Remembering the Winter Classic
Jul 16, 2008 NHL
Before Chicago gets to have the fun this year, I wanted to go back and check out the highlights from the original Winter Classic. NHL.com has a page here with many of the links they had about it. I sincerely hope Conklin plays for Detroit in this years Classic, as he has played in both of the previous outdoor games. Anyhoo, here are the highlights if you’d like to relive it.
Still the best sweaters.
edit: Not sure how I selected the Sci/Tech category but now it is fixed.
Tags: buffalo, Hockey, ice bowl, NHL, outdoor game, penguins, pittsburgh, sabres, winter classic
Moose Update
Jul 16, 2008 Wacky
No, not you Papa Moose. There was great fear across the land when this picture was sighted, but it turned out he was just making a border run to see a friend:
Cat also has a flavor
Tags: icanhascheezburger, moose
Worst Kept Secret - Winter Classic at Wrigley
Jul 16, 2008 NHL
The worst-kept secret in the NHL is now officially out there - the next Winter Classic will be January 1st, 2009 in Chicago. Wrigley Field will host the Original Six Blackhawks and Red Wings. Bettman thanked New York and will keep the new Yankee Stadium in mind in the future. Great. Anyway, the article (which could use a better editor, to be honest) did have this to say about the original Classic:
While it will take a monumental effort for the Chicago game to match the drama and mystique of the Buffalo game, when Sidney Crosby’s shootout goal capped an unforgettable afternoon that included the largest crowd to ever see an NHL game and a gorgeous Western New York snow fall, Wrigley Field has a charm unto its own.
Pat Kane better make fun of Patrick Sharp:
“I remember going to Wrigley with a bunch of teammates in April and thinking how cold it was,” Sharp said. “I can’t imagine what it will be like will be Jan. 1.”
Brian Campbell had this to say, having participated last year:
“The city was all wrapped up in it,” Campbell said. “It was, ‘How do you get tickets?’ ‘What are you doing to get prepared?’ ‘What’s your tailgate going to be like?’ It was mayhem, a lot of fun, and something you take a lot of pride in.”
Besides, Campbell can burn a huge pile of money to keep warm this time.
Tags: blackhawks, campbell, chicago, crosby, detroit, Hockey, NHL, red wings, sharp, winter classic
Canadiens at Sabres for Home Opener
Jul 16, 2008 NHL
The Sabres report that their first regular season opponent will be the Montreal Canadiens on October 10th. Also mentioned are the three ‘at-large’ games, wherein Buffalo faces off against Detroit, Anaheim and Phoenix. And just to review:
This season, the NHL has revised its scheduling format. Each team will continue to play an 82-game schedule, but the breakdown of opponents has changed. Each team will play their divisional opponents six times (24 games in total), four games against each non-divisional conference opponent (40 games in total), one game against each of the 15 non-conference opponents and three “at large” games.
Rest of the sched tomorrow.
Tags: anaheim, buffalo, Canadiens, coyotes, detroit, ducks, Hockey, Montreal, NHL, phoenix, red wings, sabres, schedule
MacArthur and Mancari Back
Jul 16, 2008 NHL
In further Sabres news, Clarke MacArthur and Mark Mancari both accepted their qualifying offers, meaning they will be back with the Sabres organization next year. MacArthur played with the big club 37 game last season with 15 points. Mancari led Rochester in scoring, and also displayed the hardest shot in the AHL skills competition.
Tags: buffalo, Hockey, macarthur, mancari, NHL, sabres, signing
Paille Signs Multi-year Deal
Jul 16, 2008 NHL
Dan Paille has signed a multi-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres, according to Sabres.com. Terms were not disclosed (but if I find them, I’ll update this post). Key Lime had a great season last year, scoring 19 goals while being solid defensively. This was good to see.
edit: Year 1, $900k. Year 2, $1.35 million. Very nice.
