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for March 2010
The Canisius College hockey team had its season end in the Atlantic Hockey semifinals, falling to top-seeded RIT on Friday, 4-0. The Griffs end the season with a 17-15-5 record, their most wins in nine years.
 “I think we had a great season,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “Some things just did not go our way today. Our power play, which was so good during the season, couldn’t capitalize today. We had some early momentum and couldn’t cash in. RIT was then able to seize the momentum with three early power plays. They played well and they deserved to win today.”
The Tigers (25-11-1) opened the scoring with 5:08 left in the first period, taking advantage of their third power-play opportunity of the contest. Tyler Brenner redirected a shot in for the early 1-0 advantage. RIT then added a second goal 52 seconds later to grab a 2-0 lead when Mike Janda sent a shot in from the blue line.
Continue reading ‘Griffs Season Ends in Atlantic Hockey Semifinals’
 When the Buffalo Bills hired George Edwards as the team’s new defensive coordinator on February 4, it was announced that the team would be transitioning from the 4-3 zone-style defense implemented by previous head coach Dick Jauron to the 3-4 defense Edwards worked in with Cleveland and Miami. Switching from a defensive system that calls for light, quick personnel to a system that requires big, physical personnel is one of the more challenging transitions an NFL team can make.
After the Bills’ free agent signings of former Ravens DE Dwan Edwards and former Broncos ILB Andra Davis on Tuesday, the team’s 3-4 personnel is starting to take shape nicely.
Continue reading ‘Bills’ 3-4 coming together, still lacking key personnel’
 I thought this would be the perfect time to dust off the series that I started back in July, only to give up on it a month later. Now, for this specific topic, I’m going to write two versions of it.
This will be the reasons why the Bills WON’T draft Jimmy Clausen, and in a day or so, I’ll have the top 5 reasons why the Bills WILL draft Clausen. Got it?
So without further ado, lets get right into the reasoning.
5) All about the Benjamins
Ah, yes. The old dollar, dollar, dollar billz, yo. Now, before you start emailing me about how salaries of NFL draft picks are dictated by draft order, just hear me out. The franchise quarterback is by far the most expensive position to pay out in the NFL. It’s also the one position that if you show enough promise in your first or second year as a starter, you’re going to get a BIG ass extension.
Continue reading ‘Five Reasons The Bills WON’T Draft Jimmy Clausen’
 Junior Cory Conacher of the Canisius College hockey team earned Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year honors, as voted on by the conference’s head coaches. Conacher is the first player in the program’s history to earn Player of the Year accolades.
Conacher was also named to the All-Atlantic Hockey First Team, while senior defender Carl Hudson earned second-team honors and junior forward Vincent Scarsella was named to the third team. The Griffs’ three selections to the all-conference team are the most in the program’s history.
Conacher, who was also presented the regular-season scoring trophy, led Canisius with 53 points, 20 goals and 33 assists during his junior campaign. His 53 points and 33 assists are both the highest marks in the program’s Division I history, while his 20 goals rank third in the school’s record book.
Continue reading ‘Conacher Named Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year’
 Former Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure has long been an advocate for retired NFL players. In recent years he’s fought for more rights for retired players and has clashed with many current players in the NFLPA. One of them is New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
The following is an open letter from the former Bills great to the reigning Super Bowl MVP.
Dear Drew:
At the NFL Players Association convention in Hawaii this past Sunday, you presented a resolution that would give former players two seats on the NFLPA Board of Player Representatives.
Continue reading ‘Joe D’s Open Letter to Drew Brees’
 The Buffalo Bills have met with Ohio State University OLB/DE Thaddeus Gibson, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
Gibson moved from outside linebacker to defensive end for the Buckeyes but projects to be a 3-4 linebacker in the NFL. His stock rose at the NFL combine last month when he ran a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash.
Gibson had 40 tackles last year, including 13 for a loss to go with four sacks and an interception.
