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for February 2011
 For the third time this season, senior Paul Zanette of the Niagara men’s hockey team earned Atlantic Hockey Association Player of the Week honors, as announced by the conference on Monday. Zanette’s latest honor is the ninth time a Niagara player has earned this season, a conference-high.
The Nobleton, Ont. native is sharing AHA Player of the Week honors with Eric Delong from Sacred Heart and Cory Conacher from Canisius. Zanette scored four goals this past weekend against 2011 AHA Regular Season Champion RIT, with two of them coming in Niagara’s 5-2 victory over the Tigers in front of a national TV audience on CBS College Sports. Zanette followed up Friday’s performance by scoring twice more during a 3-3 tie against RIT.
Zanette currently leads the nation in goals (29), goals per game (.85) and is second in the nation in points per game (1.56). This past weekend the senior forward entered Niagara’s 100-Point Club, while becoming just the 10th member of Niagara’s 50-50 Club, with at least 50 career goals and 50 career assists. Zanette is currently three goals behind Ted Cook (2006-07) for most goals in a single-season by a Purple Eagle.
Continue reading ‘College Trio Captures Player of Week Honors’
 The University at Buffalo announced its 2011 football schedule today which features a game at a historic SEC venue, a home game against a BCS bowl team and the two teams that competed in the Mid-American Conference championship game last December.
Once again in 2011, Buffalo will play six home and six away games and this year’s schedule features significantly less weekday games than recent schedules. Among the notables in the schedule is a Homecoming weekend game against Connecticut, 2010 Big East champions and Fiesta Bowl participants, on Sept. 24 and a matchup with Tennessee at historic Neyland Stadium, with a capacity of 102,455, the following weekend on Oct. 1.
The Bulls home schedule consists of the home opener versus SUNY brethren Stony Brook (9/10), UConn (9/24) and MAC matchups with Ohio (10/8), defending MAC West champion Northern Illinois (10/22) as well as MAC East rivals Akron (11/19) and Bowling Green (11/25). The Bowling Green game is the only non-Saturday game on the schedule, and will be on one of the ESPN family of networks.
Continue reading ‘UB Announces 2011 Football Schedule’
 ♦ During East’s quarterfinal win over Depew on Friday, the referee turned from the action to tell Panther coach Starling Bryant (who was standing at half court) to stay in the coach’s box. “Watch the game”, Bryant replied.
During an injury timeout, the Depew players huddled on the court around head coach Larry Jones…and East senior Jasen Oden, who joined the Wildcats. Oden was just hunched over trying to be nonchalant and listen in on the opposition. I couldn’t hear what was said, but Jones seemed to have a sense of humor about it as Oden finally left to join his team with a smirk on his face.
♦ Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Williams was part of a two-man cheering section for his alma mater Riverside, during the Frontiers exciting 60-58 win at Maryvale. Williams stood and bellowed chants of “I’m blind, I’m deaf, I wanna be a ref” and also “I can’t hear you” in response to the Flyers student section.
Continue reading ‘H.S. Hoops Random Smatterings’
 While all the talk around the Buffalo Sabres between now and 3pm Monday afternoon revolves around the NHL trade deadline and if the team will be buyers or sellers after adding Brad Boyes Sunday night, the far more important matter is a seven-game road trip that begins this week. Beginning Tuesday and over the next 12 nights, we’ll have a much clearer picture if the Sabres will be participants or spectators when the playoffs begin.
Buffalo is currently on the outside looking in on the Eastern Conference playoff picture but are just two points behind eighth place Carolina with a pair of games in hand. The Sabres are also in striking distance of the New York Rangers (five points) for the seventh spot, but are also just four points away from being down to 11th in the conference— a distinction the freefalling Atlanta Thrashers currently occupy.
By the time the road trip ends, Buffalo will have just 14 games remaining, including a stretch of six of seven on HSBC Arena home ice immediately following these next seven contests.
