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Transcript of Sports & Leisure Magazine - Buffalo Winter 2015
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINEPage 2 Jan/Feb 2015
By Charles Roberts
On Jan. 12 the Buffalo
Bills on Jan. 12 announced
Rex Ryan as head coach, the
18th in franchise history.
Ryan’s deal is reportedly
worth $27.5 million over
the course of five years.
The 52-year-old Ryan –
the son of longtime NFL
head coach Buddy Ryan – is
well known for his highly
confident, larger-than-life
personality. And more
importantly for Bills fans,
he’s the same guy who once
said: “I never came here to
kiss [New England Patriots
head coach] Bill Belichick’s
rings. I came here to win;
let’s put it that way. I’m cer-
tainly not intimidated by
New England or anybody
else.”
“Following an extensive
search, we are pleased today
to announce that Rex Ryan
is our new head coach,”
Bills owner Terry Pegula
said in a statement. “Rex
brings a wealth of experi-
ence and enthusiasm to the
position that we feel will be
a tremendous benefit to our
players and the entire Bills
organization. He was very
impressive during the inter-
view process, as were many
of the candidates to which
we spoke, and we feel Rex is
the best fit for our team. We
look forward to his leader-
ship and expertise in direct-
ing our team to
the playoffs
and bringing a
championship
to Buffalo for
our fans.”
Ryan joins
the Bills after
spending the
last six seasons
as the head
coach for the
New York Jets.
The 2015 sea-
son will be
Ryan’s 19th in
the NFL.
Ryan ranked
third in Jets
history with 50
wins (regular
season and
pos t season) .
His 4-2 record
in the postseason was the best in
franchise history. Ryan led the
Jets to the AFC Championship
game in each of his first two
years in New York.
From 2009-2014, the Jets
ranked first in the NFL in pass-
ing yards allowed (204.3), oppo-
nent completion percentage
(55.7), opponent first downs
(1,667) and yards allowed per
defensive play (4.9). The Jets
ranked second in total yards
allowed per game (306.9).
Prior to his time with the Jets,
Ryan coached on the Baltimore
Ravens’ defensive staff. In 2000,
he served as the defensive line
coach for the Super Bowl XXXV
champion Ravens. He spent his
Ryan brings the bravado for the Bills
final four seasons in Baltimore
as the defensive coordinator,
guiding the Ravens to finish
second (2008), sixth (2007),
first (2006) and fifth (2005) in
total defense. In 2006,
Baltimore allowed only 201
points and 264 yards per game
as Ryan was named NFL
Assistant Coach of the Year by
Pro Football Weekly and the
Pro Football Writers
Association.
Ryan was born in Ardmore,
Okla. He and his wife,
Michelle, have two sons,
Payton – named in honor of
NFL Hall of Famer Walter
Payton – and Seth.
By Charles Roberts
Before we totally jump to
conclusions, let’s set the record
straight: If the season kicked
off today, EJ Manuel is the
starting quarterback for the
Buffalo Bills.
The 2015 season, however,
is more than seven months
away and the writing is on just
about every possible wall at
Ralph Wilson Stadium. The
Bills will most likely add one
or possibly two quarterbacks
to the roster by training camp,
according to general manager
Doug Whaley.
“By sheer numbers, we’re
going to have to add one,
maybe two more,” Whaley
said of the Bills’ quarterback
situation. “But that’s some-
thing that we’re going to go
through with a finetooth comb
and see if we can figure it out.”
The burning question
remains: Who are the candi-
dates?
After yet another missed
season due to injury, the St.
Louis Rams’ Sam Bradford is a
name that continues to pop up
as a potential starter for a
handful of quarterback-needy
teams. There is just one prob-
lem: Unless he’s traded or
released – which is definitely a
possibility – Bradford, once
considered the Rams’ future as
the top pick in the 2010 draft,
is still under contract in St.
Louis. He is scheduled to earn
about $16.6 in the final year of
his mega rookie deal.
Other names that have been
tossed around freely are the
Chicago Bears’ Jay Cutler and
Washington’s Robert Griffin
III. But much like Bradford,
both Cutler and Griffin III
remain under contract at pres-
ent.
So, let’s take a look at a
handful of quarterbacks who
are set to become unrestricted
free agents:
Mark Sanchez, 28, did a
decent job this season as a
member of the Philadelphia
Eagles – going 4-4 as a starter
– to help erase ghosts of the
infamous “Butt Fumble” past
from the tail end (no pun
intended) of his time with the
New York Jets. Sanchez, the
No. 5 selection in the 2009
NFL Draft, played in a similar
situation in New York to that
of the current Bills team – a
stout defense with offensive
woes – and managed to guide
the Jets to a pair of AFC
Championship games. With
his former coach, Rex Ryan,
taking over in Buffalo, it’s hard
not to put Sanchez at or near
the top of this list.
Matt Moore, the 30-year-old
who most recently served as
Ryan Tannehill’s backup in
Miami, has shown flashes at
points in his career – most
notably in Carolina, where he
went 4-1 in 2009 in relief of
injured starter Jake Delhomme.
Moore also saw significant
playing time in 2011 with the
Dolphins, completing nearly
61 percent of his passes for
2,497 yards, 16 touchdowns
and nine interceptions.
Jakes Locker, who was
drafted eighth overall in 2011
by the Tennessee Titans, could
be tempting for the Bills, but
it’s certainly a risky move. The
26-year-old Locker was con-
sidered a highly talented – but
raw – prospect coming out of
Washington. And, to date, the
book on Locker remains very
much uncertain as he’s yet to
finish a season due to injury.
In 23 games started (he has
appeared in 30), Locker has
completed 57.5 percent of his
passes for 4,967 yards, 27
touchdowns and 22 intercep-
tions. He has also rushed the
ball 95 times for 644 yards and
five touchdowns.