He’s regarded as extremely athletic with the ability to make game changing plays. He’s too small to play defensive end with the NFL at just 240 pounds. In fact, he entered college even smaller. He’s put on nearly 35 pounds since entering Ohio State in 2006.
Continue reading ‘Bills work out OLB Thaddeus Gibson’
 For the fourth time, the NCAA men’s basketball March Madness has come to Buffalo. Six games featuring eight teams are in display at the HSBC Arena today and Sunday and when it’s over Buffalo will have sent two teams on to the “Sweet Sixteen”.
Four teams each from the West and East brackets will take the floor, featuring Big East powers Syracuse and West Virginia.
Of course with its close proximity to Buffalo, Syracuse will probably have the most fans at the arena. Syracuse is heavily favored against 16th seeded Vermont but the Orange will be hurt by the loss of big man Arize Onuaku.
Continue reading ‘Tipoff for NCAA Tournament in Buffalo today’
 During our pregame preview earlier Thursday we stressed that the Buffalo Sabres needed to get off to a better start against Tampa Bay if they wanted to end a three game losing streak. Entering the game Buffalo was second last in the league with just 59 first period goals on the season, so it was crucial to jump out in the game’s first 20 minutes.
Boy did they ever.
Jason Pominville scored twice and Tyler Myers added another as the Sabres erupted for three opening period tallies en route to a 6-2 victory over the fading Lightning.
Pominville closed the scoring with 34 seconds remaining to pick up his second career hat trick.
Continue reading ‘Pominville’s hat trick lifts Sabres to 6-2 win’
 Canisius College senior Frank Turner has been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I All-District I Second Team for the 2009-10 season, the NABC announced today. The NABC recognizes the nation’s best men’s collegiate basketball student-athletes, and honorees are selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC.
The 240 honored student-athletes from 24 districts are eligible for the State Farm Division I All-America teams, to be announced Saturday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at Bracket Town in the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind., during the NABC Convention and NCAA Final Four.
Continue reading ‘BSD Briefs: College News & Notes’
 Behind a combined 49 points from senior Dana Mitchell and sophomore Jessica Jenkins, St. Bonaventure pulled away late in the first half and never looked back en route to a convincing 76-50 win against Robert Morris in the opening round of the WNIT on Thursday night at the Reilly Center.
The Bonnies equal last year’s single-season record win total of 23 and in the process move onto play Northwestern in the second round. St. Bonaventure welcomes the Wildcats to the Reilly Center on Monday at 7 p.m.
The Colonials, who won the NEC Regular Season title, finish the season with a 23-9 record. RMU earned an automatic bid into the WNIT for winning their regular season crown and failing to win the conference tournament.
Continue reading ‘Bonnies get WNIT win over Robert Morris’
 First, let’s dole out some credit. The Buffalo Stampede have had a miserable season but it didn’t stop them Thursday night from playing interstate rival Rochester tough. But when the final horn sounded moral victories couldn’t take the place of yet another defeat. Rochester outscored Buffalo 41-26 in the final period to erase a four point deficit and send the Stampede to a 120-109 loss.
Buffalo fell to 3-13 on the season while the Razorsharks improved to 12-3.
Rochester defeated Buffalo all four times the teams met this season.
Continue reading ‘Late Collapse Sends Stampede to 8th Straight Loss’
Buffalo Sabres defensemen Chris Butler has been a healthy scratch the past six games. That number won’t reach seven as Buffalo News reporter John Vogl reports he’ll be in the lineup tonight when the Sabres take on the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Andrej Sekera is expected to get sent to the press box in his place.
Butler has a goal and 19 assists in 50 games this year. He’s a team worst minus 12 in plus/minus. He hasn’t played since being on the ice against Washington on March 3 when he was a minus two for the night.
Sekera has gone 10 straight games without registering a point.
 The Canisius College hockey team continues its quest for an Atlantic Hockey Championship with a semifinal meeting against top-seeded RIT. The fifth-seeded Griffs advanced to the semifinals with a two-game sweep over No. 4 Mercyhurst, while the Tigers swept No. 9 Connecticut. Canisius and RIT now play for a spot in the championship on Friday at 4:05 p.m.
