WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Alex Turcotte might not last until the seventh pick. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – In Alex Turcotte’s formative hockey years, his father, Alfie, decided his son would follow a unique development path.
Instead of jumping to elite teams stocked with top talents, Alfie made Alex, a slick center projected to be an early selection at the NHL Draft, stay put on local clubs around Chicago. His reasoning was simple.
“I cared about my kid playing hard every game,” said Alfie Turcotte, a former center who played 112 ... Read the full article
Ralph Krueger coached the Edmonton Oilers one season. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Three years ago, in the midst of his tenure as chairman of Southampton F.C., an English Premier League team, new Sabres coach Ralph Krueger briefly returned to his roots.
Krueger, who hadn’t been behind a bench since the Edmonton Oilers fired him in 2013, took a job coaching Team Europe’s entry at the World Cup of Hockey.
While Krueger wanted to remain in his role in Southampton, the short hockey gig reignited his ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner scored a career-high 40 goals in 2018-19. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres general manager Jason Botterill understands 40-goal winger Jeff Skinner needed to know something important before making a huge decision.
“If you’re going to sign a long-term contract with an organization, you kind of want to know who the head coach is,” Botterill said Wednesday after announcing Ralph Krueger as the 19th head coach in franchise history.
Skinner, who turns 27 on Thursday, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Until ... Read the full article
Jason Botterill has spent the last five weeks looking for a coach. ©2019, Hickling Images
The Buffalo Sabres will introduce Ralph Krueger as the 19th head coach in franchise history today.
Sabres general manager Jason Botterill will address the media at 11 a.m. at KeyBank Center. Krueger, who’s in Europe, will speak on a conference call at 12:30 p.m.
“Throughout his career, Ralph has shown the ability to adapt to a variety of high-pressure environments while leading some of the world’s elite players,” Botterill said in a statement. “His strong ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has represented Team USA before. ©2019, Hickling Images
For the third time in his career, Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel has earned a spot on Team USA’s entry for the World Championship.
Eichel, 22, was among 17 players named to the U.S.’s preliminary roster today. Team USA opens its schedule May 10 against host country Slovakia.
The center last played in the World Championship in 2017. He won a bronze medal in 2015.
Overall, Eichel has compiled two goals and 12 points in ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel pins the Sabres’ woes on the players. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – In less than five seasons with the Sabres, defenseman Zach Bogosian has already played for three coaches.
“Three coaches in this amount of years, you’ve got to really take a long, hard look (at yourself),” Bogosian said Monday, a day after the Sabres fired Phil Housley following an awful second half.
Not long ago, the Sabres were a model of coaching stability. Lindy Ruff lasted through three ownership regimes over 16 years. When ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner was the Sabres’ first 40-goal scorer in 10 years. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jeff Skinner needs time to decompress following a grueling 82-game season before he starts thinking about his next contract.
Sure, the 40-goal scorer said he loves playing in Buffalo. Despite the Sabres’ sorry season – coach Phil Housley was fired Sunday – he believes they’re heading in the right direction.
But Skinner, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, made sure his contract took a backseat during the season.... Read the full article
Jack Eichel blamed the players, not Phil Houlsey. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Just days before Phil Housley’s dismissal, captain Jack Eichel was adamant the Sabres’ woes should be pinned on the players, not the coach.
Eichel’s words, which he repeated this morning, couldn’t save Housley, who was fired Sunday after the Sabres’ sorry finish.
“It’s on us in the room,” Eichel said as the Sabres cleaned out their lockers and held end-of-season-meetings inside KeyBank Center. “We’re the product on the ice. It’s unfortunate that ... Read the full article
The Sabres have been in a four-month slump. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – After suffering eight straight losses, the Sabres enjoyed a rare opportunity to celebrate a little following Thursday’s 5-2 win, just their second victory in 17 outings.
Not only did they thump an opponent, winger Jason Pominville received a rousing ovation after scoring in what could’ve been his final home game with the Sabres, who close their miserable season tonight against the Red Wings in Detroit.
The salute to one of the franchise’s all-time ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville scored his 16th goal this season Thursday. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – The crowd kept roaring. For more than a minute late in Thursday’s 5-2 win, the fans saluted one of their favorites, winger Jason Pominville, after he capped off an emotional day by scoring perhaps his last goal for the Sabres.
The noise wouldn’t stop after Pominville, 36, was announced as the scorer, so after receiving a signal from his teammates, one of the greatest players in franchise history skated to center ice ... Read the full article