Brian Hoyer, 29, has six
years of NFL experience,
including three with the New
England Patriots and two as an
on-again, off-again starter for
the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland’s once-favorite son
(he’s a native of nearby
Lakewood, Ohio) could be on
the Bills’ radar, but given his
numbers in 2014 – 12 touch-
downs and 13 interceptions,
including two of the ugly vari-
ety in Orchard Park – his days
as a potential starter in the
NFL may be dwindling, if not
over.
Other notable free-agent
quarterbacks are Michael Vick
(34), Christian Ponder (26),
Blaine Gabbert (25), Shawn
Hill (34), Jason Campbell
(33), Colt McCoy (28), Austin
Davis (25), Case Keenum
(26), Kellen Moore (25), T.J.
Yates (27) and Ryan Mallet
(26).
And for the sake of it, for-
mer Bills Tarvaris Jackson,
Tyler Thigpen, Matt Flynn and
Jordan Palmer, who stopped
by for a cup of coffee during
the 2014 preseason, are also
unrestricted free agents.
If not Manuel at QB, then who?
Aaron Rodgers hardly looked like an MVP candi-date.
Peyton Manning, a
sure-fire Hall of Famer, was pedestrian at best.
And Geno Smith – while seldom mentioned in the same breath as Rodgers and Manning – he was downright dreadful.
A top-flight defense has a way of making the NFL’s best quarterbacks – or those in the development stage – look out of their league. And that was exactly the case for the 2014 Buffalo Bills, who sent three players from their defensive line to the Pro Bowl following a season in which it was the defense – and not the offense – that received all the glory.
And while many of the piec-es were in place from the year prior, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz – in his first year with the team – managed to
take what was an excellent defense in 2013 and elevate it to arguably the league’s best in 2014. The team hopes they will be able to maintain that same level of excellence as Dennis Thurman, former defensive coordinator of the NY Jets, steps in for Schwartz. It was a move precipitated by new head coach Rex Ryan, a defensive specialist, who took over for Doug Marrone after the later opted out of his contract.
The Bills’ defense was anchored by defensive end Mario Williams, who led the team with a career-high 14.5 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl, along with defen-sive tackles Marcell Dareus (10 sacks) and Kyle Williams
Sack-craving defense leads the way for the 2014 Bills
(5.5 sacks).“Well I think anytime
you’re recognized by your peers, the coaches that you play against, your fans...all the Bills fans that vote for you and you have an oppor-tunity to represent this orga-nization and our city – it’s always an honor to be able to do that,” Kyle Williams,
whose Pro Bowl nod is his third in a row and fourth overall, explained.
And not to be outdone, Jerry Hughes, who started all 16 games at right defensive end, scored the units’ only defensive touchdown and racked up 10 sacks of his own – a heavy contribution to the Bills’ league-leading
54 (Baltimore and Philadelphia were tied in second with 49).
The Bills were also fourth overall in total yards allowed, third in pass defense, 11th in run defense and fourth in points allowed. As if that’s not enough, the defense also
Photo by Joe ValentiAfter spending six years with the Jets, Rex Ryan knows a thing or two about the AFC East.
Photo by Joe ValentiFormer first-round pick EJ Manuel is likely to have new competition in 2015.
Photo by Mike M
ajewski
Mario Williams had a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2014 for the Bills.
continued on page 15
By Charles Roberts
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE Page 3Jan/Feb 2015
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By George Kuhn
Zemgus Girgensons has
been embraced by Sabres fans
for his considerable work ethic
but his hockey skillset is also
something to behold as it
evolves. With the Sabres strug-
gling early this season, coach
Ted Nolan held the then
19-year-old Girgensons out as
an example of how every
member on the team should
play calling him a “perfect
hockey player.”
At the age of 15 Girgensons
left his home in Latvia to learn
to play North American style
physical hockey. He hoped to
earn a college scholarship to
play hockey and didn’t expect
to be playing in the NHL.
Projected as a mid first round
pick in 2012, he’s developed
into the steal of that draft year.
But his success is not surpris-
ing to those who considered
him to be underrated prior to
the 2012 draft.
His story is amazing,” Nolan
said of the player he has
coached on the Latvian nation-
al team since he was a young
18-year-old. “He came here at
age 15 not knowing the lan-
guage. He has succeeded
because good things happen to
Zemgus Girgensons: Face of the Sabres
good people. His success is a
testament to his work ethic
and skill.”
Former NHL player Jim
Montgomery coached Zemgus
as a junior with Dubuque of
the USHL from 2010 to 2012
and compared his work ethic
in practice and the weight
room to his former teammate
Rod Brind’Amour, whose
legenadry workouts earned
him the nickname “Rod the
Bod.” “You would think he
was from Flin Flon (Manitoba)
or Moose Jaw (Saskastchewan)
by the way he plays,”
Montgomery said citing fabled
small western Canada prairie
towns noted for producing
tough hockey players with
strong character. “He’s a young
man who will represent his
organization the right way in
every day in every facet of his
life.”
With their second pick in
the first round of the 2012
Photo by Mike Majewski
Zemgus’ Latvian fan base has secured him a starting spot in NHL all star game and created a rep video in his honor.
Ode to Girgensonsby Latvian rap artist Olas
Eggs are in the house... Are you
ready?
1.5 million votes
Zemgus Girgensooons
Raises Latvia a little higher
Zemgus Girgensooons
Who’s the one with a lot of
money?
Zemgus Girgensooon
Who’s the one which word are
we shouting?
Zemgus Girgensooons
I am so clean,
I am so white,
I am so free,
I am so young
I enter a club and drop some
cash
Just like Zemgus Girgensooons
Sit on a sofa, my foot on the
table,
I don’t care if anyone is in front
me
Go through the club and have a
shot
Just like Zemgus Girgensooons
You saw me, I am in front of you
baby
You like my songs, you want to
draft, the Sabres select-
ed Girgensons 14th
overall, just two spots
after picking enigmatic
Russian scoring star
Mikhael Grigorenko.
