Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect J.T. Compher earning notice by agitating opponents

BUFFALO – Early during Sabres development camp, J.T. Compher, proud University of Michigan student-athlete, noticed Hudson Fasching, his roommate from the University of Minnesota, brought a Big Ten shirt.

“I threw it on the ground,” a smiling Compher said. “I didn’t want to see that out of his suitcase again.”

Their rivalry started last season, when Compher’s Wolverines lost three of their four conference meetings to Fasching’s Golden Gophers, who captured the first-ever ... Read the full article

Bruins hire former Sabres assistant coach Joe Sacco

BUFFALO – So much for Joe Sacco scouting for the Sabres. The Boston Bruins have hired the 45-year-old as an assistant coach, a job he had here last season.

The Sabres fired Sacco after finishing 30^th overall last season, but quickly named him a pro scout. Sacco was inside the First Niagara Center last week during development camp.

Sacco coached the Colorado Avalanche from 2009-13, earning a Jack Adams Award nomination in 2009-10. ... Read the full article

Sabres sign defenseman Andre Benoit to 1-year contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres added more defense depth today, signing Andre Benoit to a one-year contract.

The deal’s worth $800,000, according to TSN’s Aaron Ward.

Benoit just completed his first full NHL season, compiling seven goals, 28 points and 26 penalty minutes in 79 games with the Colorado Avalanche. He averaged 21:17 of ice time.

The 30-year-old has 10 goals, 39 points and 40 penalty minutes 120 career NHL contests.

Sabres general manager Tim Murray ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Ennis ready for new challenges after signing 5-year contract

BUFFALO – The setting made Tyler Ennis reflect on a career that almost never started.

The slick Sabres center was about to skate at Callingwood Recreation Centre, the rink around the corner from his childhood home in Edmonton, when word arrived last week his new five-year, $23 million contract had been finalized.

His best friend, Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon, was with him. So were the memories of his struggles as a youngster.

“I was ... Read the full article

Two local players named to U.S. National Sled Hockey Team

BUFFALO – Local athletes Paul Schaus and Adam Page were among 17 players named to the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team on Tuesday.

Team USA, the two-time defending Paralympic gold-medal winners, will be hosting the 2015 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship April 23-May 2 here at HARBORCENTER.

For more information, click here.

Check out Dan and Margaret’s U.S. Sled Hockey galleries here and here.

... Read the full article

Sabres to appear on NBC 11 times in 2014-15

BUFFALO – NBC’s 2014-15 national television schedule includes 11 Sabres games.

From the schedule the NHL released today:

– Oct. 14 at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. (NBC Sports Network) *

– Nov. 11 at St. Louis, 8 p.m., (NBCSN)

– Nov. 18 vs. San Jose, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN) *

– Dec. 2 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN) *

– Dec. 9 vs. Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN) *

– Jan. 18 at Detroit, 8 p.m. ... Read the full article

Goalie Linus Ullmark rapidly developing into one of Sabres’ top prospects

BUFFALO – It was a low-risk move. In 2012, the Sabres wanted to find a late-round steal in net. The team’s new European scouts scoured Finland and Sweden, two countries known for producing hidden goaltending gems.

Eventually, the Sabres drafted Linus Ullmark, a little-known Swede, in the sixth round, 163^rd overall.

Barely two years later, Ullmark has developed into a legitimate NHL prospect. The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in the Swedish Hockey ... Read the full article

The story behind Sabres goalie prospect Linus Ullmark’s Bowser mask

BUFFALO – Despite being born in 1993, Sabres goalie prospect Linus Ullmark grew up playing Nintendo and Super Nintendo, classic video game consoles from an earlier generation.

“I’ve been playing that kind of stuff for a way, way long time, since I was like 5,” Ullmark said last week following a development camp session inside the First Niagara Center.

Ullmark likes the “Super Mario Bros.” games so much he asked his mask designer, David Gunnarsson, ... Read the full article

Photo: Sabres prospect Sean Malone in close on Nathan Lieuwen

BUFFALO – As a sixth-round pick, center Sean Malone faces some long odds to crack the NHL someday. But the West Seneca native has been developing rapidly since the Sabres selected him 159^th overall in 2013.

The 19-year-old earned Ivy League Co-Rookie of the Year honors last season. He’ll be participating in Team USA’s world junior camp next month in Lake Placid.

In the Dan Hickling photo above, Malone nearly scores on goalie Nathan ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Tim Murray on long-term Tyler Ennis deal: ‘It certainly wasn’t straightforward’

BUFFALO – If the Sabres couldn’t sign Tyler Ennis to a long-term deal, they would’ve given the slick center a one-year qualifying offer, general manager Tim Murray said this afternoon.

Ennis, a restricted free agent, inked a five-year, $23 million contract Thursday.

“It certainly wasn’t straightforward,” Murray said about getting the deal done.

Still, Murray believes “both sides were on the same page.”

“It was just how you got there,” he said inside the ... Read the full article