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Last week, when Erie Otters GM Sherry Bassin appeared in Buffalo at the joint presser with the Sabres to announce the October 22 Erie -v- Niagara OHL game in Buffalo, speculation and buzz erupted as to whether the Otters would some day be available for purchase and relocation to Buffalo. The chatter made sense considering Terry Pegula's investment in the Sabres and the Penn State D1 hockey program in recent years. To say nothing of Pegula's $1+ billion investment proposal that he made to the Wilson Family Trust last month to purchase the Buffalo Bills. Could the Buffalo-Niagara region support an OHL club? You bet it could.
At the time of the Buffalo presser, the Otters were entering their "free agent" season in Erie.
Comes news tonight that Bassin and the Otters are staying put in Erie until 2018-19, courtesy of the new 5 year lease that has been signed.
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Last week, Connor McDavid visited Buffalo in his street clothes. McDavid and his Erie Otters will be playing the Niagara Ice Dogs in an OHL grudge match at Buffalo's First Niagara Center on October 22. McDavid (6'0", 185 lbs.) is considered to be the #1 prospect for the 2015 NHL Draft according to central scouting.
There are a growing number of experts and pundits who are making passionate arguments for why they believe Boston University freshman Jack Eichel ( 6'2" 195 lbs.)should be the first overall pick in the 2015 draft. Where McDavid is more of the speedy, dangly, sniping performer, Eichel has multiple facets to his game including off the charts skating ability, an NHL shot and exceptional defensive skills.
The Buffalo Sabres are owners of three picks in the first round of the McDavid-Eichel draft in June 2015.
Next month, Eichel will be performing for Team USA in Buffalo.
Buffalo hosted the inaugural event in September 2012. Its expected that delirious, hockey famished Buffalonians will fill the barn on that to night so that they can get a birds eye scouting view of the kid that the Sabres may be drafting in the not too distant future.
An interesting side note is that local kid Joey Cecconi from Youngstown, NY will be representing Team USA as well.
Here's the 411 on the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game to be held in Pegulaville:
USA Hockey announced today the 42 players who will compete in the third annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game set for Thursday, September 25 at First Niagara Center, home to the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres. Tickets for the game are just $10 and $7, and are now on sale.
The game assembles the top U.S. players who are eligible for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Twenty-three players appeared on the 2014-15 NHL Central Scouting Futures List, which highlights players that have potential to be selected in the first three rounds of the draft.
“This game has developed into an exciting opportunity for the best players in the United States to showcase their skills on a national stage,” said Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations. “Input from the NHL scouting community is that this year’s game will feature the highest level of talent to date for this event. We greatly appreciate the support of the Buffalo Sabres organization, which has proven to be an outstanding partner in this event.”
Among the 24 forwards are:
Kyle Connor and Jack Eichel who helped the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team capture the gold medal at the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s Under-18 World Championship. Earlier this month, Connor and Eichel attended the 2014 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp. Eichel was a member of the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team. Last season in the United States Hockey League, Connor was an All-USHL First Team selection and Eichel was selected to the All-USHL Second Team.
In August, Karch Bachman, Brock Boeser, Erik Foley , Brent Gates , Tanner Laczynski , Thomas Novak, Ryan Smith , Troy Terry, and Dennis Yan helped the U.S. Under-18 Select Team take third place at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.
The defense corps boasts Noah Hanifin, who joined Connor and Eichel on the gold-medal winning U.S. squad at the 2014 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship. Brandon Carlo took part in the 2014 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in early August. Doug Blaisdell, Joseph Cecconi , Tory Dello and Grant Gabriele contributed to the third-place performance by the U.S. Under-18 Select Team at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.
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Players selected to compete in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game were chosen by USA Hockey in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting
Tickets for the game are on sale now at BuffaloSabres.com
Head coaches for the game will be announced in early September
The Buffalo Sabres and First Niagara Center are hosting the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game for the second time. They staged the inaugural event Sept. 29, 2012, when Team McClanahan beat Team Housley, 5-2.
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