay or stubhub.com Sabres season ticket holders have until September 28th to give up their Winter Classic tickets, but other season ticket holders get first dibs on any extras. There are roughly 7,000 obstructed view seats on hold. Sabres officials say it's unlikely those seats will be opened up, but if they do become available, it won't be until days before the game. NBC will broadcast the game live, so you can see it right here on Channel 2. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I just found out, I might have a seat forthcoming. Season Ticket holders can order extra tickets. Friends are trying to get extras and if they do I'm near the top of the list for one.

Sabres-Penguins in The Ralph a go NBC will televise New Year’s Day Ice Bowl http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabresnhl/story/148324.html By Tim Graham NEWS SPORTS REPORTER Updated: 08/25/07 6:25 AM Over the past two seasons, the Buffalo Sabres have grown in importance so much their games have become about more than mere hockey. They’re community events. On New Year’s Day, the party is going to get a whole lot bigger. The much-talked-about outdoor game between the Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins in Ralph Wilson Stadium finally is a go for 1 p.m. Jan. 1, multiple sources have told The Buffalo News. The game will be nationally televised by NBC. Sources close to the Sabres claimed the Ice Bowl event was in jeopardy of being scrapped because financing construction and maintenance of an outdoor hockey rink was difficult, but a deal apparently came together this week. The NHL is expected to make an official announcement Sept. 10 in Buffalo. NHL spokesman Frank Brown on Friday would not confirm the game had been finalized. “When and if we have something to announce we’ll make sure it’s announced loudly,” Brown said. The Sabres declined to comment. Over the past 35 years, the average high temperature in Buffalo has been 38.3 degrees on New Year’s Day. In the past eight years, however, the temperature has reached 50 degrees three times, including a high of 52 this year. But there are no guarantees when it comes to winter weather in Western New York. The high temperature was a bonenumbing 19 degrees in 1999. Ralph Wilson Stadium seats 73,967 for football. Crowd capacity for a hockey game, with room for additional field seating, could be greater. It’s unknown if bleachers will be constructed to bring fans closer to the boards. The Ice Bowl would be the first outdoor NHL game since the Heritage Classic between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens in November 2003. Despite a minus-18 degree wind chill, 57,167 watched in Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So who wants to come Join me out at the Ralph so some Hockey Fun? I plan on going. My Stepmother (who is always cold) wants to go. Friends/Family from Pittsburgh will be coming up! In fact I KNOW Penguin Fans will be coming in BUSES!!!! I'm not sure if the Upper Deck will be sold, but otherwise I think the place will be PACKED!!!
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Click to join NHLFA_Sabres Reposted from the Sabres MySpace Bulletin Message ------------------------------------- From: Sabres Date: May 10, 2007 6:29 PM The Buffalo Sabres will be hosting a "House Party" at HSBC Arena for all of their remaining away games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Admission and parking are both free, but fans are asked to make a donation to the Sabres Foundation upon entering the arena. Starting next Monday (May 14) when the team hits the road for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Ottawa, Sabres fans are invited down to HSBC Arena to experience "a game without a game." Fans will be able to watch the game on the Jumbotron and two 12' by 9' video monitors that will be set up on the ice, while listening to the synched-up radio coverage of Sabres broadcasters Rick Jeanneret and Jim Lorentz. The arena will operate just like a regular home game, including full game presentation, Sabretooth and an anthem singer prior to puckdrop. All arena concessions will be open throughout the game, as will the Sabres Store. It all starts at 5:30 p.m. with the "Party in the Plaza," featuring live music, food and drinks. Hit and Run will perform on Monday, with Strictly Hip scheduled for Wednesday. At 6:30 p.m., the arena will open up for all fans to watch the game