Girgensons was flying
a little under the radar
because of questions
about whether he
could score enough
goals to be a top six
forward in the NHL.
Montgomery dismissed
those concerns, opin-
ing “He will do what-
ever it takes to win,
and he does that at
such a high level that
his skill level gets
underrated. People
think he is just a hard worker
but his skill level is that of a
top prospect.”
Former Calgary GM Craig
Button noted that Girgensons
should have been picked as
early as fifth overall stating
that Zemgus played with equal
parts “teststerone, truculence,
and belligerence.” Button
compared Girgenson’s game to
that of St. Louis Blues star
David Backes, saying that he
could become a 30 goal scorer
who can win you a game by
scoring a goal, winning a
faceoff, making a defensive
play or making a hit.
If the players from the 2012
draft were reseeded now,
Girgensons would probably be
the second player taken,
behind only Filip Forsberg
who is having an outstanding
year with Nashville. Zemgus
has scored 11 goals and nine
assists for 20 points in 43
games this season, already sur-
passing last season’s total of
eight goals in 73 games. He
projects at 20 goals and 40
points for the season, which is
respectable for a player on the
leagues most anemic scoring
team.
Girgensons’ Latvian fan
base helped to generate more
all star votes than any other
player (1,574,896) guarantee-
ing him a spot in the starting
lineup for the 2015 NHL All
Star game on Jan. 25 in
Columbus. Fans are allowed
to vote as many as ten times
per day from one device. The
NHL reported that 79 percent
of the Girgensons votes came
from Latvia, where the capital
city Riga has anointed iteself
the “Wi-Fi capital of Europe.”
In Latvia we’ve only got two
million people, that’s the crazy
part,” Girgensons explained.
Girgensons says his team-
mates don’t talk about his All
Star selection much in the
locker room, although they do
congratulate him and kid him
about it in the typical locker
room fashion that all late night
men’s league players are famil-
iar with. He seems genuinely
humble and almost embar-
rassed about the attention and
insists he is not distracted
from perfecting his craft as a
hockey player and helping the
Sabres win some games.
“He’s a young man who will
represent his organization the
right way in every day in every
facet of his life,” said
Montgomery, his former
coach.
And there is the Latvia rap
video…
If you haven’t seen it yet,
check out Facebook (Sports
and Leisure Magazine’s page)
and enjoy! As a public service
to our readers, here is what we
believe to be an authentic
translation into English of the
lyrics:
be near me
You come at me but I deke right
by you
Just like Zemgus Girgensooons
I see the coolest chick in the club
and say
I’m your destiny, Yo
I see the coolest chick in the club
and say
I’m your destiny, Yo
But she says I’m not as famous
Just as Zemgus Girgensooons
Zemgus Girgensooons
Zemgus Girgensooons
Zemgus Girgensooons
Zemgus Girgensooons
Am I calm?
Am I precise?
(Yeah, yeah)
Shooting right in the aim,
Money in the pocket
Chicks, BMW, money and
everything
Always I’m ready just like it was
a derby
Nation is crazy and that is my
background
I am like Girgensoons
Don’t judge me cause I don’t
care
Believe me, bro
Nobody believes you
There is no faith in you
I am still a son,
I am the style
I am free,
Eggs are in the house and
your legs are quivering
Girls are dreaming while
cooking eggs in the oven
You’re making me laugh
when you say that your fierce
opponent
You can’t beat me while I’m
alive
Girls dance, million in the
bank,
Soon they will play my music
everywhere
I’m not a copy but I have one
clone
Girls dance, million in the
bank,
Soon they will play my music
everywhere
I’m not a copy but I have one
clone
No other than...
Zemgus Girgensooons
Zemgus Girgensooons
Zemgus Girgensooon
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINEPage 4 Jan/Feb 2015
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Sports & Leisure Magazine192 Louvaine Drive, Buffalo, New York 14223
Tel.: (716) 876-2738, Fax: (716) 874-8289Email to: [email protected]
Check us out on the web at www.sportsandleisuremag.com &www.hugesportz.com
Publisher & Editor Marian GiallombardoAssociate Editor Jeffrey LevineFeature Writers Paul Adamo, Robert Caico, Rick Davenport, Mike Dyer, Mike Fox, Paul Gotham, Ivan the Impaler, Joe Kirchmyer, George Kuhn, Jeffrey Levine, Christopher Fee, Adam McGill, Brian Michalek, Ron Montesano, Len Mytko, Dave Ricci, Charles Roberts, Dave Sully, John Williams, Mark Zarbo, Rick Zurak (golf editor)Chief Photographer Jeff BarnesStaff Photographers Nick LoVerde, Joe Valenti, Mike Majewski, Holly MalinowskiCover photos Zemgus Girgensons & Rex Ryan by Mike Majewski, Val James by Graig AbelAdvisory Board Phil Haberstro, Adam Lingner, Denny LynchContributing Writers Jared Buyer, CPFT, Ryan Esguerra, Todd Etshman, Jack Godzuk, Mark Harzynski Sr., Holly Malinowski, Joel Marrs Jr, Bob Plezia, Eric VenatorLayout & Cover Alex Getz, Meg Kinsley, NYGMSonline.comGraphic artist Liz Seivert, Shannon O’HaraCopy Editors and Office Assistants Len Mytko, Justin Vernold, John WilliamsPlease send your letters, questions, and comments to: Sports & Leisure Magazine, 192 Louvaine Dr, Buffalo, NY 14223 or e-mail [email protected]. Please include your name, address and phone number or your letter can’t be published. All letters and responses become the property of Sports & Leisure Magazine, they may be printed, and are subject to editing. Sports & Leisure Magazine is circulated throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario. All rights and trademarks reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the express written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. ©1997 - 2015 Sports & Leisure Inc.Facebook: Sports and Leisure Magazine and Hugesportz.com
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After Buffalo beat Green Bay
at home in Week 15, there was a
growing belief the then 8-6 Bills
could finally break their playoff
drought. Despite beating the
Patriots in Week 17, the Bills fell
just short with a 9-7 record and
were once again left out in the
cold.