Continue reading ‘Sabres To Embark On Season-Defining Road Trip’
 With all the options that today’s high-tech bowling balls offer professional bowlers, choosing the right equipment to complement the player’s ability is often the key to success.
But when the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour returns to Cheektowaga, N.Y., for the third annual Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship at AMF Thruway Lanes March 2-6, any advantage that can be gained by choosing the right equipment will be thrown out the window because all of the competitors will be required to use the same type of bowling ball.
The Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, which requires players to use identical “throwback” polyester ball technology, is named in honor of the PBA Hall of Famer who dominated the so-called plastic ball era, winning a PBA-record eight titles in 1978 followed by another seven-title season in 1979. Roth’s total of 34 PBA Tour titles ranks fourth on the all-time list of PBA champions behind Walter Ray Williams Jr. (47), Earl Anthony (43) and Pete Weber (35).
Continue reading ‘PBA Tour’s Best Coming To Cheektowaga March 2-6′
 The consensus regarding Cam Newton this weekend at the NFL combine is he did an outstanding job conducting himself at the podium and several media interviews as he continues to rehab an image many consider character flawed.
His performance on the field, however, didn’t work out quite as great.
Newton took part in all the drills on Sunday and looked shaky at best on a lot of his throws. Tim Graham from ESPN.com was one of a small group of writers allowed on the field and said Newton’s workout was underwhelming.
Graham wrote that ” Newton was off target throughout, frequently overthrowing receivers. But it should be noted quarterbacks work with unfamiliar receivers at the combine. They run at different speeds and break varying routes.”
Continue reading ‘Mixed Bag On Newton At NFL Combine’
 The Buffalo Sabres have gotten a head start on Monday afternoon’s NHL trade deadline, sending a second-round pick to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Brad Boyes.
Boyes has 12 goals and 29 assists in 61 games this season for St. Louis. Boyes has been with St. Louis for the past five seasons and has also spent time with Boston and San Jose throughout his seven-yaer career.
Boyes scored 43 goals for St. Louis during teh 2007-08 season and had 33 goals the following season. His production dropped to 14 goals in 82 games last season.
Don’t consider him merely a rental player. Boyes is signed through next year and is slated to make $4 million in 2011-12. His salary this year is $4.5 million, though Buffalo won’t be on the hook for much of that.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Acquire Brad Boyes From St. Louis’
 The five members of the Canisius College senior class of 2011 combined to score 45 of the Golden Griffins’ 49 second-half points, and the Blue and Gold shot 61.5 percent from the field and 64.3 percent from 3-point range in the final 20 minutes en route to a 75-58 win over Loyola Sunday afternoon on Senior Day in the Koessler Athletic Center. The Griffs close out the 2010-11 regular season with a 15-14 overall mark and a 9-9 league record, while the Greyhounds moved to 15-14 overall and 10-8 MAAC mark.
The win for Canisius ensures the Griffs will be the No. 6 seed in next weekend’s 2011 Spark Energy MAAC Basketball Championship in Bridgeport, Conn. The Blue and Gold earn a first-round bye with the sixth-seed, and will play No. 3 seed Rider at 10 p.m., Saturday, March 5 in the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard. That game can be heard live through the Golden Griffin Broadcast Network and will be shown live on MSG.
Continue reading ‘Seniors Lead Canisius To Win Over Loyola’
 UFC 127 this weekend pitted “The Prodigy” BJ Penn against Jon Fitch. On paper it was an interesting matchup because of how different both fighters are. Penn is one of the only fighters in UFC history to hold a title in two separate weight classes; lightweight and welterweight, while Fitch has never held a title but is well known for his gritty hard-nosed wrestling and extraordinary stamina.
Penn on the other hand is most recognized for his crisp boxing and technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. With Penn being the finesse fighter and Fitch the grinder, this fight was made even more appealing to fans with potentially crowning a number one contender to champion Georges St. Pierre’s welterweight throne.