Sabres have edge in Fort Erie

Patriotism favors Ottawa Senators, but Buffalo is very close to home http://www.buffalonews.com/103/story/71646.html FORT ERIE, Ont. — Their capital is Ottawa. They live in the land of the maple leaf, “Hockey Night in Canada” and Don Cherry. And when it comes to patriotism, they’re intensely loyal to their “home and native land.” But Fort Erie residents also live in Buffalo’s backyard, only a figurative slap shot from HSBC Arena. Most of them are inundated by Buffalo media reports of the Sabres. Some have bled Sabres blue and gold for almost 37 years. So where is Fort Erie leaning in the Eastern Conference finals, in the battle between the Sabres and Ottawa Senators? That depends on whom you ask. The Sabres seem to have the edge — some say a huge edge — but there clearly is plenty of support for the “last Canadian team standing.” “Go Ottawa, anybody but Buffalo,” Fort Erie resident Christine Carty said Tuesday. “I like Toronto, but Toronto’s not in, so you have to go with the Canadian team.” That appeared to be the minority view Tuesday, in a quick non-scientific survey in a parking lot for Niagara’s Freedom Trial, just a few yards from the Niagara River. From that perch, on a gorgeous blue-sky day, the HSBC Arena roof clearly was visible across the river. “Buffalo, for sure,” said Mike Lottridge, a computer consultant from Welland who does work in Fort Erie. “I used to be a season-ticket holder in the ’70s, and I’ve been a fan ever since. I lived and died with the Sabres last year.” Deanna and Derek Hopkins, also interviewed at the river’s edge, both are rooting for the Sabres. “Now that Toronto’s out, we’d like to see the Sabres go all the way,” Deanna Hopkins said. “Why not?” Another Leafs fan, Fort Erie Mayor Douglas G. Martin, also will be pulling for the Sabres, explaining that he has been a 30-year seasonticket holder for the Buffalo Bills. Martin believes most Fort Erie residents will be in the Sabres’ corner this series. “They’re basically our home team,” the mayor said. “Most of the people who live in Fort Erie live closer to HSBC Arena than a lot of people in the Buffalo area.” A consensus of opinion seemed to emerge Tuesday that a clear majority of Fort Erie residents, workers and visitors are rooting for the Sabres. The estimates ranged anywhere from a thin margin to 80-20 percent. Bob Burger, circulation district representative for the Fort Erie office of the Niagara Falls Review, explained the split feeling among Fort Erie residents. “There certainly are a lot of Southern Ontario fans who come to Sabres games,” he said. “A lot of the ones who have been around since the Sabres started, including myself, have [stood by] that team since the days of the French Connection.” “But there are others who are clinging to the fact that Ottawa is the last Canadian team standing,” Burger added. “There are a lot of Toronto Maple Leafs fans who despise the Ottawa Senators, but we’re such a patriotic country that many of them want to defend their turf.” Everyone seems to agree that the Fort Erie area appears to be split pretty evenly between Leafs and Sabres fans, with the Leafs perhaps having a slight edge. So where will local Leafs fans put their allegiances in this series: to their fellow Canadian team or to their neighbor? “Most of them will go for Ottawa,” Burger said. “A lot of it is being patriotic, the Don Cherry mentality — a great love and support for your country, unquestioned love, like your dog gives to its master.” It may be hard for Americans to appreciate the concept of rooting for a pro sports team based on its native country. In last year’s Stanley Cup final between Edmonton and Carolina, Buffalo- based Carolina supporters probably had other reasons for picking the Hurricanes; it probably was based more on Carolina having beaten the Sabres or Carolina being the Eastern Conference team. But Canada claims hockey as its game, and it has only six teams in the 30-team National Hockey League. Canadians don’t hesitate when asked how many Canada-based teams still are alive. Most American hockey fans probably don’t think in those terms. “It’s not an anti-American thing,” Burger emphasized. “It’s more of a Canadian thing. It’s our game. I think we take a lot of pride in that.” But Fort Erie-area fans also vote with their cash and credit cards. Doug Reid, president of Reid Sports on Garrison Road, guessed that area residents favor the Sabres over the Senators by maybe an 80-20 ratio. “Buffalo is our biggest seller by far,” he said. “It’s unbelievable the sales we’ve had with the Sabres. And everybody wants the names on the backs of the jerseys — Briere, Afinogenov and Miller.” His wife, Linda, said people who visit the area for local hockey tournaments come to the store and marvel at all the Sabres merchandise. “People come in and say, ‘This is Sabres country,’ ” she said. Sometimes, fans have unusual reasons for picking their teams. Dan Patakfalvi of Ridgeway, eating a quick lunch with his wife, Betty, had a curious reason for rooting for the Sabres over Ottawa: the recent appearance of Irish tenor Ronan Tynan at a Sabres game. “That was a class act, singing our anthem and paying tribute to our troops,” he said. “Otherwise, I would have rooted for Ottawa. I think that showed a lot of class.” One woman who didn’t want her name used showed perhaps a bit of national guilt over her choice. “I should root for Ottawa,” she said. “But I’m a Sabres fan.”
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Hey Everyone. I just got this Bulletin message on MySpace. Just thought I would repost it for everyone. GO SABRES!!!! David PS: Check out my DEAL BLOG to get a FREE Cherry Tap Gift from me.
Click to join NHLFA_Sabres ----------------- Bulletin Message ----------------- From: Sabres Date: May 3, 2007 10:40 AM 1) The blog regarding places to watch the games all around the country is constantly being updated. If you live out of town and need a place to watch with other Sabres fans, please check it out to see if there is a posting in your city. If you belong to a group, please post a comment under it or send me an email with all of the information so I can copy and paste it to the blog. please type it copy and paste style. Let's rally all around this great country with the best fans in the world. 2) For all of the fan photos shared on http://www.photobucket.com, thank you. They have been posted to the fan photo section. I have removed all personal photos from http://www.photobucket.com, but left the graphics in case someone would like to share them. - If someone would like to share their fan photos with us, please go to http://www.photobucket.com use the username "sabreshockey" and the password "1team1goal" - I will remove the personal photo as it is uploaded to this Myspace page. If you have already posted a photo, please do not post the same image. 3) In the spirit of being a Sabres fan, please refrain from harassing others who may post on this site. That is the behavior we came to denounce when dealing with many fans of other teams. So please, show some respect and represent your team well. Do not practice this behavior. Thank you and LET'S GO BUFFALO!