Head coaches get dismissed
for a lot of reasons, but almost
no one predicted that Doug
Marrone would opt out of his
contract. Not wasting any time,
the Bills announced two weeks
later that Rex Ryan, the ever
brash and always entertaining
former head coach of the New
York Jets, was taking over as the
18th head coach in franchise
history. Carpooling down I-90
W, Ryan brought his former
defensive coordinator Dennis
Thurman for the ride after Jim
Schwartz was dismissed. To
complete the new staff, Greg
Roman was brought in to serve
as offensive coordinator, the
same role he previously had
with the San Francisco 49ers.
Ryan is inheriting one of the
league’s best defenses, but also a
giant question mark at QB.
Second year pro EJ Manuel
ended the season on the bench
and his replacement, Kyle
Orton, officially retired the day
after the season ended. Having a
strong defense without a trigger-
man isn’t new territory for Ryan
and he’ll have an important deci-
sion to make as to who goes
under center next season.
The Sabres, like the Bills also
find themselves in need of a lit-
tle offensive punch. After going
a season best 10-3 behind timely
scoring and out of this world
goaltending, the production has
dropped as of late and losses
ensued.
One of the brightest spots for
the season, however, has been
Zemgus Girgensons. The center
currently leads the team with 11
goals and is fourth in assists.
Even more impressive, his home
nation of Latvia helped push
him into the All-Star game with
over 1.5 million votes cast.
Whenever you have a rap in
your honor you know that
you’re doing something right.
In addition to Girgensons, the
Sabres could see even more
strength down the middle when
Sam Reinhart is eventually
called up for action. Selected
second overall in last year’s
draft, Reinhart recently helped
lead Team Canada to gold in the
World Juniors and was tied for
the tournament lead in points
(11) with five goals and six
assists.
Be sure to check out our
Winter Pullout Guide for
regional winter fun activities.
Photo by Mike M
ajewski
After a Hall of Fame career - including two Stanley Cups, a Gold Medal and an entire room’s worth of individual awards - it was only a matter of time before the fans of Buffalo were able to honor Dominik Hasek by offi cially retiring his jersey. On Jan. 13, the Dominator offi cially joined the ranks of Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, Rene Robert, Tim Horton Danny Gare and Pat LaFontaine as his #39 was raised to the rafters of the First Niagara Center.
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE Page 5Jan/Feb 2015
Last article I
wrote was about
skating training for
hockey players and
how change of
direction and lateral
movement skills are
the most important.
After players are
able to perform these skills the
next step is to teach them how
to use these skills. One key to
reading this article is it refers
to when a player is skating the
puck up the ice on an even
man rush (one-on-one, two-
on-two situations etc).
Watching many young play-
ers, I’ve noticed that the
majority skate in a straight
line (and usually to the out-
side) when they are carrying
the puck. Then about five feet
from the defender they will
attempt to make a fake hoping
the defender will fall for it.
The problem is when a player
skates in a straight line they
allow the defender to gain an
angle and body position
decreasing their chances of
success. That is why using a
lateral movement and under-
standing how to approach
defenders becomes an import-
ant skill.
The approach refers to the
10 to 15 feet before a player
gets to a defender. It is in this
range that the puck carrier
should start to set up their
fake and read the defender.
Lateral movement refers to a
player’s ability to use cross-
overs to gain speed in a linear
direction as well as a deceptive
skill. Learning how to use lat-
eral movement during the
approach is a more important
skill than the actual fake itself.
Lateral movement helps play-
ers stay agile on their skates
and forces defenders to make
decisions.
When I first teach lateral
movement I have players prac-
tice one quick crossover each
way while skating up the rink.
Once players are competent
with that skill I have them
practice skating at stationary
targets making a fake while
trying to keep their feet mov-
ing. Most players will stop
moving their feet and go into a
wide base of support to make
their fake versus keeping their
feet moving and accelerating
around the defender. For
many players this is the hard-
est skill to master as it requires
them to be able to perform
The importance of the approach and using lateral movement
multiple skills at the
same time quickly.
Once players
understand these
skills, the next step
is to teach them
how to use different
patterns of lateral
movement for
deception. The bad habit many
players fall into is they will
only attack the outside with-
out ever making attempts to
attack the middle of the ice. By
attacking the middle of the
rink, the offensive player forc-
es the defensive player to
defend. The idea is to get the
defender to lunge and over-
commit to the middle allowing
the offensive player to gain a
step back to the outside.
One simple way to do this is
the offensive player should
take three to four crossovers
from the outside to the middle
of the ice. The key is the offen-
sive player has to get inside
the defensive player. This forc-
es the defender to have to
attempt to cut off the offensive
player. As soon as the defen-
sive player makes their play to
cut off the offensive player
that is when the offensive
player should make a quick
change of direction back to the
outside and accelerate around
the defender. If the defensive
player does not attempt to cut
the offensive player off then
they should accelerate around
the defensive player to the
middle. Instead of reacting to
the defender’s mistake, many
players will still make their cut
back outside out of habit.
These are the basics of what
the approach is and how to use
lateral movement. To write out
all the steps makes these skills
sound complicated when in
fact they are simple. The key is
using the skills consistently,
making them a habit. Just like
shooting with your head up
will help give players a greater
percentage to score, using
these skills with their fakes
will give players a greater
chance at beating defenders. If
anyone would like video exam-
ples of approach/lateral move-
ment skills in use please do not
hesitate to contact me and ask:
(716) 208-3724 | MarkZarbo@
yahoo.com | www.
MarkZarboHockey.com
The correct timing of quali-
ty nutrients will make or break
your hockey performance.
