After first breaking the story that top Buffalo Sabres prospect Zack Kassian was arrested on an assault charge over the Memorial Day weekend, Dalson Chen of the same newspaper is reporting that the arrest could cause Kassian to be denied entry into the United States and put his pro career in doubt.
“If an individual has an assault charge on their record, they’d be found inadmissible into the United States,” said Chief Ron Smith of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Chen’s report. “There are ways to mitigate that, primarily through the Department of State which issues visas. “But under normal circumstances, initially, the individual would be inadmissible in the United States for the assault charge.”
Kassian was arrested after a fight early Sunday at The Beach Sports Bar and Grill by Windsor police.
Continue reading ‘Report: Kassian’s Buffalo Career Could Be In Trouble’
Keith Allain (Worcester, Mass.), one of the most experienced and successful coaches in the United States, was today named the head coach of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team. The appointment marks Allain’s third stint as head coach of a U.S. National Junior Team, having taken on the role in 2001 and 2002.
“It is a great honor to be chosen to coach this team,” said Allain. “Every time you get to represent your country, it’s a terrific experience. The chance to do so in front of our home fans will make this occasion even more special.”
The U.S. National Junior Team will take part in the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2010 – Jan. 5, 2011 in Buffalo, N.Y. The U.S. will be aiming for its second consecutive title, having won the gold medal last year at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, Sask.
Continue reading ‘Allain Named Head Coach of 2011 U.S. National Junior Team’
Adam Caplan of Scout.com, citing a league source, reported earlier Wednesday that Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch had arrived in Orchard Park. If Caplan’s source is accurate, then Lynch is in Orchard Park, but not a team headquarters.
WGR 550 is reporting that Lynch is once again absent from Organized Team Activities today.
These workouts are voluntary. Buffalo began full-team OTAs last week under new head coach Chan Gailey. Lynch has not participated in any team activities since the close of the 2009 season.
Lynch, according to a report from Yahoo, planned on reporting to OTAs late last week, but that obviously didn’t happen. While Lynch isn’t facing any repercussions for missing these activities, this decision of his isn’t doing him any favors in the court of public opinion.
Continue reading ‘Lynch Still Absent From Bills OTA’s’
(We’re counting down our list of the best 20 Buffalo Bills draft picks of all-time. Take note- this is not a rundown of the best 20 players. Where the player was drafted is often a major factor in determining his value and ranking. Today is No. 16 our list, Fred Smerlas)
Fred Smerlas, DT (Drafted in second round, #32 overall in 1979 NFL draft)
Going into 1979 the Buffalo Bills were a lot of things. AFC cellar dwellers were among them. Over the previous three seasons the franchise combined to go just 10-34. Becoming a playoff team seemed an impossibility headed into the next decade.
That fortune began to change when the Bills drafted a fun loving; Greek nose tackle from Boston College named Fred Smerlas in the second round (32nd overall) of the ’79 draft.
Continue reading ‘Top 20 Bills All-Time Draft Picks: Fred Smerlas (#16)’
Misch improved to 5-1 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.83 -ninth best in the International League. He allowed just five hits and no walks while tying a season-high with seven punchouts. The lone run he allowed in the sixth inning was the only base runner to advance past third base all night.
Misch retired 16 of the first 19 batters he faced. Overall, he threw 71 of his 100 pitches for strikes. The quality start was his team-leading seventh of the year, and his fifth consecutive.
With Misch’s dominance on the mound, the Bisons scored the only runs they would need in the first inning. Hessman knocked in his 54th of the season with an RBI grounder. Three pitches later, Jacobs crushed a 2-0 pitch from Chiefs’ starter Shairon Martis into the berm in right-center for a two-run homer.
Continue reading ‘Hessman’s 18th HR helps Bisons snap three game skid’
Canisius College graduate Frank Turner was recently named to the I-AAA Athletic Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team, as announced late last week by the I-AAA ADA. Turner, who was selected as an honorable mention award winner, is one of 11 men from across the country to be honored for this accolade.
The 2007 MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year, Turner closed out his career in Blue and Gold ranked in the top-10 in 12 different statistical categories at the College, and he goes down in the school’s record books ranked first in career games played (125), career minutes (4,567) and career assists (616), while ranking fourth in career points (1,769) and third in career steals (193). He wrapped up the 2009-10 season ranked sixth in the MAAC in scoring average (16.2 points per game), second in assists per game (5.7 per contest) and first in steals per game with 2.1 swipes per outing. A three-time All-MAAC selection, he was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team after his senior campaign and he was also honored as a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I All-District I Second Team in mid-March.
Continue reading ‘Turner Named to Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete Team’
Second-year head coach Todd Kress has announced his schedule for the upcoming 2010 season. The Bulls will take part in four tournaments and will have 17 non-conference matches in addition to their 16-match conference schedule. For the second straight season UB will be playing four teams who went to the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Bulls will open the season on the road when they travel to the West Virginia Tournament the last weekend of August. UB will play Youngstown State and the host Mountaineers on Aug. 28 and then will face Howard on Aug. 29.
After a road contest at Niagara, UB comes home to host the first of two straight weekend tournaments. The Bulls will welcome Navy, Delaware State and Central Connecticut State into town for the UB Invite, which will be played on Sept. 3-4. Following a mid-week trip to Syracuse (Sept. 7), the Bulls will host the Blue and White Classic on Sept. 10-11. UB begins the weekend against fellow SUNY member Binghamton and will face Hampton and St. John’s on the second day of the tournament.
Continue reading ‘UB Volleyball Announces 2010 Schedule’
