WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Nathan Paetsch spent most of 2005-06 in Rochester before going up to Buffalo. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
In April, when MSG replayed the Buffalo Sabres’ gut-wrenching Game 7 loss from 2006, Nathan Paetsch decided it was time to relive the craziest night of his NHL career.
For almost 14 years, the defeat stung so badly that Paetsch, who retired Friday, avoided watching the final game of the classic Eastern Conference final series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
“I never looked back on it,” Paetsch said of the memorable 4-2 loss during a Zoom ... Read the full article
Nathan Paetsch played 258 games for Rochester. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Nathan Paetsch, who also spent parts of seven seasons with the Rochester Americans over three stints, has retired, the AHL club announced today.
The popular Paetsch, 37, played 870 games over 17 pro seasons, including 157 contests with the Sabres. He compiled 23 goals and 100 points in 258 career games with the Amerks.
Paetsch, who would sometimes moonlight as a forward, embraced a new role when he returned to ... Read the full article
Rick Vaive was still a 30-goal scorer when he joined the Sabres. ©2020, Janet Schultz
In his new book, “Catch 22: My Battles, in Hockey and Life,” three-time 50-goal scorer Rick Vaive, who played four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, offers a thoughtful account of his struggles with alcohol.
For much of his life, Vaive, a Toronto Maple Leafs legend and former captain, combated his undiagnosed anxiety by drinking. But after a doctor prescribed him medication to treat the anxiety, he kept drinking.
As his 35th birthday approached, ... Read the full article
The Sabres began sending prospects to Cincinnati in 2017-18.
The Cincinnati Cyclones, the Buffalo Sabres’ ECHL affiliate, will not play in the 2020-21 season, according to Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek and The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski.
The Kalamazoo Wings and Idaho Steelheads will also sit out the season, according to Marek.
The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated minor league teams, which rely on gate revenue to operate.
On Nov. 18, the ECHL’s six-team North Division – the Adirondack Thunder, Brampton Beast, Maine Mariners, Newfoundland Growlers and ... Read the full article
J-J Peterka has played eight games with Salzburg. ©2020, GEPA, Red Bull
It was just a small gathering at the rink. J-J Peterka’s family, agent and some personnel from EC Red Bull Salzburg gathered in the early-morning hours to watch the first round of the NHL Draft.
In NHL history, only five Germans had been first-round picks. But Germany has started producing elite talent, and this year, three forward prospects – Peterka, Tim Stutzle and Lukas Reichel – possessed the potential to be taken among the first ... Read the full article
Dustin Tokarski was ecstatic after winning the Calder Cup with Charlotte in 2019. ©2020, Gregg Forwerck, AHL
In his 11-year career, Dustin Tokarski has played 361 games in the American Hockey League, more than any active goalie. The Buffalo Sabres newcomer has won Calder Cup championships as a starter and a backup and as a prospect and a graybeard.
When Tokarski tends goal for the Rochester Americans, he will have played for 10 AHL teams. Three of them are no longer in the league.
Tokarski, 31, has experienced virtually everything in the ... Read the full article
Dustin Tokarski has played for nine AHL teams, including the Hamilton Bulldogs. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
The Buffalo Sabres added goaltending depth to the organization today, signing Dustin Tokarski to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $725,000.
The veteran, one of the AHL’s most experienced goalies, is likely ticketed for the Rochester Americans, where he can help mentor goalie prospects Jonas Johansson and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Tokarski’s arrival means Luukkonen, Buffalo’s top goalie prospect, could spend part of the upcoming season, assuming it can be played, with the ... Read the full article
Jonas Johansson played six games with the Sabres last season. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
The Buffalo Sabres have loaned goalie prospect Jonas Johansson to the Krefeld Penguins, a team in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany’s top pro circuit.
Johansson, 25, played his first six NHL games last season, compiling a 1-3-1 record with a 2.94 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage.
The Swede enjoyed a terrific 2019-20 campaign with the Rochester Americans, posting a 14-4-3 mark with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. He was ... Read the full article
Jean-Sebastien Dea could be a big contributor for Rochester. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the American Hockey League to move the anticipated start of the 2020-21 season again, this time to Feb. 5.
The league’s board approved the move Wednesday. More details regarding the schedule will be announced at a later date.
The AHL season, of course, usually begins in early October. In July, the AHL moved the anticipated start of season to Dec. 4.
Commissioner Gary Bettman said earlier this month the NHL ... Read the full article
Chris Taylor spent three seasons leading Rochester. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
The New Jersey Devils have hired former Rochester Americans head coach Chris Taylor as an assistant on Lindy Ruff’s staff, the team announced today.
Taylor played for Ruff over parts of four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. Ruff, who was hired by New Jersey on July 9, also added Dave Rogalski as goalie coach to complete his staff.
Ruff named Mark Recchi and Alain Nasreddine his first assistants in September.
New Buffalo general manager Kevyn ... Read the full article