Warren - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Radim Mrtka quickly impressing with Rochester Amerks

ROCHESTER – For the time being at least, Buffalo Sabres prospect Radim Mrtka is adapting to the rigors of pro hockey as a member of the Americans.

The AHL, of course, can be unforgiving for teenagers and other neophytes, especially defenseman. But after earning a long look in training camp, rather than sending Mrtka, 18, back to junior hockey, the Sabres assigned him to the Amerks.

How long could the Czech stay? Remember, Sabres general ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Colten Ellis standing out in Buffalo, will get chance to play

BUFFALO – By his second season toiling away in the ECHL, Sabres goalie Colten Ellis said hockey began to feel like a job.

Ellis, 25, spent most his rookie year stopping pucks in Worcester, Massachusetts, before the St. Louis Blues assigned him to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for his second season.

Almost two years into his career, he had played just six games for the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues’ AHL affiliate.

He said he forgot to enjoy ... Read the full article

Williamsville’s Trevor Kuntar thrilled for fresh start in Sabres organization with Rochester Amerks: ‘Dream come true’

Trevor Kuntar takes a positive approach to the struggles every hockey player will inevitably endure. The Williamsville native said his parents, Les and Faye, ingrained that in him. So no matter how difficult the situation, he refuses to have a negative outlook.

Kuntar, 24, just experienced a difficult season in which he fell out of the Boston Bruins’ plans. Fresh off a strong rookie campaign with the Providence Bruins, if he cracked the lineup, his ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: NHL Draft prospect Haoxi ‘Simon’ Wang left family in China to pursue hockey career in Toronto

ORCHARD PARK – Five years ago, NHL Draft prospect Haoxi “Simon” Wang took a life-changing risk, leaving his family in China to pursue a hockey career in Toronto.

Wang, who turns 18 on July 27, spoke little English and had no guarantees when he left Beijing. He was hardly a phenom. He simply loved hockey.

His parents saw his devotion to the sport and allowed him to move 6,500 miles away to Canada.... Read the full article

How Brendan Warren developed into asset for Rochester Amerks and Sabres organization after almost losing career

ROCHESTER – Brendan Warren had nothing going on in his hockey career. The Americans winger couldn’t even find a place to skate.

Two NHL teams that had held his rights passed on signing him. After finishing an underwhelming tenure at the University of Michigan, he briefly latched on with the Indy Fuel, an ECHL team.

At the end of training camp in 2019, the Fuel cut him.

So Warren, a third-round pick by the Arizona ... Read the full article