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RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FORWARD MATS ZUCCARELLO

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New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Mats Zuccarello on a new contract.

Zuccarello, 25, registered three goals and five assists in 15 games last season after signing with the Rangers on March 28. He tallied six points (three goals, three assists) in the final seven games of the season, including a two-goal effort on April 18 against Florida. Zuccarello finished the season tied for fifth on the team with a career-high, plus-10 rating. He also ranked second on the team with career-highs in playoff assists (six) and playoff points (seven) while skating in 12 postseason contests.

Zuccarello has skated in 67 career regular season contests over three seasons with the Rangers, registering 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points, along with 18 penalty minutes and a plus-13 rating. He originally signed with the team as an undrafted free agent on May 26, 2010. In 2010-11, Zuccarello tied for the team lead and tied for fourth among NHL rookies with nine power play assists. He also tied for fifth in the league with five shootout goals and second with three game-deciding goals in the shootout that season.

The 5-7, 179-pounder has also skated in 73 career regular season games over two seasons with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL), registering 25 goals and 40 assists for 65 points, along with 38 penalty minutes. Zuccarello made his North American debut with Connecticut on October 9, 2010, against Charlotte.

The Oslo, Norway native began last season with Magnitogorsk Metallurg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), registering 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points, along with 30 penalty minutes in 44 games. He tied for fifth on Metallurg in goals, and ranked sixth on the team in points and assists. He also tied for second on the team in playoff goals (two), third in playoff points (four), and fourth in playoff assists (two) in seven postseason contests.

Zuccarello previously skated in two seasons with MODO of the Swedish Elite League (SEL), registering 35 goals and 69 assists for 104 points, along with 100 penalty minutes in 90 career regular season games. In 2009-10, he captured the Guldhjälmen award as the league’s Most Valuable Player after leading the SEL in scoring with 64 points in 55 games. Zuccarello has also represented Norway in several international tournaments, including at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Canisius Finds Home at HARBORcenter

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Canisius College and the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres announced on Tuesday a unique partnership where the school’s Golden Griffin hockey program will compete and practice in the newly-constructed HARBORcenter, beginning with the 2014-15 season.


“This is an exciting day for Canisius College,” said Canisius College President John J. Hurley. “We make yet another big investment in the city we have called home since 1870 as we join with Terry and Kim Pegula and the Buffalo Sabres to help revitalize Buffalo’s downtown, advance the Canalside District and take our championship-hockey program to a whole new level of excellence. It’s a tremendous opportunity for our student-athletes, alumni and fans to be part of this world-class facility.”


HARBORcenter, which is scheduled to open in September 2014, is a $172 million multipurpose hockey and entertainment complex that will sit directly across from the First Niagara Center in Buffalo’s Canalside District. Featured inside the HARBORcenter will be two NHL-size rinks, including a 1,800-seat arena where Canisius will serve as the primary tenant.


The Griffs, Buffalo’s only Division I hockey program, will have their own 1,300-square foot state-of-the-art locker room in addition to separate athletic training areas and access to the building’s Center of Excellence, a high-performance training facility which is designed specifically for development in the sport of hockey.


The 700,000-square foot structure will be connected to First Niagara Center by a pedestrian bridge that will span Perry Street. HARBORcenter will also feature a hockey-themed sports bar and restaurant, a full-service Marriott hotel, an 850-space parking structure and additional retail space.


“This is an exciting day for our hockey program,” said Canisius College head coach Dave Smith. “Partnering with the Buffalo Sabres in a world-class hockey facility further illustrates the commitment to Division I college hockey by Canisius. This top-notch arena will expose fans to a high level of hockey at a number of levels. It will be a tremendous resource with which to recruit, train and develop hockey players. I look forward to the day when a Western New York hockey player competes for the Buffalo Sabres after developing at the HARBORcenter.”


“This is a historical day for our hockey program and represents another strong commitment to the growth and importance of intercollegiate athletics at Canisius College,” said Canisius College Director of Athletics Bill Maher. “The opportunity to have a world-class facility like the HARBORcenter as our home venue is outstanding and will be a critical piece for Dave Smith and his coaching staff to continue to build a championship-level program. Our goal is always to recruit and develop the best student-athletes we can at Canisius College, and we believe that playing in the HARBORcenter is another important part in realizing this goal.”


