[Elmira Jackals (ECHL) to affiliate with Buffalo Sabres]

 

Good luck ever wrestling that thing from the team in Alaska. :P

 

If the AHL West ever happens I think Alaska will soon enough be out. Don't think they would be so great as an Eastern team. Way harder conference.

[Elmira Jackals (ECHL) to affiliate with Buffalo Sabres]

 

 

I'm surprised to read that. It was some years ago, but before they made the jump to the 'A' the Norfolk/Hampton Roads Admirals sold out The Scope most nights and the games were very exciting.

 

I think a big part of the draw was all of the fighting that used to take place in the 'E' and it helped create an exciting atmosphere - especially when the Richmond Renegades made the 90 minute trip down - it seemed like Admirals coach John Brophy (formerly coach of the B's) throwing sticks on the ice and getting ejected and multiple line brawls were the norm. For a lot of ECHL players their only chance to make it to the National League were fisticuffs, so there was plenty of goonery.

 

After the Admirals moved to the 'A' the attendance and enthusiasm took a big hit. The locals seemed to watch hockey for the fights like I watch NASCAR for the wrecks. I think most were reluctant to spend the extra $3-5 per ticket and higher concession prices when most of them just couldn't appreciate the difference in the quality of hockey.

 

I don't know if ECHL hockey is a snoozefest just in Elmira or if it's like that everywhere, but I'm hoping for the former because, for all of its faults, it was an entertaining brand of hockey.

 

The league has become much like the AHL sadly. All focused on development. Was a different league back then when cities like Johnstown were the norm. Now they try to go bigger and better for everything.

 

Last Saturday I went to drop in and the lady at the front desk of the rec rink (still part of the first arena) told me I couldn't have outside food or beverage. I held up my clear jug and said "It's alright this is just water." Then she told me again I couldn't have outside food or beverage. I laughed at her and told her she can't tell me not to bring water to hockey, then I walked past her to the locker room. They also opened a bar in the arena last summer that served as a way to get into games for free this season. Only during the last 2 games did they have employees standing by the door between the bar and the concourse during the 1st period.

 

I'll start believing that the Jackals can become a competent organization when ownership starts getting the easy little stuff right. I don't think a Sabres affiliation means as much some think it means.

 

People gave the Afrs a lot of crap because the arena went to hell. The team was generally good. You can tell they were focused on the team. At the end of the day hockey always was and will be the bread and butter for that arena making money. Its too small to get many acts here. Its, its own worst enemy. The problem with these owners is they are too busy sextifying the arena. While the bar wasn't bad and has decent food the hockey team was a joke. They know nothing about hockey and had no hockey people. They canned Nichols. Dwight Mullins was a joke. He was Malcolm Cameron except Cameron could recruit he just couldn't recruit.

 

Wish they would have sols the team. Would have allowed them to focus on thw arena and would have changed the roster. Only team in the AHL players could go up to would be Rochester now if they aren't 2 way with Rochester or Sabres property they can go to any other AHL team.

[Elmira Jackals (ECHL) to affiliate with Buffalo Sabres]

A Jackels game at FNC next year?

Highly doubt the sheep would be interested in watching snoozefest ECHL Hockey and I cant imagine people in this town liking losing a home game.

 

But I did read something in Sunday's paper about a preseason game maybe between the Jackals and Americans. Man if the Amerks don't roll something is wrong. Theres also a lot of promises about coaches and system and trainers and resources. Cant forget "famous alumni" whoever that would be. I just hope they get us a big name head coach. Still on the CRAIG RIVET bandwagon.

[Elmira Jackals (ECHL) to affiliate with Buffalo Sabres]

Interesting. Not sure it will make our Jackals any better because the guys owning the team don't have much of an idea about hockey. Yes there was a rumor Pegula would buy the team/arena. That was back in 2012. Wish it was true. It would bring some longer term stability. I wonder if we will see Tuzzolino here as he spent much of last year with the Amerks. The jersey has looked better, they have changed it so many times. It looked way better 2 years ago, have no idea what the new owners were thinking, even the font on these ones look cheap. I hope the team is watchable. Last years team was as bad as the Sabes, a head to head may have been interesting. Lol

 

No season can be worse than the one the Jackals just played, which was Sabres-esque even by ECHL standards. Colin Jacobs was the only Sabres prospect on the squad, now we can look forward to Christian Isaacson and Logan Nelson in a year or so.

We weren't supposed to have Sabres prospects that's why. The team was really weak though. They had very little ECHL talent and the coach was awful. It didn't help the assistant was a guy who has seen nothing beyond D3 Hockey and was only committed to home games. I wish Craig Rivet would come back to coach. No idea who will be the coach but i'll bet money it's not Dwight Mullins. The Sabres want one of their guys or input anyway, that wont help Dwight.

[[OT] Cigars]

I've ordered my share of Thompson's samplers. Good golf or lawn mowing smokes. ANd they work well with a PBR or Genny cream.

 

Sometimes a cheap smoke and a cheap beer is just what the Dr. ordered.

 

Cheap beer is never good. But then again I am a bit of a beer snob, lol. Cheapest thing i'll touch is a bud light and i only do that when i plan on getting wasted. As for Cigars i'm down to try anything unless it's one of those stupid friiuit flavored ones like this cheap dude from PA I know gets and had me try once.

 

As for the original topic at hand my favorite cigar to date has been Romeo and Juliets. I have had a Cuban before and wasn't impressed, granted it was purchased on a cruise trip at one of the stops so that probably could explain why. I'm fairly new to the Cigar game, well i've been smoking for a couple years but like i said it's mostly Romeo and juliets. I see a lot of interesting brands being posted in this thread. I'm willing to try any brand of cigar at least once so my open question to anyone having posted in this thread already what are some of the best brands to try? I know it's only January but never too early to think ahead for the spring/summer months.

 

I picked up some seconds from a smoke shop down in Corning called Brown's that has apparently been around forever. Looking forward to having a go at those tonight. Also still have some nicer sticks around that I need to get to. Waiting for a good night when them big lake effect snow flakes are comin down so I can take a walk around the neighborhood and enjoy one. Few things better than that.

 

Browns is okay, thats where I generally get my smokes from. Sometimes I venture my way down to PA though, the great perk of living right on the boarder.