Archives for February 24, 2011

‘"This comes from my prior business. When you drill oil and gas wells, I guess you look at every well like a draft pick," he said. "Some of them are great and some of them don’t work out for you, but I never really ever get too high or too low. I don’t get too high on my conquests or too low on my failures and I think that has helped me sail through the business world, and hopefully through the sports business world."’

‘“I just think it’s time for Thomas to be that leader, be recognized. It’s the point of his career where he’s our leading scorer and you hear his voice in the room now, and I think it’s important that some of the leadership falls on his shoulders,” Ruff said of his decision to name Vanek an alternate captain.’

”Buffalo is a great town to raise your kids and there aren’t many regions in the USA more hockey mad than Western New York. I’m sure our new management will convey this message to any possible new player. There’s a new spirit in town and the future starts now. And I’m really looking forward to it.”

‘The sound system pumped out music, and the video board above showed a montage of vintage Sabres moments and Pegula’s prophetic quote from 1983: "If I ever have more than two nickels to my name, I’m going to buy the Buffalo Sabres one day."’

‘”To see how emotional he is and to see how passionate he is for the Sabres, it’s great to get his first win in his first game,” Myers said. “It was good to get that for the fans, too. We’ve been just as frustrated as they’ve been the last three games, and to come get a win, especially against Atlanta, it was good for a lot of reasons.”‘

‘"It’s nothing more than giving him an opportunity to play," Regier said just prior to the 4-1 win over Atlanta. "I spoke with his agent [Pat Morris] [Tuesday] morning and he had expressed a trade [request]. We tried to move him with a trade and unfortunately weren’t able to. This is the next step in helping him resume his career."’

‘It’s been a long time since fans were on their feet before the game and at the final horn. The arena was alive again.’

‘”I relate to it a little bit different because I’m from Buffalo and I’ve always been a Sabres fan and loved the Sabres as much as anything,” Kaleta said prior to Wednesday’s game against Atlanta. “I can kind of relate to anything, like getting my homework done as fast as I can so I could watch the Sabres’ games and being able to stay up on a school night to watch the playoffs and stuff like that. I do feel what he has felt.”‘

‘”Buffalo’s a hockey town, and Labatt is Buffalo’s hockey beer. We are the official sponsor of the Buffalo Sabres and will be for years to come,” said Peter Bodenham, vice president of marketing for Labatt. “At the arena and throughout Western New York, we will promote our sponsorship and support our local team.”‘

‘Pegula has brought warmth, and humanity to a sport not known for its warm, fuzzy or Kumbaya moments. And hopefully, he has brought the team its best shot at a Stanley Cup.’