Archives for November 22, 2002

'HSBC Bank USA, the naming rights holder to the arena the Buffalo Sabres call home, is offering a six-game ticket discounted ticket package for hockey fans.'

'Buffalo Sabres goaltender Mika Noronen was demoted to minor league club Rochester on Friday after going 0-4-1 as a starter this season.'

'Look for the Sabres to try to make a good first impression tonight. On Wednesday, they learned that local businessman Mark E. Hamister's bid to buy the franchise was approved by the NHL. Hamister will be in the crowd tonight.'

'"This team will be run by Buffalo-born and -bred managers that will keep the Sabres in Buffalo where they belong, and give this organization the players and support it needs to win," Hamister said.'

'Hamister and Berman, a couple of local boys who made it big in the business world, offered the sort of rah-rah rhetoric fans expected to hear at Thursday's on-ice news conference to officially announce their acceptance into the National Hockey League fraternity. What they didn't explain, however, is how they would go about accomplishing these feats.'

'"I'm here for one simple reason," Berman said. "I want to keep the Sabres in Buffalo."'

'LW Eric Boulton leads the NHL in major penalties with 10.'

'With the Sabres' ownership vacuum about to be filled, there is reason to hope that everyone – fans included – will get back to the business at hand: building a winning franchise. Even though Hamister is not yet formally the team's owner, it wouldn't be too soon for him to get the attention of the executives, coaches and players of this poorly performing team in order to, ah, motivate them.'

'The Buffalo Sabres had lost six games in a row, gone winless in 11 and were averaging 1.7 goals since Game 3, yet when they went searching for the elixir , they recalled a goalie?'

'"But I believe the Sabres’ best days are yet to come. It is my hope to help them realize that better future."'