Canisius, which has sponsored varsity hockey since the 1980-81 season and began competing at the Division I level during the 1998-99 campaign, has played its home games in the 1,800-seat Buffalo State Sports Arena since 1999.


The Griffs compete in the Atlantic Hockey Association and won their first conference championship during the 2012-13 season with a 7-2 victory against Mercyhurst on March 23. Canisius then advanced to its first NCAA Tournament before finishing the season ranked 19th in the final USCHO.com national poll.


Colgate Debuts Documentary This Weekend

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Colgate and the village of Hamilton celebrate a coach and a team this weekend (August 1-4)  that brought the two together during one special season that no one will forget.

This coming weekend as part of the Hamilton International Film Festival, the Hamilton Movie Theater debuts “The General,” a special documentary about Terry Slater and the 1990 Colgate hockey team. The film was produced by Terry’s sons, Grant and Todd Slater, and they partnered with local filmmaker Kenny MacBain.

The brothers got the idea for a film about the team from MacBain at the second annual Hamilton International Film Festival, which they founded five years ago. MacBain debuted a film about the Hamilton boys soccer team that year and approached the Slater brothers about the idea of doing a film on the 1990 Frozen Four squad.

“Grant and I liked the idea of telling the story of the most successful hockey team in Colgate’s history,” Slater mentioned. “But as we started to make calls and set interviews for Kenny, we started to get more involved. We spent a lot of time talking through the film and what could really make people want to watch even if they weren’t hockey fans or from Hamilton.”

Another reason they got involved was because the story was close to home.

“It was also very personal since it involved our dad and close family friends,” Slater said. “We took a very active part in putting the whole film together so we could eventually find the film distribution and a larger audience.”

The film is a story of a hockey team from a small school filled with walk-ons, transfers and rookies that came together under their exceptional coach to reach the 1990 national championship game.

Slater mentioned that there are a lot of messages from the film, but the one that stands out for him was how the community came together to support the title run.

“The message that holds true to us is how a community, when faced with adversity and a challenge, can really come together to accomplish something great,” Slater said.

Slater explains that there were more stories at work during the magical season of 1990.

“The film really shows how our father related to a team and to a community, and how they all came together to accomplish something amazing,” Slater said. “We wanted the story to be more than just about winning or losing a hockey game.”

Terry Slater came to Colgate from professional hockey and was hired out of the World Hockey Association, where he coached the Los Angeles Sharks and Cincinnati Stingers. He spent 10 seasons at Colgate, and his coaching style was unorthodox but caught on quickly with his players and community.

Many players from that 1990 team will be in attendance this weekend for the film’s debut. It features many of them talking about the experience, but is going to have community members included as well.

Slater said he couldn’t think of a better place to debut the film than here in Hamilton.

“This is the hometown we grew up in and it will always hold a very special place in our hearts,” Slater mentioned. “We created the first ever film festival in Hamilton as a way to give back to the area we grew up in and it could not be a more perfect time than to showcase a movie about our father, Colgate, the people of Hamilton, and an incredible story.”

It has also been a real stroll down memory lane for both brothers.

“We have watched the film and all the interviews so many times we can now recite the lines by Carl Clause or Joel Gardner before they even appear on screen,” Slater said. “It has really been a great experience and something we felt we should have probably done years ago. Like anything in life though, sometimes it’s just about the timing of things, and the process has really allowed us to connect with old friends and so many people who are special to our family.”

The film will be shown as part of the film festival at the Hamilton Movie Theater from Aug. 1-4. Movie goers can purchase tickets ahead of time at the theater or by calling 315-824-8210.

MYHOCKEY Signs Agreement with Bill Gray’s Reginal Iceplex

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MYHOCKEY TOURNAMENTS SIGNS 7 YEAR AGREEMENT WITH BILL GRAY’S REGIONAL ICEPLEX


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2013

ROCHESTER NY – MYHockey Tournaments has signed a 7 year agreement to host six annual ice hockey tournaments at Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex.  

