Who played Hockey in the great city of Buffalo?

[TageMVP]

Thought this might be interesting. Did any of our highly educated, knowledge unmatched posters here play any type of organized hockey? At any level? Talk about it 

I played for Bud Bakewell (Riverside, tough as nails people) and was a stay at home defenseman for the most part. If they put me on the wing, I went off though. Defense was my favorite position, however 

Let's hear the stories if you have them 

 

[transient]

Organized, no. I played street hockey with friends in a local church parking lot when I was a teenager. I was uncoordinated and a big kid, so obviously I was the target... I mean goalie. We nearly broke one of the giant stained glass church windows (the storm window protecting it shattered and the ball hit the stained glass hard enough for it to make a resonating sound). That is the sole memorable "highlight" of my hockey "career". 😄

[SabresSnowStorm]

Played in goal for private teams and then high school, quit after not making Junior Sabres 😞

Was a good experience, I got to meet many types of people and then our team would sometimes trash hotels on the road, little joke.

[Wyldnwoody44]

1 hour ago, TageMVP said:

Thought this might be interesting. Did any of our highly educated, knowledge unmatched posters here play any type of organized hockey? At any level? Talk about it 

I played for Bud Bakewell (Riverside, tough as nails people) and was a stay at home defenseman for the most part. If they put me on the wing, I went off though. Defense was my favorite position, however 

Let's hear the stories if you have them 

 

I grew up on Philadelphia Street in Riverside and played there, my cousin also played for NHL Europe and lived in Iceland. While it wasn't organized per Se, I did play out in Akeyuri with him in my younger teen years. 

[RETURNTOGLORY]

I played in Europe in the early 80's. I played wing and center. Being a US born player, naturally I played a physical style and had a rough time my first season with penalties. The Europeans back then weren't keen on physical play. They also liked spearing and slashing. The old Rick Martin trick by me fixed a lot of that  😉 

[CallawaySabres]

Played up until senior year in high school. There were 2 kids drafted to the NHL on that varsity team so no way I was making that one...

[Punch]

I played goal in an organized roller hockey league through high school and defense later in my 20s. Other than that, I only played in the street or on the rare pond.

[#freejame]

I played at Sabreland until I was 12 and then took a ten plus year break to be a shithead and join the army. Then I played three seasons for App State Club and took another five plus year break. Now I’m back in Buffalo and am currently signed up to play three nights a week between Tacoma and Paddock, but three nights a week hasn’t happen yet with the Sabres schedule. I’d like to find a fourth skate, but one I’m not sure my wife would like that and two that will just lead me to wanting to find a fifth skate. My son now does the Sk8Gr8 now at Holiday too. My hope is we have another boy soon and we can simply move into an ice rink. 

[TageMVP]

1 hour ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:

I grew up on Philadelphia Street in Riverside and played there, my cousin also played for NHL Europe and lived in Iceland. While it wasn't organized per Se, I did play out in Akeyuri with him in my younger teen years. 

How many fights did you get in lol that was a tough neighborhood. Still is Definitely needed to know how to handle yourself a time or two I bet. Luckily for me my father was tough af and grew up in that area so he passed down some of that, I guess I just call it a "mean streak" Anyway, I played for some great teams at Bud Bakewell. Hockey was huge in Riverside. Pretty much anywhere in Buffalo 

Pretty cool honestly that you became a doctor and your cousin played in Europe. Great story Wyldn 

Tell me about any fights you got in lol when my Dad would tell me hed call them "war stories" 

[TageMVP]

1 hour ago, SabresSnowStorm said:

Played in goal for private teams and then high school, quit after not making Junior Sabres 😞

Was a good experience, I got to meet many types of people and then our team would sometimes trash hotels on the road, little joke.

Do you remember any specific teams you played against? 

 

41 minutes ago, RETURNTOGLORY said:

I played in Europe in the early 80's. I played wing and center. Being a US born player, naturally I played a physical style and had a rough time my first season with penalties. The Europeans back then weren't keen on physical play. They also liked spearing and slashing. The old Rick Martin trick by me fixed a lot of that  😉 

Cool af was it a professional league? 

 

7 minutes ago, #freejame said:

I played at Sabreland until I was 12 and then took a ten plus year break to be a shithead and join the army. Then I played three seasons for App State Club and took another five plus year break. Now I’m back in Buffalo and am currently signed up to play three nights a week between Tacoma and Paddock, but three nights a week hasn’t happen yet with the Sabres schedule. I’d like to find a fourth skate, but one I’m not sure my wife would like that and two that will just lead me to wanting to find a fifth skate. My son now does the Sk8Gr8 now at Holiday too. My hope is we have another boy soon and we can simply move into an ice rink. 

Sabreland? So that was the Buffalo Regals? I think? I remember a Holiday rink but cant remember what the team was called 

[GASabresIUFAN]

Played in Amherst growing up and then some in high school at Nichols. 

[#freejame]

3 minutes ago, TageMVP said:

Do you remember any specific teams you played against? 

 

Cool af was it a professional league? 

 

Sabreland? So that was the Buffalo Regals? I think? I remember a Holiday rink but cant remember what the team was called 

Sabreland is now Hockey Outlet, which was just sold by Tim Igo recently so might have a new name. Wheatfield Blades was the primary organization there. 

[TageMVP]

4 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Played in Amherst growing up and then some in high school at Nichols. 

Nichols was the fancy pants team we'd play against. They definitely had more money than the team I played for. We were one of the teams without names on jerseys. 

In fact, one year we wore the same jerseys for home and away lol but the teams I was on were usually good. Nichols was always a good team. What position did you play? 

