WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Chad Ruhwedel would’ve been watching the Boston Marathon if he hadn’t left school. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If Chad Ruhwedel hadn’t signed his first NHL contract last week, then the Sabres rookie would’ve been watching the Boston Marathon, celebrating Patriots’ Day with friends like he had while attending UMass Lowell.
Monday’s bomb blasts near the finish line that killed three people and injured 180 have shaken Ruhwedel. He had friends in the area enjoying the day. His sister was just landing in Boston. Everyone was OK.
“If I didn’t have ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff was fired Feb. 20. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will coach Team Canada at the upcoming world championship, TSN reported.
Ruff, who was fired Feb. 20 after 15 seasons as Sabres coach, led Canada at the 2009 world championship, winning silver.
He parlayed that into an assistant coaching position at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where the Canadians won gold.... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko’s junior season ended last week. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For the time being at least, 18-year-old rookie Mikhail Grigorenko is back with the Sabres following a one-month stint in junior.
The Russian center practiced this morning inside the First Niagara Center and will travel with the team to Boston. Grigorenko will likely sit Wednesday’s game against the Bruins, though.
Rather than sending Grigorenko to AHL Rochester, where he’s now eligible to play with the Quebec Remparts’ season having ended last week, the ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko celebrates his first NHL goal. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Rookie Mikhail Grigorenko, who went back to the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts for a month, is practicing with Sabres this morning inside the First Niagara Center.
The 18-year-old Russian, the 12th overall pick in June’s NHL Entry Draft, played 22 NHL games earlier this season, compiling one goal in five points. The Sabres assigned him back to junior March 15, a move “driven by what is best for Mikhail and best for ... Read the full article
Tyler Ennis scored his first goal in 12 games Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Make no mistake, Tyler Ennis enjoys being a left winger. The slick youngster skated there for parts of three seasons, including his entire 20-goal rookie campaign. If the Sabres possessed more scoring depth down the middle, then Ennis might’ve never switched to center.
Changing positions ignited the speedy Ennis late last season. With more room to maneuver, the 23-year-old racked up eight goals and 19 points over a rollicking 12-game stretch, ending ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth kicks out a shot by Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier (4) in front of Mark Pysyk on Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – This two-day stretch hardly mirrored the last time Sabres backup goalie Jhonas Enroth earned consecutive starts for a healthy Ryan Miller.
Back in November 2011, Enroth sported an eight-game winning streak as Miller was beginning a wretched three-month slump. The Swede’s second nod ignited a goaltending controversy.
These days, Miller’s entrenched as the No. 1 goalie. Enroth, meanwhile, recently regained the dynamic form he showcased early during his rookie season.
If the ... Read the full article
Kevin Porter played with Rochester for five months. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Ten years ago, Ron Rolston wanted Kevin Porter to come play at Boston College. The interim Sabres coach, then an NCAA assistant, recruited the teenage hockey star, even talked to his father a little bit.
Ultimately, Porter stayed in his home state, becoming a collegiate legend at Michigan. Rolston, meanwhile, took over Team USA’s development program shortly after Porter left.
Their paths crossed again in July.
Porter’s career had hit a rut after ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth blanked Philadelphia on Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – So, Ron Rolston, fresh off his 29-save shutout in Saturday’s 1-0 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers, will backup goalie Jhonas Enroth start again today?
“I don’t know,” the Sabres’ interim coach replied this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll see.”
Rolston knows which netminder’s starting against the Tampa Bay Lightning, right? He’s just not telling.
“Exactly,” he said with a grin.
Enroth, who hurt his neck late Saturday, is fine, Rolston said. ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth tries to make a stop in front of Adam Pardy on Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sure, the Sabres needed some good fortune to down the Philadelphia Flyers 1-0 on Saturday afternoon. Christian Ehrhoff’s pass off the end boards created the game’s only goal. Daniel Briere hit the crossbar behind Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth with just a single tick left in the game.
Still, they deserved their 17th win this season and first in three games. The Sabres, so vile during Thursday’s 5-1 home loss to Montreal, ... Read the full article
Chad Ruhwedel played 13 minutes Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – On Friday night, a day after UMass Lowell lost to Yale in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal, Chad Ruhwedel checked his phone on the tarmac when the River Hawks’ flight from Pittsburgh landed in Boston.
“It says, ‘Call me immediately’ from my advisor, my mom, too,” the 22-year-old first team All-American defenseman said Saturday after making his NHL debut in the Sabres’ 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
The undrafted Ruhwedel knew his ... Read the full article