These tournaments are projected to include over 2500 teams, with over 2000 teams traveling to Rochester from all over North America to participate.  The estimated number of visitors expected will exceed 120,000 and will generate an estimated 60,000 hotel room nights in Rochester.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Bill Gray’s Iceplex and Rochester area hotels for our 2013-14 season”, said Jim Babin, Tournament Director for MYHockey Tournaments. “Our teams have enjoyed visiting Bill Gray’s Iceplex and the Rochester area for many years. We are pleased to offer teams the opportunity to compete in a world class facility and enjoy the hospitality of Rochester area hotels, restaurants and businesses”

“MYHockey sets the gold standard in youth hockey tournaments in the United States, so we are very pleased to extend our existing relationship”, said Chris Woodworth, Director of Programming and Marketing at Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex. “These tournaments have an immeasurable impact on our local economy with hundreds of millions of dollars going directly into our community. Having such a great tournament company hosting so many events at the Iceplex speaks volumes about what our facility and community have to offer, and why it is a top tournament destination in the United States.”

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Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex is a 170,000 square foot, multi-sport facility located on the campus of Monroe Community College.  It is home to 4 NHL sized ice rinks, a Bill Grays Restaurant, Tap Room and Snack Bar, Abbott’s Frozen Custard, City Brew Coffee, Locker Room Sports retail hockey store, Maksymum Hockey, Northern Educate Hockey Academy, Travel Team USA. It is also the training facility for the Rochester Americans AHL team and home to Monroe Community College Ice Hockey, Nazareth Ice Hockey, Rochester Youth Hockey, Rochester Americans Junior Hockey, Rochester Americans Tier 1 Hockey teams, Brighton High School Hockey, Pittsford High School Hockey, Spencerport High School Hockey, ROC City Roller Derby, Rochester Ice Cats Hockey and numerous other organizations.  For more information, visit www.billgraysiceplex.com.

MYHockey Tournaments, a recognized leader in youth hockey tournaments, organizes and hosts tournaments in nine US locations, with more than 2400 participating teams during the 2012-13 season.  For more information on MYHockey Tournaments, visitwww.myhockeytournaments.com.

Adam and Hackett Resigned

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 23, 2013) — Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced that the Sabres have re-signed forward Luke Adam and goaltender Matt Hackett to one-year contracts.
Adam (6’2″, 206 lbs., 6/18/90) appeared in four games with the Sabres last season, scoring one goal (1+0). In addition to his time in Buffalo, the St John’s, Newfoundland native appeared in 67 games for the Rochester Americans (AHL) last season, collecting 37 points (15+22). Over the past three seasons, Adam appeared in 75 career NHL games, picking up 25 points (14+11).
Adam was selected by the Sabres in the second round (44th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Hackett (6’2”, 173 lbs., 3/7/90) appeared in three regular season games with the Americans last season after being acquired last season in a trade with the Minnesota Wild. The London, Ontario native compiled a 22-20-3 record with a 2.59 goals-against average last year in games with Houston (AHL) and Rochester. Overall, Hackett has appeared in 13 NHL games, including one last season (0-1-0). Hackett is 3-7-0 with a 2.64 GAA in his NHL career.
Hackett was selected by Minnesota in the third round (77th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