Proper nutrition is one of the
most confusing topics espe-
cially with so many diets and
self-proclaimed experts push-
ing their programs and supple-
ments. The truth is that with-
out proper fuel your body can-
not perform at optimal levels.
This goes for daily meals,
snacks, before-during-after
games/practices and especially
around tournaments. Getting
the right combination of nutri-
ents at the right time is crucial;
here we will discuss the
Macro-nutrients (Protein,
Carbs, Fats and Water).
Protein is essential for prop-
er maintenance and growth,
especially in regard to youth
hockey players. Due to the
Performance hockey nutritionnature of the game and daily
activity young players need to
take up to half their body
weight in protein per day
spread out over the day.
Protein is especially important
after a game or practice to start
rebuilding; whey protein pow-
der is the best option. Those
deficient in protein will not
rebuild and grow leading to
overtraining and poor recov-
ery over time.
Carbohydrates are essential
for energy production and are
required to sustain mental
clarity and muscle contrac-
tion. I usually recommend a
carb drink mix in water during
games and a post-event drink
with protein plus carbs (3:1
carbs to protein is best -
Endurox R4 and Accelerade
are great products). If you do
not reload your glycogen
stores within 30-minutes of
completion, lower levels of
performance are expected.
Fats are an essential compo-
nent to a healthy diet but
should be avoided around
event times as they slow diges-
tion and can make you feel
sluggish. Proper water intake
is a must as many players are
dehydrated based on the salty
processed foods they eat,
excessive sweat during events
will create even more perfor-
mance issues. Sipping water
throughout the day is best, if
you feel thirsty you are already
dehydrated. Adding flavor to
water is best to increase the
amount you drink, watered
down juice or lemon with a
pinch of sea salt will increase
electrolytes similar to
HOCKEYTRAINING WITHMARKZARBO
Gatorade. I never recommend
any artificial sweeteners or
zero calorie drinks as they are
unhealthy and provide zero
benefits (Propel, Mio, G2…).
For a personalized nutrition
evaluation and guidance con-
tact us to setup a private pro-
gram from proper food to
effective supplements.
For questions or feedback,
please feel free to contact us via
email: SayHi@skateaheadwny.
com. Get weekly training tips @
facebook.com/skateaheadwny.
OFF-ICEHOCKEYFITNESS WITHJAREDBYER,CPFT
He only played seven games
in the blue and gold but any
Sabres fan is sure to remember
the 1981-82 season as the one
where Val James had a three-
punch TKO of the Boston
Bruins Terry O’Reilly at War
Memorial Auditorium. He had
been brought up from
Rochester to help Scotty
Bowman’s Sabres contend with
the playground gang of Bruins
bullies and with his one-sided
victory over O’Reilly, James
became an instant legend in
Sabres folklore.
If you mention the name Val
James to any Sabres fan old
enough to have seen that fight
more than 30 years ago, they
will smile and share their
memories of O’Reilly’s come-
uppance. They may even tell
you that his first name is actu-
ally Valmore, so strong are the
memories that he created.
Now James can also add
author to his list of accom-
plishments with his autobiog-
raphy, “Black Ice: The Val
James Story” schedule to come
out from ECW Press later this
month.
What James accomplished
in his first game for Buffalo in
the 1981-82 season was histor-
ical. There was no brass band
playing or any public address
announcement but James very
quietly became the first
African American to play in
the NHL when he suited up
for Buffalo at the Aud against
the Philadelphia Flyers.
The remarkable tale of Val
James is the story of a skinny
six-foot kid who didn’t start
skating until age 13 but by age
20 was drafted by the Detroit
Red Wings. Growing up in
Long Island, James would
eventually find his way to the
fabled Quebec Remparts (Guy
Lafleur’s junior team) and the
Quebec junior A hockey
championship.
James’ father was the opera-
tions manager at the Long
Island Arena, the home rink of
the Eastern League Ducks and
young Val wanted to be a
hockey player like the
Canadians he watched every
day. With unlimited access to
the ice rink because of his dad
James taught himself to skate
and his fists propelled his rise
to the top as he took on the
role of an enforcer. He played
Junior B hockey for the OHA
Midland Flyers, home of for-
mer Sabres GM and coach
John Muckler who had helped
establish the Long Island
Ducks as a player, coach and
manager. James then graduat-
ed to the Remparts of the
Quebec Jr. A league.
Along the way James dealt
with prejudice as an American
player in Canada and racial
prejudice as a black man in a
white mans game. But his
hard-working physical style
always won over his team-
Val James: An unlikely Sabres legendBy George Kuhn
mates and hometown fans.
And his fists established his
reputation as a player to be
feared by his opponents. Any
player who used racial slurs
against him in a game had a
death wish and they never did
it twice.
James worked his way up
the ladder of minor profes-
sional hockey the hard way,
one fight at a time, against all
the established tough guys
while playing for the Erie
Blades of the resurrected
Eastern Hockey League. But
he was the toughest and he
ended up in Rochester playing
with current Sabres coach Ted
Nolan who remembers Val
well. “He was a modern day
assassin. Nobody wanted to
get him upset. He was so pow-
erful and so strong that he
didn’t have to fight most of the
time. Knowing he was there
was enough.”
“We had a lot of skilled
player in Buffalo but we need-
ed to get tougher. Val filled
that role to a T” Scotty
Bowman explained, to which
Val responded, “Who am I to
argue with the greatest coach
of all time?”
By Joel Marrs, Jr.
All is good in Canadian
Junior Hockey again. After a
seven-year drought, Canada is
back on top of the International
Junior Hockey Mountain.
With games being played in
Toronto and Montreal, home-
town fans were treated to some
of the best junior hockey that
has been played in a long time.