Freshman defender Ben Parker became the unlikely hero for the Griffs in the double overtime contest against Mercyhurst. Parker scored the game-winning score seven minutes into the second extra frame to advance the Griffs to the Atlantic Hockey semifinals for the first time since 2004. His goal was his third career score and his first career game-winning goal. The rookie now has six points, three goals and three assists this season.
Continue reading ‘Canisius Faces RIT in Atlantic Hockey Semifinals’
 Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times reports on Thursday that newly acquired Buffalo Bills defensive end Dwan Edwards was not offered a contract in previous free agent visits to Denver and Seattle because he didn’t pass each team’s physical.
In the same report, Wilson also wrote that the Baltimore Ravens, Edwards’ old team, withdrew an earlier contract offer because the six-year veteran declined to have neck surgery.
Edwards was forced to miss all of the 2008 season with a neck injury. According to reports, “Edwards underwent a procedure in which a disc was removed and replaced with one from a cadaver. His C3 and C4 vertebrae were then fused.”
Continue reading ‘Report says Edwards failed two physicals before Bills’
 Congratulations to the WNY Varsity Hockey Federation All-Stars. The team consists of Bryan McPalane (Orchard Park), Josh Baker (Frontier), Dylan Arnold (Canisius), David Evert (Niagara-Wheatfield), Mark Arnone (Kenmore East) and Trevor Clark (Williamsville South)
Jake Rosen (Williamsville North), Paul Steinig (Canisius), Brian Osieja (West Seneca East), Bryan Komasara (Niagara-Wheatfield), Robert Neff (St. Joes) and Evan Korn (Orchard Park) comprised the second team.
Baker, Arnone and Clark also received extra recognition. The three were named to the All-New York State second team squad.
Evert, Arnold and Rosen were named All-State Honorable Mention.
 The good news for the Buffalo Sabres is barring a collapse of epic proportions their two-year playoff drought is coming to an end. The bad news is if they don’t start to play better, the post season experience will be short lived.
Since the middle of January the Sabres have hardly resembled a playoff team, let alone one currently on top of the Northeast Division. They’re just 6-11-4 since January 19 and have come off the ice with two points just four times over their last 15 games.
Continue reading ‘Game Preview: Sabres at Lightning’
 Among other things, Terrell Owens is a reality television star. Going by his latest reported contract aspirations however, he may be slipping from the reality that exists in his head.
Foxsports.com’s John Czarnecki reports that Drew Rosenhaus, agent for Owens is out trying to find a deal that will pay his client at least $5 million per year.
Not going to happen.
Owens has one likely route to one last significant payday, which could come if the Chicago Bears get desperate. Though Owens doesn’t fit into the Mike Martz style of offense, the team could use a receiver and with Lovie Smith’s job in jeopardy are in “win-now” mode. That could push the team to possibly consider Owens. But even then it’s farfetched to think he’ll get $5 million.
Continue reading ‘Owens takes breaks from reality with contract demands’
 It was a March night in 1996, and the hated Philadelphia Flyers were in town to face the feisty Buffalo Sabres. This rivalry was as heated as ever. You could sense something was going to happen that would set off a firestorm, and it did.
Matthew Barnaby bumped goaltender Garth Snow. Six minutes of intense, entertaining, even comical brawling mayhem ensued. Every player on the ice, including Buffalo’s Brad May and Bob Boughner and Philly forward Rod Brind’Amour, stuck up for their respective teammates with a level of energy and determination that would make you believe that they loved the game enough to play for free.
Continue reading ‘Kaleta calls on fans to “rock the house”’
 The Niagara baseball team swept Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure on Wednesday, winning game one 9-6 before capturing game two 14-13. The Purple Eagles bats exploded from their recent slump, collecting 11 hits in the first contest after totaling 10 hits in Tuesday’s doubleheader loss.