USA Hockey Updates National Junior Evaluation Camp News

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USA Hockey Announces Additional Details Regarding
2013 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp
Camp coaches, Blue and White roster unveiled;
FASTHockey.com to provide live stream of all camp games
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today additional details surrounding its 2013 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp set to take place in Lake Placid, N.Y., at the Olympic Training Center from Aug. 3-10.
COOPER/KLEINEDORST TO SERVE AS CAMP ASSISTANT COACHES
Jon Cooper (Tampa, Fla.) and Kurt Kleinendorst (Grand Rapids, Minn.) will serve as assistant camp coaches.
Cooper is the head coach of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, a position he was promoted to midway through the 2012-13 campaign. Previously, he was head coach of the Lightning’s top American Hockey League affiliates in Syracuse (2012-13) and Norfolk (2010-12). He led the Norfolk Admirals to the 2012 Calder Cup Championship. Cooper also spent two seasons (2008-10) as head coach of the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers. The Gamblers won the 2010 Clark Cup Championship and Cooper received the General Manager and Coach of the Year Awards.
Kleinendorst has been a head coach at the AHL, ECHL, NCAA Men’s Division I, USHL and international levels. During the 2009-10 campaign, he was head coach of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 Team. He led Team USA to the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship. In 2008, he was an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Most recently, Kleinendorst was head coach of the University of Alabama-Huntsville men’s ice hockey team for the 2012-13 season. In the AHL, he was head coach of the Binghamton Senators from 2010-12 and the Lowell Devils from 2006-09. He coached the ECHL’s Raleigh IceCaps from 1991-94 and 1995-97. For the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, Kleinendorst was an assistant coach (2000-01), professional scout (2001-02) and special assistant scout (2002-06).
ROSTERS FOR TEAM BLUE/TEAM WHITE ANNOUNCED
The 44 athletes participating in the NJEC have been separated into two groups for the first three days of practices and games vs. Finland and Sweden.
For the Team Blue roster, click here
For the Team White roster, click here
On Aug. 6, Team USA will trim its roster and a single U.S. squad will finish the camp with practices and games against Canada, Finland and Sweden.
Team Blue will be coached by Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud State Univ.) and Jon Cooper(Tampa, Fla./Tampa Bay Lightning). Team White will be coached by Greg Brown (Scituate, Mass./Boston College) and Kurt Kleinendorst (Grand Rapids, Minn.).
FASTHOCKEY TO STREAM ALL CAMP GAMES LIVE
USA Hockey, in partnership with FASTHockey, is providing live streaming coverage of the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp. Games will be offered on a pay-per-view basis. FASTHockey uses a unique game-credit system for viewing games, offering discounts to customers who watch multiple games. Users who want to watch one or more games must first sign up for a free account atUSAHockey.FASTHockey.com. Users can then buy game credits – a single game ranges from $7.99 (when one game credit is purchased) to $5.99 (when 50 game credits are purchased). Game credits never expire and can be used to watch live games or access on-demand content.
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The NJEC will convene 44 U.S. players, all vying for a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2013-Jan. 5, 2014, in Malmo, Sweden. In addition to daily practices, the U.S. will play international games against Canada, Finland and Sweden.
For a complete schedule of the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp click here. Tickets for all games that are part of the camp can be purchased online at WhiteFaceLakePlacid.com, by phone at (518) 523-3330 or in person at the Olympic Center Box Office.
NOTES: Use the hashtag #NJEC on Twitter to join the conversation surrounding the camp … The 2014 U.S. National Junior Team will be selected following a pre-tournament camp Dec. 15-18 to be held in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area … Don Lucia (Plymouth, Minn.), head coach of the University of Minnesota men’s ice hockey team, was named head coach of the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team on March 23. Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn.), head coach of the St. Cloud State University men’s ice hockey team, Greg Brown (Scituate, Mass.), associate head coach of the Boston College men’s ice hockey team and David Lassonde (Denver, Colo.) assistant coach of the University of Denver’s men’s ice hockey team will serve as assistant coaches. The video coordinator is Dan Muse (Clinton, Conn.), assistant coach of Yale University’s men’s ice hockey team … Jim Johannson (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations, is serving as the general manager of Team USA for the fifth consecutive year.

RIT Women Honored

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Eleven RIT women’s hockey players earned 2012-13 College Hockey America All-Academic team honors on Monday, July 29.  Junior Celeste Brown (Great Falls, MT/National Sports Academy) and sophomore Ali Binnington (Oakville, Ontario/Mississauga Chiefs) were named to the CHA Academic All-Star Team with identical 4.0 grade-point averages.

A new standard has been set in the classroom for the student-athletes of College Hockey America, as 77 have earned a spot on the All-Academic Team. A conference-record 11 student-athletes earned additional distinction as the CHA Student-Athletes of the Year by posting cumulative GPAs of 4.0.

To qualify for the College Hockey America All-Academic Team an individual must post a 3.0 grade point average or higher in all of the academic periods during which her team was actively competing.