Boasting a roster that is
stocked with NHL level talent,
2015 IIHF U20 ChampionshipsTeam Canada began the tour-
nament with an 8-0 drubbing
of Team Denmark. Next, the
Canadians faced Slovakia and
their world-class goalie Denis
Godla who was every bit as
strong between the pipes as
advertised. Despite his best
efforts the Canadians netted
five and advanced to the gold
medal game. Their opponent,
Russia, was coming off wins
against the United States and
Sweden.
Canada was dominant
building a 5 – 1 lead. Not to be
outdone, the Russians roared
back with three unanswered
goals to get within striking
distance of the Canadians
down just 5-4.
The third period was wild as
both teams played their hearts
out but neither could get into
the scoring column. In front of
19,014 fans, the hometown
team held on to win a well-de-
served gold medal and the
atmosphere of the overwhelm-
ingly Canadian crowd at the
Air Canada Center in Toronto
was ecstatic.
In addition to scoring what
would ultimately be the
game-winning gold medal
goal, Reinhart was one of the
standout performers for a
loaded Canadian team.
Samson, the second overall
pick by the Sabres in the 2014
draft, lead team Canada with
continued on page 15
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINEPage 6 Jan/Feb 2015
By Leonard J. Mytko
We’re in the middle of the
NFL playoffs, yet here we are
already thinking ahead to fan-
tasy football for next season.
So here’s a look at players who
saw their 2015 fantasy football
value rise or fall over the final
course of the season.
AscendersMarquise Lee, WR, Jaguars –
He finished his rookie season
with 37 catches for 422 yards
and just one touchdown but as
long as quarterback Blake
Bortles shows potential, the
former USC standout could be
a top-flight wideout for the
Jags in his sophomore season.
Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers
-Whether or not Frank Gore
leaves in free agency remains
to be seen but Hyde is next in
line to start on one of the best
run-blocking units around.
And if that’s the case, he’s easi-
ly one of the top-10 running
backs on the board.
Latavius Murray, RB, Raiders
– He came up huge late in the
year, even going over 100 total
yards against the Bills in Week
16, and could be given a great-
er opportunity at being a via-
ble starter in Oakland’s back-
field next year.
Jace Amaro, TE, Jets – It’ll be
interesting to see how the Jets
QB situation shakes out
because they have a real dia-
mond in the rough with this
guy. And it wouldn’t be at all
surprising to still see his name
under the radar when it comes
time for the preseason rank-
ings next summer either.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB,
Vikings – It’s not time to
announce he’s an every-week
fantasy starter yet, but after
settling in some, he became a
lot more consistent, averag-
ing 240 passing yards a con-
test and throwing 10 touch-
downs in the final six games.
So as long as he builds on
doing that in his second year,
he just might earn some fan-
tasy trust as a starting option
in deeper leagues.
Devonta Freeman, RB,
Falcons - With Steven Jackson
past his prime and Jacquizz
Rodgers’ contract up,
Atlanta’s fourth-round pick
from a year ago is the team’s
future. He didn’t play much
in ‘14, but when he did, he
displayed big-play ability.
Paul Richardson, WR,
Seahawks – He had only 29
catches for 271 yards and one
touchdown in 15 games this
year, but 15 of those balls he
caught came in the last month
alone adding speculation he’ll
be a lot more involved in
Seattle’s aerial attack when
next season rolls around.
Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles – He
didn’t have the breakout sea-
son many expected him to
have this year, but he did open
Fantasy football: Early offseason guide
By Mike Fox
Selecting goaltenders is
arguably the most difficult
aspect of playing fantasy hock-
ey. Once you get past the few
sure things like Henrik
Lundqvist and Tuukka Rask,
the situation becomes reminis-
cent of Forrest Gump’s box of
chocolates; You never know
what you’re going to get. A
full-time job is not necessarily
a guarantee of fantasy star-
dom, as any Jhonas Enroth
owner will attest, and Semyon
Varlamov has left a bitter taste
in his owners’ mouths this
year, with last year’s 41-win
breakout nothing more than a
fond distant memory. Luckily,
like the aforementioned box of
sweets, there are always a few
tasty morsels remaining, even
after the supply has been
picked over.
The Anaheim Ducks sev-
ered ties with Jonas Hiller after
Fantasy hockeyyet another tepid playoff per-
formance. Frederick Andersen
was expected to be challenged
for playing time by phenom
John Gibson despite
Andersen’s strong 2013-14
effort that included a sparkling
20-5 record, 2.29 GAA and
.923 save percentage, but an
early injury to Gibson forced
the Ducks to lean almost
entirely on Andersen. So far,
he has not disappointed with
his stats through the first half
of this season are almost iden-
tical to last year’s numbers
despite the heavy workload.
It’s unlikely Andersen will
continue to lead the league in
starts, but his performance
thus far should guarantee him
the lion’s share of playing time
going forward. If he can main-
tain his edge, the powerful
Ducks should provide him
with enough support to main-
tain his lofty position on the
fantasy leader board.
Jaroslav Halak seemingly
gets no respect, despite carry-
ing a respectable career 2.37
GAA and .917 SV%. The
10-year veteran is now with
his fourth NHL team (not
counting his long weekend
stay in Buffalo last year), but
he may have finally found a
home after signing as a free
agent with the New York
Islanders. Many fantasy own-
ers shied away from Halak,
some because of the Isles’
recent tradition of hapless-
up some eyes again with a 15
catch, 115-yard performance
in Week 16 and should still be
a bargain in drafts next year.
C.J. Anderson, RB, Broncos/
Jeremy Hill, RB, Bengals – Both
are expected to lead the rush-
ing attacks for their respective
teams heading into training
camp next year and both could
be considered candidates for a
major breakout in 2015.
DescendersJosh Gordon, WR, Browns –
Off-field issues, uncertainty at
quarterback and just way too
unstable to know what to
expect going forward with him
anymore. He’ll also be looking
for his first score since Week
15 of the 2013 season.
