WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Thanksgiving Edition
Ryan Miller acknowledged the NHL lockout was “stupid.” ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – As Ryan Miller leaned against a wall inside the Northtown Center, waiting for the first question, the Buffalo Sabres goalie finally had enough.
“We’re going to get right into it, no pleasantries?” Miller asked this afternoon.
So Miller, one of the more vocal players during the 113-day NHL lockout, went around to each cameraman and reporter, shaking his hand or patting his arm.
In his first meeting with local reporters since September, a ... Read the full article
Jochen Hecht played six games at home in Germany ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – Not surprisingly, Jochen Hecht’s Buffalo Sabres teammates are excited the popular 35-year-old veteran, who battled concussions last season, is rejoining the Buffalo Sabres for a 10th campaign.
“Bring him back, pick him up,” Sabres goalie Ryan Miller said this afternoon after practicing with teammates inside the Northtown Center, his first skate here since September. “I’m just glad he’s healthy, No. 1. Watching what he went through last year was hard to watch ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers said playing in Austria was a “great alternative” to the NHL. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – Tyler Myers acknowledged the left ankle injury he suffered last month in Austria was the “nightmare scenario” for any locked-out NHL player in Europe.
At first, the Buffalo Sabres defenseman was nervous about the injury.
“But once we figured out what it was, I knew it would be pretty quick,” Myers said Tuesday after skating about 90 minutes with some Sabres teammates inside the Northtown Center. “I didn’t want to push it to ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers played 17 games in Austria. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – Tyler Myers acknowledged the left ankle injury he suffered last month in Austria was the “nightmare scenario” for any locked-out NHL player in Europe.
At first, the Buffalo Sabres defenseman was nervous about the injury.
“But once we figured out what it was, I knew it would be pretty quick,” Myers said this afternoon after skating about 90 minutes with some Sabres teammates inside the Northtown Center. “I didn’t want to push it ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff spent much of the NHL lockout monitoring prospects. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff had already endured 113 days of the NHL lockout, so waiting another 60 minutes to find out the work stoppage was over wouldn’t have bothered the Sabres coach.
“My phone had gone off while I was sleeping,” Ruff said Wednesday about how he heard the lockout had ended. “It was one of these, somebody had texted me at 6 a.m., ‘Congrats, it’s over.’ And (you think), ‘Wait an hour to ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff will begin coaching a shortened training camp in the coming days. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In his first meeting with local reporters since July, Lindy Ruff couldn’t wipe the smile off his face during a 20-minute chat this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. Clearly, the Sabres coach can’t wait for the season to start.
Ruff thanked the fans for their support before fielding questions about the upcoming season and how he spent his time during the NHL lockout.
Here are some quick highlights:
On if the season ... Read the full article
Darcy Regier finally got to talk about training camp Tuesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Make no mistake, the Sabres supported the NHL’s 113-day lockout.
“I don’t want anyone to think we didn’t vote in favor of it,” Sabres president Ted Black said Tuesday during a 30-minute news conference inside the First Niagara Center to talk about the upcoming season.
But how does the new collective bargaining agreement benefit the Sabres? Terry Pegula, their billionaire owner, spends freely on the team. Money isn’t an issue. The Sabres operate ... Read the full article
Jochen Hecht (front) and Jason Pominville played well together in Germany. ©2013, Soerli Binder, Adler Mannheim
BUFFALO – If you think Sabres captain Jason Pominville’s five-goal, 12-point performance during a short seven-game stint with the Mannheim Eagles was impressive, consider what old friend Jochen Hecht, who hadn’t played regularly in nearly a year, accomplished during the same time with the DEL club in Germany.
In his first action since last January, when he suffered what was believed to be his third concussion in 10 months, Hecht compiled five goals ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville posted gaudy numbers in Germany. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – Just hours after returning to Buffalo following a marathon travel day from Germany, Sabres captain Jason Pominville was back on the Northtown Center ice this morning, skating with 10 other teammates.
“I wanted to be here,” said Pominville, who left the Mannheim Eagles when the NHL lockout ended Sunday. “I wanted to make sure I get a good sweat. It’s going to be such a short turnaround (before the season) that’s there’s no ... Read the full article
Patrick Kaleta enjoyed a special feeling during Monday’s skate. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – It felt differently, Patrick Kaleta said, nothing like the dozens and dozens of practices the Buffalo Sabres winger had participated in during the 113-day NHL lockout.
On Monday, the day after the NHL and the Players’ Association tentatively reached a new collective bargaining agreement, Kaleta experienced a special feeling as he skated with eight other Sabres inside the Northtown Center.
“It’s just a feeling in my bones, my muscles,” Kaleta said afterwards. ... Read the full article