2013 RIT CHA All-Academic Team Honorees:
Ali Binnington (Oakville, Ontario/Mississauga Chiefs)
Melissa Bromley (Aurora, Ontario/Aurora Panthers)
Celeste Brown (Great Falls, MT/National Sports Academy)
Emilee Bulleid (Waterdown, Ontario/Stoney Creek Sabres)
Laura Chamberlain (Norco, CA/LA Selects)
Tenecia Hiller (Brampton, Ontario/Brampton Thunder)
Katie Hubert (Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Barracudas)
Carly Payerl (Kitchener, Ontario/Waterloo K-W Rangers)
Morgan Scoyne (Drumbo, Ontario/Stoney Creek Sabres)
Ariane Yokoyama (Van Nuys, CA/LA Selects)
Erin Zach (Elmira, Ontario/Cambridge Fury)

Academic All-Star Team 
Ali Binnington, Goaltender, RIT 
Celeste Brown, Forward, RIT 
Kendra Broad, Forward, Lindenwood
Nicole Hensley, Goaltender, Lindenwood
Amy Stober, Defense, Lindenwood
Alison Wickenheiser, Forward, Lindenwood
Chelsea Witwickie, Defense, Lindenwood
Gina Buquet, Forward, Mercyhurst
Julia DiTondo, Goaltender, Mercyhurst
Lauren Jones, Forward, Mercyhurst
Katelyn Scott, Forward, Robert Morris

Twelve Orange Named to All-Academic Team

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Twelve Syracuse ice hockey student-athletes have been named to the College Hockey America All-Academic Team, Commissioner Robert DeGregorio announced today.
Julie Bengis, Kallie Billadeau, Holly Carrie-Mattimoe, Nicole Ferrara, Kaillie Goodnough, Cara Johnson, Julie Knerr, Brittney Krebs, Danielle Leslie, Melissa Piacentini, Margot Scharfe and Sadie St. Germain represent the Orange on a list of 77 student-athletes.
Scharfe, last season’s second leading goal scorer and assistant captain, earns her third CHA post-season accolade. The junior forward was also honored as the CHA Best Defensive Forward and was named to the All-CHA second team.
Ferrara, a sophomore who tied for the second most points on the season last year, was named to the All-CHA second team following SU’s loss in the CHA Championship game.
2012-13 marks three-straight All-Academic honors for four of the 12 Orange named to the team: Billadeau, Johnson, Krebs and Scharfe. Sophomores Ferrara and Knerr have earned back-to-back honors.
To qualify for the College Hockey America All-Academic Team an individual must post a 3.0 grade point average or higher in all of the academic periods during which her team was actively competing.

