WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Casey Fitzgerald turned pro late last season. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – After watching his son, Casey, unleash some wild haymakers Monday afternoon, Tom Fitzgerald congratulated the Sabres prospect on his first pro fight.
“He just said, ‘Good scrap, you didn’t get that from me, you got that from your mother,’” Casey Fitzgerald said of his father, who played 1,097 NHL games. “I got a good laugh from that. It was good to see him after, have him here.”
Tom Fitzgerald fought just seven times ... Read the full article
Matej Pekar broke his collarbone in January. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Matej Pekar couldn’t stop smiling. After eight months anxiously waiting on the sideline, the Sabres prospect was just hours away from playing a game again.
“It definitely feels like forever,” Pekar said prior to Friday’s 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils in the Prospects Challenge opener. “I haven’t played a game since January.”
On Jan. 10, the affable Pekar, 19, broke his collarbone with the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts, ending his ... Read the full article
The Sabres drafted Dylan Cozens seventh overall. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Once the puck dropped Friday, Sabres prospect Dylan Cozens never thought about the left thumb he had surgically repaired in July.
“I forgot about it and just went out and played hockey like I always play,” Cozens said after scoring a goal in Friday’s 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils. “I just put that behind me.”
Cozens, who hurt his thumb during a development camp scrimmage June 29, wasn’t cleared to play ... Read the full article
Matej Pekar always seems to be smiling. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Matej Pekar couldn’t stop smiling. After eight months anxiously waiting on the sideline, the Sabres prospect will finally play a game again tonight.
“It definitely feels like forever,” Pekar said this morning after the Sabres prepared for their Prospects Challenge opener against the New Jersey Devils inside Harborcenter. “I haven’t played a game since January.”
On Jan. 10, the affable Pekar, 19, broke his collarbone with the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts, ending ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens injured his thumb in development camp. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Instead of wearing a red jersey this afternoon, Sabres prospect Dylan Cozens dressed more appropriately for the first rookie camp practice.
Cozens, who underwent surgery on his left thumb in early July, ditched the non-contact threads and sported a yellow jersey, meaning the seventh overall pick could do everything on the ice.
“I think it’s feeling normal right now, just being with the guys again, going out, practicing, being treated like another normal ... Read the full article
Aaron Huglen possesses some slick moves. ©2019, Hickling Images
VANCOUVER – Among the highlights of new Buffalo Sabres prospect Aaron Huglen on YouTube is a clip of what general manager Jason Botterill called “the Mike Legg goal.”
Last year at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, an under-18 tournament, Huglen pulled off one of hockey’s toughest moves, scoring a goal by quickly lifting the puck and wrapping it into the net.
Legg, Botterill’s teammate at Michigan, made the lacrosse-style goal famous in 1996.
“There’s a wow factor ... Read the full article