Continue reading ‘Penn, Fitch Fight To Draw In UFC 127′
 Niagara wrapped up its regular season with a 66-59 victory over the Manhattan Jaspers on Sunday. Four Purple Eagles scored in double figures to help send Anthony Nelson out with a win in his final game at the Gallagher Center.
“It wasn’t a thing of beauty, but we did what we had to do,” head coach Joe Mihalich. “We had to win today to feel good about ourselves going into the tournament.”
Niagara (9-22, 5-13 MAAC) clinched the eighth seed in the upcoming 2011 Spark Energy MAAC Championships in Bridgeport, Conn. The Purple Eagles will face the Marist Red Foxes, who holds the tiebreaker over Manhattan (6-24, 3-15 MAAC), on Friday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. from the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.
Continue reading ‘Niagara Hoops Gets Win On Senior Day’
 It was certainly not a good omen for St. Joe’s when on the game’s opening tip, center Reggie Agbeko came down on his ankle and crumpled to the floor in pain for several minutes. The Marauders biggest (literally) advantage was gone before their Manhattan Cup semifinal against Bishop Timon-St. Jude even started.
Fortunately for head coach Mark Simon, Chad Kelly will no longer be considered just a football star after tonight. Combined with Tom Escott, the Marauders front court production remained steady as ever as St. Joe’s advanced to Wednesday’s championship game with a resounding 73-58 victory over Timon.
With the win, St. Joe’s advances to their first Manhattan Cup final since defeating Nichols for the title in 2008.
Continue reading ‘Chad Kelly Leads St. Joe’s To Hoops Final’
 Senior Aaron Nevins showed why he’s one of the premiere players in Western New York, scoring a game-high 24 points as Canisius advanced to Wednesday’s Manhattan Cup final with a convincing 70-46 victory over St. Mary’s of Lancaster.
It will be the Crusaders third straight trip to the Catholic championship game. They lost to Nichols last year after defeating them in 2009.
“I’m down to my last few games and I want to go out with a bang,” said Nevins, who scored 14 points before halftime. “I wanted to step it up but I didn’t really do anything I haven’t been all year.”
To St. Mary’s credit, they fought heavily favored Canisius tooth and nail for two and a half quarters before the talent disparity between the teams took over. On this night and for this season, the gritty Lancers simply didn’t have the horses to play with Canisius for 32 minutes.
Continue reading ‘Nevins Powers Crusaders To Manhattan Cup Final’
 Former Buffalo Sabres winger Tim Kennedy’s tumultuous season continues. Toiling in the New York Rangers farm system since Buffalo waived him, Kennedy was traded along with third-round draft pick from the Rangers to the Florida Panthers.
Kennedy has not appeared in a NHL game this season after playing in 78 last season for Buffalo, scoring 10 goals and adding 16 assists.
Buffalo placed Kennedy on waivers last August after he was awarded $1 million in salary arbitration. The buyout cost the organization $333,000 over two years. The move was heavily criticized by both fans and the media throughout Western New York as the South Buffalo native was seemingly an important part of the club’s future.
Continue reading ‘Tim Kennedy Traded To Florida’
Former Buffalo Sabres captain/defensemen Craig Rivet has found work. After being put on waivers a second time yesterday, he’s been claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets, according to ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun.
By Columbus claiming Rivet, the Sabres are now only on the hook for about $425,000 in salary for the rest of the season.
Rivet played in just 23 games for the Sabres and had been a healthy scratch since January 11. He had one goal and two assists this season.
 We’re down to the semifinals of the Manhattan Cup and come Saturday evening, only Timon and St. Mary’s stand in the way of what could be an epic third battle between St. Joe’s and Canisius, with the Catholic high school basketball championship on the line.
St. Joe’s is looking to reach the Manhattan Cup final for the first time since 2008, when they defeated Nichols to capture the trophy. Canisius lost to Nichols last year after winning in 2009 over the same opponent.