USA Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

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Top Photo: Doug Weight; Botton Photo: Bill Guerin with Sid Crosby
Curley, Guerin, Karmanos, Mason and Weight
To Be Inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Cindy Curley (Hudson, Mass.), Bill Guerin (Worcester, Mass.), Peter Karmanos, Jr. (Raleigh, N.C.), Ron Mason (East Lansing, Mich.) and Doug Weight (Warren, Mich.) have been selected to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as the Class of 2013, USA Hockey announced today. The date and location of the induction event will be announced later this summer.
“This is a class that represents extraordinary contribution and success in many different areas of our sport,” said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey. “It’s a truly remarkable collection of individuals, all so very deserving of their place among immortals in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.”
Cindy Curley was one of the pioneers of the U.S. Women’s National Team, playing in the inaugural IIHF Women’s World Championship in 1990. Her 11 goals, 12 assists and 23 points in five games remain single-tournament records at the IIHF Women’s World Championship. Curley also skated for Team USA at the 1992 and 1994 IIHF Women’s World Championships and the 1995 IIHF Women’s Pacific Rim Championship. She received a silver medal at each of the four events. Upon her retirement, she continued to champion girls’ and women’s hockey as a coach and official. Her dedication to improving grassroots hockey opportunities earned her induction into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. Curley has been intimately involved with USA Hockey in a number of capacities, including including as an athlete director on the USA Hockey Board of Directors (1995-2006) and as a member of the organization’s youth council (1999-2006), legal council (2005-07), girls/women’s section (2000-05) and safety & protective equipment committee (2001-07). Additionally, she was a member of the U.S. Olympic Athlete Advisory Committee from 2005-08. Among the all-time leading scorers at Providence College, Curley was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
Bill Guerin spent 18 successful seasons in the National Hockey League with the New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. Picked fifth overall by the Devils in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, he played in New Jersey from 1991-97, winning the Stanley Cup in 1995. Guerin was dealt to Edmonton in the midst of the 1997-98 season and was later traded to Boston in 2000-01. The Boston College product earned NHL Second Team All-Star honors in 2001-02 when he posted a career-best 41 goals for the Bruins. In 2003-04, his second of three seasons in Dallas, he racked up a career-high 69 points (34-35), reaching the 30-goal plateau for the third time of his career. Following stints in St. Louis, San Jose and Long Island, Guerin reached Pittsburgh late in the 2008-09 campaign. A few months later, he hoisted the Stanley Cup as a member of the Penguins. When Guerin retired after the 2009-10 season he had earned 429 goals and 427 assists over his 1,263-game career. Additionally, Guerin was picked for four NHL All-Star Games (2001, 2003, 2004, 2007). He wore the Team USA jersey at seven major international events throughout his career, including three Olympic Winter Games (1998, 2002, 2006), two World Cups of Hockey (1996, 2004) and two IIHF World Junior Championships (1989, 1990). He collected an Olympic silver medal in 2002 and helped the U.S. win the gold medal at the 1996 World Cup.The owner and chief executive officer of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, Peter Karmanos, Jr., has used his business acumen to build an empire of hockey at all levels of the game in the United States for more than five decades. In 1994, he acquired the Hartford Whalers and two seasons later moved the team to Raleigh, N.C. Since the team’s arrival in North Carolina, the Hurricanes have enjoyed success both on and off the ice, highlighted by winning the Stanley Cup in 2006. In addition, the team has advanced to the conference finals three times in the last 11 seasons and captured the Eastern Conference title in 2002 and 2006. The Hurricanes were recognized as the top hockey franchise and second-ranked franchise in all of sports in 2009 by ESPN in the “Ultimate Standings,” a collection of data and survey results that take into account a team’s on-ice success as well as its community impact and overall fan experience. As retired executive chairman of the board for Detroit-based Compuware, he has sponsored one of America’s most successful youth hockey programs of the same name. Karmanos also owns the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League, the ECHL’s Florida Everblades and several arenas. In 2012 he received USA Hockey’s Distinguished Achievement Award, and in 1998 the NHL honored him with the Lester Patrick Award for his outstanding service to hockey in the United States.Ron Mason won 924 men’s college hockey games over a 36-season head-coaching career at Lake Superior State University (1966-73), Bowling Green State University (1973-79) and Michigan State University (1979-2002). His win total ranks second in college hockey annals, while his winning percentage (.696, 924-380-83) is among the top 10 in the sport. He led LSSU to the NAIA national championship in 1972 and MSU to the NCAA national title in 1986. Mason guided 22 of his teams (BGSU-1977-79, MSU-1982-90, 1992, 1994-2002) to the NCAA Tournament, tied for second-best all-time. On two occasions he led the Spartans to streaks of nine consecutive NCAA Tournament showings (1982-90, 1994-2002). He was an architect of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in 1972 and went on to capture 10 CCHA regular season championships (BGSU-1976, 1978-79; MSU-1985-86, 1989- 90, 1998-99, 2001) and 13 CCHA postseason crowns (BGSU-1977-79, MSU-1982-85, 1987, 1989-90, 1998, 2000, 2001). The American Hockey Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in 1992, Mason was the CCHA Coach of the Year seven times (1976, 1978-79, 1985, 1989-90, 1999). Among the thousands of players Mason mentored were a pair of Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners (Kip Miller, Ryan Miller), 35 All-Americans and more than 50 future NHL players. Mason, who served on both the NCAA Ice Hockey Committee and NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee during his storied career, served as MSU’s director of athletics from 2002-07 following his coaching career. Mason is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the Michigan State, Lake Superior State and St. Lawrence Sports Halls of Fame.
Doug Weight’s NHL career spanned 19 seasons, during which he played for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks and New York Islanders. After two years at Lake Superior State University (1989-91), Weight stepped into the lineup of the New York Rangers, who had drafted him 34th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. In 1993, less than two seasons into his pro career, he was traded to the Oilers, for whom he played the next eight seasons. The playmaking center, who served as team captain his final two seasons in Edmonton, set career highs for assists (79) and points (104) during the 1995-96 campaign. After three-plus seasons in St. Louis, Weight was traded to Carolina, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2006. The final five seasons of his career were spent with the Blues (2006-08), Ducks (2008) and lastly the Islanders. In his last year, Weight captained the Islanders and received the 2011 King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and humanitarian contributions. In 1,238 career NHL games, Weight scored 278 times and racked up 755 assists. Weight put on the U.S. sweater at nine major international competitions, including three Olympic Winter Games (1998, 2002, 2006), three IIHF Men’s World Championships (1993, 1994, 2005), two World Cups of Hockey (1996, 2004) and one IIHF World Junior Championship (1991). The 14 assists and 19 points that he notched for the 1991 U.S. National Junior Team are single-tournament records for the U.S. Later, he helped Team USA to the gold medal at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and received a silver medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Walsh Joins Canisius Hockey