Marshawn Lynch, RB,
Seahawks – Seattle has both
Christine Michael and Robert
Turbin waiting in the wings
now more than ever. Plus
he’ll be 29 years old by the
time next season rolls around
too.
Brandon Marshall, WR,
Bears – Failed to go over
1,000 yards receiving for the
first time since his rookie
year and now Alshon Jeffrey
looks more than ready to be
the new No. 1 in Chicago.
Peyton Manning, QB,
Broncos – Regression is inevi-
table heading into 2015 so be
extra careful about overvalu-
ing him at this stage of the
game. In the last month of
December, he threw twice as
many interceptions as touch-
downs (six-to-three) and even
failed to throw for a score
against the Bills in Week 14.
Drew Brees, QB, Saints – It
wasn’t a bad season by any
means; just a little erratic. He
finished below 5,000 yards for
the first time since 2010 and
his 33 touchdowns tied for his
fewest since 2007. Not to
mention his 17 picks were his
second most since 2010.
ness, some because the memo-
ries of Rick DiPietro have not
yet subsided. And, in the case
of owners who hail from WNY,
perhaps because they were
hoping for Halak to flop, as
the Sabres hold New York’s
first-round pick in the next
entry draft. Those who took a
chance on him, however, have
been rewarded in spades, as
Halak currently has the
Islanders – and many of his
fantasy owners – squarely in
the playoff hunt. While histo-
ry suggests there’s no guaran-
tee the upward trend will con-
tinue, Halak is the closest
thing the Isles have had to a
stud goalie in……forever, so
don’t be scared to jump on the
bandwagon.
Braden Holtby was on
everyone’s dark horse list last
year after he finished fourth in
wins during the strike-short-
ened 2012-13 NHL season,
but his ensuing bloated 2.85
GAA made him nothing more
than a late-round bargain pick
in fantasy drafts this year.
Oops. Holtby has quietly
ascended back to the upper
echelon of the goalie world,
ranking among the leaders in
most significant fantasy scor-
ing categories, and barring
injury, he’s well on his way to
the best season of his short
career. The Capitals still boast
a couple of guys named
Ovechkin and Backstrom, so
the wins should continue to
come, even if Holtby falters a
bit in the second half.
It was just a few years ago
that Pekka Rinne was routine-
ly among the first goalies off
the board in fantasy drafts. He
had established himself as one
of the best in the business after
being named a Vezina Trophy
finalist for the second time
following his 43-win season in
2011-12, but two consecutive
subpar seasons caused his fan-
tasy stock to drop appreciably
this year. Those who passed
on him this year have nothing
but regret, because the 32-year
old Finn has reverted to his
previous form, pacing the
league in wins, GAA and SV%
through the first half of the
2014-15 season while playing
virtually every game for the
Predators. If you’re still
focused on those two down
years, don’t be, because Rinne
is the real deal. If you already
own him, stay the course. If
you don’t own him, do some-
thing about it, because his
name will appear on many a
fantasy championship roster at
year’s end.
By Mark Patrick Harzynski
Sr.
Buffalo Raceway opens its
doors January 14 for live har-
ness racing. The raceway driv-
ers roster looks like, an ALL-
STAR fantasy drivers line up.
Jon Cramer, Operations
Manager at Buffalo Raceway
offered up some of the high-
lights for the 2015 season.
•The start of the season
should be very competitive.
Buffalo Raceway all-stars 2015Along with our regular driv-
ers; Kevin Cummings, Shawn
McDonough and veterans Jack
Flanigan and Jim McNeight
look to have their hands full
with an invasion of drivers.
•Two-time National Dash
Champion, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.,
Rosecrofts leading driver
Frank Milby, Billy Dobson one
of Saratoga Raceways finest
and Shawn Gray who in the
2012 Buffalo Raceway meet
(his first season at Buffalo)
lead all drivers with 206 victo-
ries and earnings of over $1
million dollars.
•The driving competition
should be at a very high level
every night, and it shouldn’t
matter if these guys are driving
4K claimers or in the open
event, it looks like every race
will be outstanding.
Fan FavoritesThe popular guaranteed
pick 4 formats, pick 3 and 10
cent superfeta in select races
are back.
Also, new in January and
Photo by Mike Majewski
Oakland’s Latavius Murray could be one of fantasy football’s rising stars in 2015.
Photo by Joe ValentiHenrik Lundqvist had a slow start by his standards, but there’s a reason his nickname is King Henrik.
February on Saturday
night, make a reserva-
tion at the Winners
Circle Café, get a free
racing program, a $5
Hamburg Gaming free
play, and your table
will get $5 off your
Winners Circle Café
purchase. To make
Winners Circle Café
reservation, call 716-
649-1280, ext. 300.
Also returning to the race-
way, our popular Father’s Day
Photo Courtesy Buffalo Raceway
The horses are off and racing at Buffalo Raceway on The Fairgrounds in Hamburg, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
events and the return of The
New York Sire Stakes — the
top equine trotters and pacers
in New York — where two and
three year old fillies, mares,
colts and geldings race for
huge purse monies.
Racing fans get track prices
on live harness racing action
and also on simulcast wager-
ing on both harness and thor-
oughbred racing.
By Joel Marrs, Jr.
Do you have a case of the
“Buffalo Winter Blues?” Are
you looking to cure that cabin
fever? Canalside MD has the
cure for what’s ailing you with
zero co-pays and all major
cards accepted. With lots of
on- and off-ice attractions for
people of all ages, this winter
wonderland has something for
everyone.
“This is where the past
meets the present, with an eye
on the future,” Chris
Catanzaro, Project Manager of
the Erie Canal Harbor
Development Corporation
explained.
While the project is far from
complete, you can take a free
horse-drawn carriage ride
around Canalside and make a
lifelong memory or take a nice
quiet walk and relax with
someone special.