For that to happen, both favored teams and in particular St. Joe’s have risky business to take care of. The Marauders take on the Tigers in the second game of a doubleheader that begins at 6pm and while St. Joe’s owns a pair of victories over Timon this year, neither has been a cakewalk.
Continue reading ‘Manhattan Cup Semi-Finals Preview’
 I’ve been severely under the weather for the past 36 or so hours; very poor timing with the NFL combine beginning. As a result, I’m more than just as little behind the times getting everyone some news and notes. I’ve basically been slipping in and out of consciousness while medicated, so since I’m up at 2:53am, I’ll give you items of interest I’ve heard, seen and read surrounding the Bills and the combine yesterday.
Hopefully I’ll be back on top of things better in the next day or two.
♦ I watched NFL Combine coverage on the league’s official network Friday and Mike Lombardi shared his first 10 picks of his mock draft, which of course includes the Bills at three. Lombardi cited Cam Newton as the selection for reasons that frankly, I don’t buy. Lombardi’s two biggest reasons is because Newton is a running quarterback that Chan Gailey likes, which is true. He also said Newton is someone who will fills seats at Ralph Wilson Stadium and give the fans more hope. That, I don’t buy.
Continue reading ‘Buffalo Bills Combine News & Notes’
 Canisius senior Greg Logins scored a team-high 20 points and pulled down seven rebounds while fellow senior Elton Frazier added 18 points and seven boards to help lead the Golden Griffins to a 72-63 win over Manhattan Friday night in the Koessler Athletic Center. The win snapped the Blue and Gold’s three-game losing streak and improved the team to 14-14 overall and 8-9 in MAAC play, while the Jaspers slipped to 6-23 overall and 3-14 in league action.
The win, coupled with a Siena loss at Fairfield on Friday night, has placed Canisius all alone in sixth-place in the MAAC standings as the league heads to the final day of the regular season on Sunday. A Canisius victory Sunday over Loyola on Senior Day would give the Griffs the sixth seed and a first-round bye in next week’s 2011 Spark Energy MAAC Basketball Championship in Bridgeport, Conn.
Continue reading ‘Canisius Hoops Holds Off Manhattan’
 Anthony Nelson set the school’s career assists record as Niagara was defeated by the Loyola Greyhounds, 75-63, on Friday night at the Gallagher Center to snap its nine-game win streak in the series.
“We did not deserve to win that game tonight,” head coach Joe Mihalich said. ”I’m not sure we had enough guys that really came to play tonight.”
Nelson surpassed Alvin Cruz’s total of 630 assists which was set six seasons ago in tonight’s game. Nelson recorded his 631st career assist at the 14:42 mark in the first half. Nelson, who leads the nation in steals, stole the ball from Julius Brooks and sent an outlet pass to Marvin Jordan who made a layup to cut the score to 7-4.
Continue reading ‘Nelson Sets Niagara Assists Record In Loss’
 The honeymoon in Pegulaville will live another night.
The Buffalo Sabres took advantage of timely opportunities and Ryan Miller made several big saves as the Sabres defeated the Ottawa Senators, 4-2 Friday evening at the HSBC Arena.
The Sabres improved to 2-0 since Terry Pegula officially became owner of the team. It comes on the heels of a three-game losing streak as the team continues to battle for a playoff spot.
Mike Grier, Cody McCormick and Jochen Hecht scored goals for Buffalo while Thomas Vanek sent the clincher into an open net with 32 seconds left.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Keep Pace With Win Over Ottawa’
 Class-AA
It was hyped as the most attractive of all the 28 scheduled quarterfinal contests, but sixth-seeded McKinley went into Williamsville North’s gym and knocked the third seed out of the playoffs, 64-52. Senior John Black led the way in scoring with 24 points while senior Chris Canty was equally effective in defending North star freshmen Sterling Taplin, who was held to just nine points. Another senior for McKinley, Anthony Sanders added 13 points as McKinley advanced to the semifinals at Buffalo State College on Thursday evening.