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Canisius College head coach Dave Smith announced on Thursday the addition ofTyler Walsh to the Griffs staff as Director of Hockey Operations. Walsh, who spent the last three years at the University of Maine, will coordinate the program’s video efforts, manage all aspects of travel and assist with the team’s community outreach programs and fundraising.

 

“I’m excited to add Tyler to our already outstanding staff,” Smith said. “Tyler has grown up around the game of hockey and was an important piece at Maine the past three years. His passion and commitment to learning and sharing his experiences will make our program better.”

 

Walsh joins Canisius after spending the last three seasons as a student assistant coach and video coordinator at Maine. With the Black Bears, Walsh was responsible for scouting opposing teams, video breakdown and assisting the coaching staff at both practice and with the overall day-to-day operation.

 

In addition, Walsh served as video coordinator for USA Hockey at the 2012 U16 and U17 Select Festival in Rochester, N.Y. He has also served as an on-ice instructor at both Maine and Michigan State summer camps, while working as an assistant coach for Holt High School in Holt, Mich.

 

Walsh earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Maine in 2013.

Sabres Sign Flynn and Crawford

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 Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced that the Sabres have re-signed restricted free agents Brian Flynn and Nick Crawford.

 

The Sabres have signed Flynn (6’1″, 180 lbs., 7/26/88) to a two-year contract after the forward made his National Hockey League debut with the Sabres in the 2012-13 season, recording 11 points (6+5) in 26 games. In addition to his time in Buffalo, the Lynnfield, Mass. native has appeared in 50 games for the Rochester Americans (AHL) in the last two seasons, totaling 33 points (16+17) and 20 penalty minutes.

 

Flynn, a University of Maine alumnus, originally signed with the Sabres in March of 2012.

 

Crawford (6’1”, 192 lbs., 2/23/90) has been signed to a one-year contract after spending three years with the Sabres’ AHL affiliates, tallying 72 points (18+54) and 71 penalty minutes in 199 games with Rochester and the Portland Pirates. Last season, he recorded 19 points (5+14) and 18 penalty minutes in 53 games on the Rochester blue line.

 

A native of Caledon, Ontario, Crawford was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round (164th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

 

 

Ellis Inks Two-Way Contract with Sabres

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Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Matt Ellis on a two-year, two-way contract.

Ellis (6’0”, 212 lbs., 8/31/81), an eight-year NHL veteran, played in his fifth season with the Sabres in 2012-13. He appeared in six games with Buffalo before lacing up for the Rochester Americans (AHL), where he played in 32 games and tallied 12 points (7+5). Through his eight NHL seasons, Ellis has amassed 41 points (16+25) and 81 penalty minutes through 267 games.

A native of Welland, Ont., Ellis joined Buffalo on Oct. 1, 2008, when he was claimed off waivers from Los Angeles. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Detroit on May 10, 2002 after playing junior hockey with the St. Michael’s Majors.