Limited Edition Brian Campbell T-Shirt to Benefit Summit http://www.summited.org/ Limited edition t-shirts featuring a caricature of Brian Campbell on the front and Summit’s website on the back will be sold to benefit Summit. Shirts will be priced at $20 each with $15 donated to Summit for every shirt sold. Shirts will be available in child and adult sizes. Shirts will be sold at Mississippi Mudd’s and Old Man River in Tonawanda, Berrafato’s Char Pit in Clarence, and Dave and Adams. The shirts were produced by Dave and Adams Card World, a sports memorabilia company located in Tonawanda. We are especially grateful for the support of Adam Martin and Dave Silver, owners of Dave and Adams; Mike Wulkan, Brian Campbell’s marketing manager; and, of course, our favorite Sabre, Brian Campbell, who developed this idea and offered it to Summit as a way of raising awareness and funds. To place an order please call (716) 629-3402. Go Sabres!
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Buffalo Sabre Appears in Summit Public Service Announcements http://www.summited.org/ Buffalo Sabres Defenseman and NHL All Star Brian Campbell will appear in two public service announcements (PSAs) for Summit Educational Resources that will air on local television stations in the coming months. The 30-second spots were filmed on January 18 at HSBC Arena. Summit student Elena Collins appears in one of the spots conveying that people with developmental disabilities can accomplish much when given the right supports. The second spot focuses on autism and lets families know that if they have a child with autism, they are not alone and that Summit is here to help. Throughout this project we received great support from the Buffalo Sabres organization, particularly Rich Jureller, Community Relations Manager, and Matt Gould who did the filming and editing. Brian Campbell graciously gave his time and talent during an especially busy period for the team. Special thanks to Bill Collins, president of Travers Collins & Company, for lending a creative team to work on the two PSAs. Jillian Fiorella, Account Supervisor and Bill Paterson, Associate Creative Director, and Ryan Bedford, Artistic Director, were instrumental in overseeing the production and developing unique concepts that communicate clearly and grab the viewer's attention. The public service announcements have been posted to the web! (Since the ones on their web site takes awhile to open up into a Video Player, I took the time to load them to YouTube & put them in my Stash) Public Service Announcement 1 Public Service Announcement 2
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Rangers scratch heads with Zubrus under skin Bob DiCesare Updated: 04/28/07 6:38 AM New York Rangers winger Sean Avery entered this series with the Buffalo Sabres fancying himself the nastiest hornet in the nest, a player capable of influencing a game through his ability to intimidate, infuriate and drive opponents to distraction. Avery made no secret of his mission in advance of Game One. He declared his disdain for the Sabres, each and every one of them. He’d have them looking over their shoulders, fretting his presence, casting wary eyes his way. Well, two games into the Eastern Conference semifinals Avery’s been all talk, Dainius Zubrus all action. The Rangers want no part of Zubrus. He’s crept right under their skin. Pay no mind that Zubrus was absent from the score sheet in Buffalo’s 3-2 comeback victory over the Rangers on Friday night at HSBC Arena. You might as well credit him with nine assists, because every hit he administered — and they came with a relentless fury — rendered New York susceptible to what transpired in the Sabres’ twogoal third period. The Rangers were the ones looking over their shoulders. The Rangers were the ones eager to rid themselves of the puck, especially when Zubrus was on the prowl. Chris Drury’s tying goal 24 seconds into the third period was the direct result of New York defenseman Marek Malik surrendering possession under duress, or at least the threat of duress. No wonder. Zubrus was lurking. Zubrus becomes more of a revelation with each passing postseason contest, displaying a game that’s in direct contrast to the scouting reports. He wowed with his board work against the Islanders, employing his 6-foot-4 frame layered with 224 