They’ll face second-seeded Niagara Falls, who got 21 points from Marcus Feagin to help defeat Frontier, 67-47. Frontier senior Darius Edwards led his team with 15 points in his final game.
Continue reading ‘Section VI Quarterfinal Results’
 Here is a collection of some Buffalo Bills related notes from the first day of the NFL combine:
Joe Buscaglia from WGR-550 is in Indianapolis for the combine and scored an interview with Bills general manager Buddy Nix Thursday. Here are some of the highlights, courtesy of Joe’s blog on the WGR site:
Buscaglia asked Nix if he believed there was a franchise quarterback in this draft class. Nix responded by saying “I understand there probably is, but it’s hard to figure out which one. That’s the problem.”
Continue reading ‘Buffalo Bills Notes From Day One At Combine’
 They’re so close now that they can taste it.
The Section VI high school basketball playoffs are in full swing, and 56 teams will take the court this evening for quarterfinal action, all being just one win away from their goal of advancing to Buffalo State or Jamestown Community College for the Final Four in each of their respective classifications.
While some teams are more heavily favored than others, anything can happen in a single elimination tournament. Keep in mind about a year ago, Clarence was knocking off mighty Niagara Falls from atop their Class-AA perch. Seventh-seeded Bennett upset number three Grand Island in the Class-A1 quarterfinals last year while Frewsburg pulled the surprise on Holland in Class-C; who will try to pull an upset of their own tonight.
It’s sure to be a memorable night for high school hoops fanatics and while there’s no game not worth watching, here are three that could be the most intriguing:
Continue reading ‘Section VI H.S. Hoops Playoffs Heat Up Tonight’
 “One week ago, the National Football League and the National Football League Players Association accepted the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service’s invitation to conduct their continuing negotiations under my auspices, together with Deputy Director Scot Beckenbaugh. Because of the number and importance of the unresolved issues, I recommended and the parties agreed to a bargaining schedule commencing last Friday and continuing for seven consecutive days, through today.
Our time together has been devoted to establishing an atmosphere conducive to meaningful negotiations and, of course, matters of process and substance. I can report that throughout this extensive period the parties engaged in highly focused, constructive dialogue concerning a host of issues covering both economics and player-related conditions. The tenor of the across-the table discussions reflected a noteworthy level of mutual respect even in the face of strongly held competing positions. The parties met both in full committee and in subcommittees where discrete, technical issues lent themselves to smaller groups.
Continue reading ‘George H. Cohen on NFL-NFLPA Talks’
 Not surprisingly, no NHL team claimed defensemen Craig Rivet off waivers by today’s deadline, meaning for the time being he’s still the property of the Buffalo Sabres. He’s been assigned to Buffalo AHL affiliate Portland Pirates, though as has been reported it’s merely a paper transaction.
Rivet will now be placed on re-waivers Friday afternoon at 12pm and any team that wants to claim him will only have to pay half his salary. Buffalo would be responsible for the other half of his salary and all NHL teams have until noon on Saturday to make a claim.
Rivet is still owed approximately $850,000 this season in prorated pay. Buffalo is hoping another team claims him so that it will only cost them about $425,000.
Continue reading ‘Rivet To Hit Waivers… Again’
 The new-look Buffalo baseball team will start its 2010 campaign this coming weekend with a pair of doubleheaders against the New Mexico State Aggies. The Bulls will rely on a talented recruiting class and solid returners to build off of last season’s 23 wins.
While it will be the Bulls’ first game of the season, New Mexico State comes in to this weekend with a 4-0 record after sweeping a three-game series with Houston Baptist along with local rival New Mexico. While the Aggies offense has been dominant – averaging over 11 runs per contest – the team has also given up just under seven runs per game. In the early part of the season, Aggies second baseman Parker Hipp was named the WAC Hitter of the Week after going 6-for-11 at the dish with six RBI and five runs scored in the sweep of Houston Baptist.
Continue reading ‘UB Baseball To Kick Off Season’
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