Marriott Joins HARBORcenter Hotel

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 17, 2013) — HARBORcenter Development, LLC today announced that an agreement has been reached with Marriott International and Shaner Hotels to develop and operate the hotel facility at HARBORcenter in downtown Buffalo. The hotel property, which has been awarded a full-service Marriott franchise to be operated by Shaner Hotels, will be part of a $170 million multi-use hockey and entertainment complex in the Canalside District of the city.
“We are thrilled that we have an agreement with Marriott and Shaner Hotels to operate our hotel facility at HARBORcenter,” saidJohn Koelmel, president of HARBORcenter, LLC. “Our goal is to make HARBORcenter a first-class facility and we have taken a huge step toward that by aligning ourselves with a powerful brand like Marriott and the resources and proven track record that Shaner Hotels brings to its hotel facilities.”
Scheduled to open in spring 2015, the Marriott Buffalo Harbor Center will offer 205 rooms and suites, 5,000 square feet of meeting space for groups up to 450 persons, a fitness center, a business center, high-speed Internet, a sundry/newsstand, and the new Marriott Great Room serving three meals daily, appetizers and beverages.
“As the signature brand of Marriott International, Marriott Hotels & Resorts is one of the most recognized names in the industry,” said Kip Vreeland, Marriott’s Chief Officer, Full Service Franchising, “Building on our longstanding tradition of hospitality excellence, Marriott is re-imaging the future of travel, with expansive Great Room lobbies that help refresh and recharge; tech-enabled work spaces; and an innovative new Guest Room – a modern blend of style and comfort designed for the way guests work and play today. The result is a modern place where every need is met and exceeded.”
The Buffalo Marriott hotel will feature this contemporary style and design and innovative approaches to delivering service and amenities, featuring the new Guest Room, where style meets substance to help guests transition effortlessly from work time to downtime.
“We are very excited to work with the Pegulas, the HARBORcenter team, the Sabres organization, and Marriott in developing and operating this exciting property,” said Lance Shaner, Chairman of the Shaner Companies. “We look forward to the hotel assisting in the growth of tourism in the downtown area and to help further establish Buffalo as one of the premier hockey markets in North America.”
HARBORcenter will be anchored by two new ice rinks that will be open for community use in addition to a hockey-themed, upscale restaurant and bar, additional retail space and a 850-space parking structure.
The facility will be directly connected to First Niagara Center and the combined structure will be the only three-pad ice complex in the National Hockey League. Additionally, the structure will house a hockey “center of excellence,” which will be designed to help grow and develop the sport of hockey in the region.
HARBORcenter is expected to draw more than 500,000 people to downtown Buffalo annually and will serve as a beacon for hockey in the northeast corridor of the United States and the southeastern region of Canada.
Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 3,800 properties in 74 countries and territories and reported revenues of nearly $12 billion in fiscal year 2012. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 18 brands. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.
SHANER HOTELS – Headquartered in State College, PA, Shaner Hotels is part of the Shaner Companies, a diversified, privately held company that owns and operated investments in the lodging, finance, energy and professional services sectors.  Shaner Hotels is a developer / owner / operator that currently owns and manages more than 37 hotels. For more information please visit the company website at www.shanercorp.com.

Islanders Announce PreSeason Schedule

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UNIONDALE, NY (July 11, 2013) – The New York Islanders announced today their 2013 preseason schedule. The club will play eight exhibition games in eight cities.

 

The schedule is highlighted by the previously announced first-ever NHL game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn onSaturday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. against the New Jersey Devils. Fans can purchase tickets by visitingwww.newyorkislanders.com or www.barclayscenter.com. Single game tickets are available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, located at 620 Atlantic Avenue. If you’re looking for group tickets, contact

800-GROUP-BK.

 

The Islanders will also take on the Nashville Predators in their only game at Nassau Coliseum on Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.  Tickets will go on-sale at a later date.  Visit www.newyorkislanders.com for more information. 

 

The full Islanders preseason schedule is below:

 

DATE

OPPONENT

SITE

TIME (ET)

*Tuesday, Sept. 17 Calgary Flames Scotiabank Saddledome 9 p.m.
*Tuesday, Sept. 17 Calgary Flames Brandt Centre (Regina, SK) 9 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 19 New Jersey Devils Prudential Center 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21 New Jersey Devils Barclays Center 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 22 Nashville Predators Bridgestone Arena 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 27 Nashville Predators Nassau Coliseum 7 p.m.
*Sunday, Sept. 29 Ottawa Senators Barrie Molson Centre (Barrie, ON) 6 p.m.
*Sunday, Sept. 29 Ottawa Senators Canadian Tire Centre 7 p.m.

 

* Denotes split-squad games