pounds to win battle after battle. And now he’s introduced the Rangers to a punishing style that had never been recognized as part of his makeup. Who would have thought Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier could ever score bigger than when he secured Doug Gilmour for Michal Grosek, or Daniel Briere for Chris Gratton? But given the situation, considering what Zubrus has brought to the mix at this vital juncture, acquiring him from Washington at the trade deadline for the potential that is Jiri Novotny ranks among Regier’s shrewdest moves. Count his new teammates among those who had Zubrus pegged as anything but the tornado that he is. They’d heard hard-nosed hockey wasn’t his way. They might even have drawn their own conclusions to that end. But where they’d have been without him Friday is tied, 1-1, in games. He was their catalyst on a night when, for two periods, their offensive game was way out of sorts. “I like him a lot,” defenseman Brian Campbell said in wry understatement. “He’s a good player. You know, you pick him up at the trade deadline and everybody thought ‘Aw, he’s a soft player, he’s not the physical for the big frame of body that he is.’ Well, if he wants to play 82 games soft, I’ll wait for it come playoff time.” “It’s a tough body coming at you all the time,” said winger Jason Pominville. “He’s a horse down low and he’s finishing checks and everybody’s trying to feed off of him. He’s someone the team can follow that way.” No one’s delivered this many hits at HSBC Arena since Billy Joel was in town. Zubrus flattened the muted Avery. He toppled Jaromir Jagr with a textbook open-ice hip check that had the Rangers barking in his ear as Jagr made a pit stop in the locker room. There’s no doubt he’ll be the subject of derisive fan taunting, the arch villain, when the series shifts to Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon. “It’s not really a goal to get under somebody’s skin,” Zubrus said. “The goal is just to play hard, not to give them too much freedom and too much space because they’re some of the top players in the league. They can create things if you let them. Whether you’re under their skin or not, we’re happy that we won two games.” Jagr swatted away talk of Zubrus as if he were a house fly who’d soon be dissuaded. Maybe Jagr’s held some of his own spunk in reserve. Maybe he’ll thrive when back in the comforts of home. But through two games against the line of Zubrus, Chris Drury and Ales Kotalik he’s a minus- 1 and without a point. “It’s OK,” Jagr said of Zubrus’ presence. “If he wants to play like that and be a checker, that’s OK.” There will be no disagreement from the Sabres. Zubrus put on a one-man show behind the New York net with six minutes left in regulation, keeping the puck penned with two Rangers on his flanks. The fans ate it up. “He was just a bear down low,” said coach Lindy Ruff. “There was the one shift the whole crowd got behind him. They couldn’t take it away from him. He leads in that direction for him. He does a great job for us. That size, with [Paul Gaustad] out of the lineup, is important size for us and important leadership for us.” The Rangers left Buffalo scratching their heads. They had a 33-18 advantage in shots. They put the Sabres in their pockets for two periods. All the major indicators pointed to a New York victory save one: The hits were 35-17 Buffalo, with Zubrus leading the charge. Reference: http://www.buffalonews.com/214/story/63832.html
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UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) - Chris Drury has a knack for scoring big goals. "For whatever reason, pucks seem to find people like Chris," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said after Drury scored twice to help the top-seeded Sabres beat the New York Islanders 4-2 on Wednesday night for a 3-1 lead in the first-round series. Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville also scored, and Ryan Miller made 24 saves in his second straight victory on Long Island. The win moved the NHL regular-season champions into position to end the series Friday night in Buffalo. "We feel pretty good, but know there's still a long way to go," said Drury, the former Little League baseball star who has two game-winning goals in the series and 14 in 102 career playoff games. Jason Blake and Mike Sillinger scored for the Islanders, and Rick DiPietro stopped 27 shots in his third start since returning from a concussion. "We have to come out and play a great game Friday night." DiPietro said. "They're a great team and they're smelling blood." Drury, who also scored twice in Buffalo's Game 1 victory, gave the Sabres a 3-2 lead with a power-play goal 39 seconds into the second period. He scored from the slot off his own rebound after DiPietro and defenseman Tom Poti failed to control the puck. "Ricky made a great toe save and the rebound just found its way to me through a bunch of sticks and bodies," Drury said. "When you get the good ice at the start of the period, you want to take advantage of it." The Islanders thought defenseman Brendan Witt had tied it with 1:42 left in the third after Miller was pushed across the goal line in a big scramble. Referee Mike Leggo, positioned directly behind the goal, immediately waved off the goal and his decision was upheld by replay. "Rule 78.5 says after a goaltender makes a save, they can't be pushed into the net after making the save," Leggo said. "I deemed the puck was under him and he made the save, and then he was pushed into the net. After he was in the net, I saw the puck came loose. I didn't see the puck until he got up, actually." Leggo planned to ask for a review, but NHL officials in Toronto beat him to it. "I wanted to make sure it didn't get shot in, that I had the right call, to make sure that he made the save and got pushed in, that it didn't pop out and someone just shot it in," Leggo said. "We felt he was shoved in by the Islander player being aggressive toward the net. We have the ability to initiate a review, but in this case, it was initiated by Toronto." Naturally, Islanders coach Ted Nolan disagreed. "I don't care what anybody says. That was a goal," Nolan said. "The league says it wasn't a goal, so what can you do?" And of course, Ruff agreed with Leggo and the replay officials. "Millsey had it covered," Ruff said. "He was just pushed into the back of the net." Pominville then sealed the victory, beating DiPietro with 1:12 left. "Believe me, it's been two hard-fought games," Ruff said. "They've been battling. They've done a pretty decent job of defending us." After Blake opened the scoring for the Islanders at 6:24 of the first, Vanek and Drury scored in a 1:48 span to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead. Vanek tied it with 8:43 left, beating DiPietro from the high slot off a rebound. Drury then slipped the puck past DiPietro from the edge of the crease off a feed from Dainius Zubrus. Sillinger tied it at 2 on a power play with 16 seconds left in the period, beating Miller from the slot off Viktor Kozlov's pass from behind the goal. Blake scored a second after a New York power play expired. After Miller stopped Blake twice and turned aside Miroslav Satan's close-range attempt, Blake took a cross-ice feed from Poti and beat Miller with a quick shot from the right slot. Blake missed most of the second period after crashing headfirst into the boards late in the first. Buffalo's Teppo Numminen was penalized for boarding on the play, leading to Sillinger's power-play goal. "If that wasn't a hit from behind, I don't know what is," Nolan said. The Islanders haven't advanced past the first round since reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 1993. In their previous two playoff appearances, first-round matchups with Ottawa in 2003 and Tampa Bay in 2004, the Islanders split on the road only to drop the next two at home en route to five-game eliminations - the same situation they face against the speedy Sabres. "We'll just go up to Buffalo and see what happens," Nolan said. "They're a Presidents' Cup team. They're built to win the Stanley Cup." Notes: Vanek also scored Monday night in Buffalo's 3-2 victory in Game 3. ... The Sabres also won three of the four regular-season meetings against New York. ... Game 6, if necessary, will be Sunday night at the Coliseum.
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Golisano Sends Letter To Bettman Brad Riter - Saturday, February 24, 2007 - 6:15 PM
Following is the text of an official letter that was sent by Buffalo
Sabres owner B. Thomas Golisano to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman today.