3 minutes ago, #freejame said:

Sabreland is now Hockey Outlet, which was just sold by Tim Igo recently so might have a new name. Wheatfield Blades was the primary organization there. 

Okay so North Tonawanda. I did get those mixed up. We usually slammed them. You have to remember Bud Bakewell, right? 

Edited May 19 by TageMVP

[msw2112]

I played in the Shamrock league as a very young kid then in the Amherst youth leagues for a few years.  Stopped playing in high school to focus on football and wrestling.  I always regretted it, as I had a growth spurt right after I stopped playing and although I was not a very good skater, I think I could have been a pretty good grinder/power forward if I had kept at it.  I played a ton of street hockey as a kid and was very good, as I didn't have to skate....Played in some adult rec leagues and was a good player in ball/street/gym hockey, but not great in roller/ice due to that whole skating thing (again).  I love the sport, but had too many injuries and had to "retire" in my late 30's.  Now it's yoga and gym workouts (low impact) to keep in shape and minimize injuries.

I've been a superb hockey FAN for all these years.  Thankfully, this year's Sabres team allowed me to be my best self again.

Edited May 19 by msw2112

[GASabresIUFAN]

10 minutes ago, TageMVP said:

Nichols was the fancy pants team we'd play against. They definitely had more money than the team I played for. We were one of the teams without names on jerseys. 

In fact, one year we wore the same jerseys for home and away lol but the teams I was on were usually good. Nichols was always a good team. What position did you play? 

Okay so North Tonawanda. I did get those mixed up. We usually slammed them. You have to remember Bud Bakewell, right? 

Left defense mostly. Some wing, lots of PK.

[RETURNTOGLORY]

16 minutes ago, TageMVP said:

 

Cool af was it a professional league? 

 

 

Yes.

Oberliga (3rd Tier).

 

[pi2000]

Grew up playing for Cheektowaga in the late 70s early 80s, high school at St. Joe's and for the Niagara Scenic in the late 80s.  Played college then one year pro before deciding to go back to school to finish my degree.

Played some competitive roller for a few years in the mid 90s after finishing school, probably the most fun I've ever had playing the game. 

Got back on the ice in the late 90s after moving to California for work.   Finally gave it up just a few years ago.

[SABRES 0311]

Wheatfield Blades

[JP51]

4 hours ago, SABRES 0311 said:

Wheatfield Blades

I played for the Wheatfield Blades before it was Sabreland, I think it was Wheatfield twin rinks... and a bit in High School... Still friends with some of those folks... obviously High School but literally all the way back to Mites... in fact one of them is coming to visit me in Florida in a few months.. 

[pastajoe]

I didn’t start skating until I was a teen so it was too late for me. But I coached for 12 years from mites through U18. Now that I’m retired I play 4 days a week.

[Pimlach]

I played some youth hockey in KenTon in early 70’s.   Loved it.  Could have made travel teams  

Unfortunately we had a bunch of kids in the family, very little money, no rides - it was not to be.  So I was told to focus on football and baseball which were almost free to play.   That made better sense all things considered.  

[Wyldnwoody44]

16 hours ago, TageMVP said:

How many fights did you get in lol that was a tough neighborhood. Still is Definitely needed to know how to handle yourself a time or two I bet. Luckily for me my father was tough af and grew up in that area so he passed down some of that, I guess I just call it a "mean streak" Anyway, I played for some great teams at Bud Bakewell. Hockey was huge in Riverside. Pretty much anywhere in Buffalo 

Pretty cool honestly that you became a doctor and your cousin played in Europe. Great story Wyldn 

Tell me about any fights you got in lol when my Dad would tell me hed call them "war stories" 

Not a big fighter really, most of my friends were at the projects on Ontario Street, so the usual scuffles, cuts, scrapes, a broken nose here and there 😂 

I did my fighting in the service, combat diver for 5 years in the Navy, that was the fun fighting 😁, also part of the reason I got the travel itch so bad. I'm glad that part of my life is in the past, not much of a fighter anymore and I've deconditioned a fair amount since those days. 

Most I do now is open skate, hit canalside and skate the canals in Ottawa and the skating forests in Troix Riviera in Quebec each January. Been invited to a beer league, but can't risk getting injured and not being able to practice. 

[darksabre]

Still skating in the Holiday/Leisure league. 

At 39 I'm the old guy on my team 😄 

[SabresSnowStorm]

16 hours ago, TageMVP said:

Do you remember any specific teams you played against? 

Hard to recall now. I do recall who I played for (not that old yet, chuckle): Tonawanda Stars (cold mornings at the partially open rink at 6 am or whatever ungodly hour of practice), Buffalo Hornets, Kenmore East. Shared net duties with Les Kuntar (Buffalo Hornets), pretty sure his son popped up this year briefly for the Sabres, then went down to Rochester. 

 

 

[TageMVP]

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

I played some youth hockey in KenTon in early 70’s.   Loved it.  Could have made travel teams  

Unfortunately we had a bunch of kids in the family, very little money, no rides - it was not to be.  So I was told to focus on football and baseball which were almost free to play.   That made better sense all things considered.  

I always made the travel teams. Oddly enough but not really, nobody wanted to play defense. I loved it. 

I still remember my Dad teaching me defensive moves like putting my stick flat on the ice to stop the puck when I was defending a 2 on 1. That worked A LOT. Not joking. Works well in the NHL. I love a good defensive stoppage to this day. I wanted to lay down on the ice to block shots and passes but he wouldnt let me do that lol 

2 hours ago, darksabre said:

Still skating in the Holiday/Leisure league. 

At 39 I'm the old guy on my team 😄 

Lol 39 is not old yet