Niagara 9, St. Bonaventure 6
Matt Wietlispach provided the punch, going 3-for-3 and falling a double short of the cycle. The senior left fielder collected four RBIs, scored three runs and added a triple and the game-winning home run from the leadoff spot. Senior Jason Cramer went 3-for-4 and scored two runs, while junior Cam Stykemain scored three times.
Continue reading ‘Niagara sweeps St. Bona in baseball doubleheader’
 University at Buffalo senior guard Rodney Pierce was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District First Team. Buffalo is a member of District 14 , made up of schools from the Mid-American Conference. Pierce earned the award for the second straight year.
Pierce, who was also recently named a first-team All-MAC selection, led the Bulls and ranked third in the MAC in scoring – averaging 18.4 points per game. His 536 points scored on the year was the sixth best single-season effort in school history. Pierce also ranked second on the team in assists (94) and steals (43).
Continue reading ‘Rodney Pierce Named to NABC All-District Team’
 The National Lacrosse League announced today that Buffalo Bandits forward John Tavares was named Offensive Player of the Week as well as Overall Player of the Week, for Week #10 of the 2010 NLL Season. The Week #10 NLL schedule consisted of games played on the weekend of March 12th -14th.
Tavares scored the Bandits game-winning overtime goal in both weekend games against Toronto and Boston; posting 11 points tallying 7 goals, 4 assists and 15 loose balls. On Friday he recorded six points (3+3) and picked up 9 loose balls in an 11-10 (OT) road win against the Rock. The following night he scored five points (4+1), while collecting six loose balls in a 9-8 (OT) road win at Boston. Tavares registered four power play points (2+2) over the weekend. Since his return on Feb. 13 @ Philadelphia, Tavares has 12 points (4+8) on the man advantage, rejuvenating the Bandits power play that went 8 for 28 in the first six weeks of the season.
Continue reading ‘Tavares named NLL Player of the Week’
 We’ve run a poll over the last week asking Buffalo Bills fans who they’d prefer the team takes with the ninth overall selection of the draft. We included six candidates we think should be on the board when the Bills were on the clock.
For that reason you didn’t find names like Sam Bradford, Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy or Eugene Okung. They’re almost all certain to be gone.
After over 900 votes the results are in and Bryan Bulaga was chosen to be the pick by a large margin.
Bulaga received over one third of the total votes (37%). Quarterback Jimmy Clausen finished second with 23% of the vote while defensive tackle Dan Williams was third at 18%. Thirteen percent of you preferred offensive tackle Trent Williams.
Only four percent of voters wanted to see the Bills draft wide receiver Dez Bryant or defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.
 Portland, Maine – The Cumberland County Civic Center Board of Trustees announced today that they have agreed to a two-year lease extension with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League.
The extension, announced in a joint statement following the Civic Center Board of Trustees Meeting held at the Civic Center this morning, will carry the two sides through the 2011-12 season.
Continue reading ‘Sabres AHL team to remain in Portland’
 Former UB football coach Turner Gill certainly put his stamp on the Bulls football program both on and off the field. Now it seems the man in charge of turning around the University of Kansas’ football team isn’t changing much philosophically.
In an excellent article published in the Lawrence Journal-World, Gill is implementing several changes to the football program for both players and coaches. One of them was hiring coaches with a no cursing philosophy.
Continue reading ‘Turner Gill makes a quick impression in Kansas’
 Before Jonny Flynn came to the Minnesota to play in the NBA for the Timberwolves, nearly every time he was part of a blowout it was on the winning end. His legendary Niagara Falls high school teams would often destroy opponents and his Syracuse teams often got the better of the opposition as well.
So being on a team as a NBA rookie that makes losing regularly an art has been a huge culture shock for Flynn. But nothing to this point compares to what went down in Phoenix last night.
Flynn took the floor against two-time former MVP Steve Nash and simply put, the Suns ran all over the helpless Wolves. By the time it was over, Flynn walked into the visiting locker room on the heels of a 152-114 blowout loss.
Continue reading ‘Flynn finds out what giving up 152 points feels like’
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