http://www.wgr550.com/sabres/fullstory.php?id=2195



----------
Gary B. Bettman, Commissioner,
National Hockey League,
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor
New York, NY 10020


February 24, 2007

Dear Gary,

I am deeply concerned with the standard the NHL has adopted that seems
to allow violent hits to the head.

In light of the most recent injury to our captain Chris Drury, I am
calling on you to address this issue immediately before another player
is seriously injured or worse.

In our recent game with the Ottawa Senators, an opposing player skated
half the width of the ice surface, approached Chris Drury from his blind
side, and delivered a blow to his head which dislodged his helmet,
severely lacerating the area around his eye causing a concussion. Chris
Drury did not have the puck, he was not able to see the player coming
from behind, and had relaxed his guard. The player in question was aware
his presence was undetected but chose to deliver a vicious blow, which
can only be construed as intent to injure.

Hitting is a very important part of our game. You hit to break up a
shot, you hit to disrupt a pass, you hit to battle for the puck and you
hit to gain position for a defensive or offensive play. There are many
times a player is vulnerable. And there are many times when a player can
make a hit on a vulnerable player but chooses not to for fear of
injuring an opponent for no practical advantage. It's called respect.

What we cannot allow are hits that are designed to injure and maim. The
hit delivered to Chris Drury the other night was a hit to injure. In my
view there is no other way to view that play.

As you know, we have been on the other end of hits which cause injury to
the head. Tim Connolly, our star offensive player was knocked out of the
Stanley Cup by this same team. Although I didn't like it, Tim's
situation is very different. He had the puck; he was making a play and
could have reasonably seen the approaching player. I never complained.

This situation is very different.

Your office informed our team today that the hit on Chris Drury was a
legal hit and that it fit within the standard of play acceptable to the
NHL. We do not think this should be the standard and we do not think it
helps our game or the league. There is nothing manly about hitting a
player that can't see you. There is nothing entertaining about a big man
hitting a smaller man in the head. There is nothing good to come of a
policy that allows exciting skilled players to be targets for what I
believe to be predatory play.

I strongly urge you to convene the appropriate forum to immediately
review this policy.


Sincerely,



B. Thomas Golisano,

Governor