Not just for the winter,
Canalside has grown into a
place where you want to be
year-round and the center-
piece of the Buffalo waterfront
revitalization project. At the
corner of Pearl and Marine
Drive, you are a stone’s throw
from the Buffalo River Works,
Naval & Military Park, The
Harbor Center, 716 Restaurant
and, of course, the First
Niagara Center. These venues
offer so much to do that you
will need at least a week or
more to experience every-
thing. If the landscaping
already looks this good, just
imagine how breathtaking it’ll
be once it’s completed.
Walking trails and open
areas with awesome views
make this place like no other.
Footbridges around the park
allow views from every angle
and vantage point. For those
unaccustomed to Western
New York winters, tables,
chairs and heaters are avail-
able to rest and warm up if
needed. But why rest when
there’s a perfect sheet of ice
perfect for beginner, novice
and expert skaters. The expe-
rienced rink guards keep a
close view of the open skate
and the “ice bikes” are a won-
derful new element to the
open skate. These are in high
demand, so be sure to get
there early. These one-wheeled
marvels are a great relaxing
way to get around the ice
while getting much needed
exercise. If you don’t have
your own skates, high quality
rentals are available.
After skating, be sure to
check out the merchandise,
food and beverage vendors
who are available day and
night. Bison Hockey Stick
Company sells adult and
youth sticks, and they have a
buy one, get one free special at
their booth. Beautiful hand-
made jewelry is also on display
and if you’re hungry, food
trucks are on the upper levels.
A yummy grilled cheese sand-
wich and a cup of hot choco-
late will warm you up nicely.
Canalside also offers curling
just a short walk from the
skating rink. Curling may be
more familiar to Buffalo’s
northern neighbors but more
locals are beginning to warm
up to the sport (no pun
intended). If you want to try
your hand at “throwing a few
rocks,” Canalside is the place
to learn. Instruction is free and
the experts can answer all
your questions and show you
the best techniques. Stop by
Buffalo’s newest jewels: Canalside and Buffalo RiverWorksfor some basic training from
expert curler Lea who will
show you how it’s done. Once
you get hooked on the game,
and you will, join a curling
club. Both Buffalo and
Rochester have curling clubs.
The Buffalo Curling Club
was revived a year ago. Their
home base is Buffalo
RiverWorks with leagues
offered three nights a week
and they have a five-week trial
session. “The nice thing is that
curling is a sport that anyone
can do it,” Danielle
Buchbinder, president and
club founder, said. “It may
take a while to master it, but
anyone can do it.” In addition
to leagues, the curling club is
offering learn to curl sessions
and their annual bospiel (aka
tournament) is being held on
March 7 from 9 a.m. until 9
p.m. at RiverWorks.
For more information, visit
buffalocurlingclub.org or leave a
message at 716- 464-CURL.
Buffalo RiverWorks is locat-
ed just across the Michigan
Bridge and a quick left turn off
onto 333 Ganson Street.
Like Canalside, RiverWorks
is a work in progress. They are
currently looking forward to
the season opener of the
Queen City Roller Girls,
Buffalo’s own Roller Derby
league. They will also once
again host the Labatt Blue
Pond Hockey Tournament the
weekend of Feb. 20. This year
the tournament will be bigger
and better than ever.
“RiverWorks will be hosting
a variety of events and attrac-
tions this spring and summer,
including concerts, amateur
sporting events and a full-
time, waterfront restaurant
and bar with great views of
downtown,” Doug Swift, a
partner at RiverWorks, said of
what the future holds. “We
will be installing docks for
recreational boaters and kay-
akers who have been explor-
ing the Buffalo River recently.
Our ‘Stonehenge Beer Garden’
located in the ruins of a former
grain silo will be open as well.
Many more exciting happen-
ings will be announced soon.”
“A year from now Phase
One of RiverWorks will be
essentially complete,” Swift
added. “Our 60,000 square
foot indoor event center,
restaurant, brewery, distillery
and concert hall will be the
most unique venue Buffalo has
ever seen. We expect to be
drawing audiences and cus-
tomers from a very wide region
bringing out-of-town tourists
to enjoy Buffalo’s many year-
round attractions. We will be
in the planning stages of Phase
Two, which will include a
hotel in premises along with
other exciting amenities.”
To keep up with the
ever-growing schedule of events
check out the RiverWorks
Facebook page or go to buffalo-
riverworks.com. For more infor-
mation on Canalside go to
canalsidebuffalo.com.
WINTER PULLOUT 2015
Photo courtesy of Buffalo Curling Club
Adult Beginner ClinicsLearn to Skate & Learn to Play Clinics
Adult Beginner ClinicsLearn to Skate & Learn to Play Clinics
Adult Beginner ClinicsLearn to Skate & Learn to Play Clinics
40th Anniversary Dippin’ DotsSpring Hockey League
40th Anniversary Dippin’ DotsSpring Hockey League
40th Anniversary Dippin’ DotsSpring Hockey League
Call 716-685-3660 or register online at holidayrinks.com
WNY’s Hockey Headquarters Since 1972
Photo by Joel Marrs, Jr.
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE | WINTER 2015
By Adam McGill
The 2015 winter season is
just getting underway. As
usual, there is a ton of new
gear on the shelves, so here is
a look at some of the hot new
products for this season to
help you spot the true deals.
Men’s GearBurton TWC Pro Snowboard
- In a world that loves zombies
and the macabre, Burton’s
TWC Pro Snowboard is the
perfect fit for today’s male
rider. It is a personal favorite
of Shaun White and is
extremely responsive on the
mountain. It is the ultimate
Burton board to purchase this
winter.
K2 Hit Machine Snowboard
– This year’s hit machine is a
freestyle dream. It moves easy
on the powder and will allow
you to get monster air on any
jump. The Hit Machine is
another home run from K2.
Atomic Punx Skis – The
Atomic Punx are built for the
high flyers. They have an edge
that is much stronger than
normal skis to allow the rider
a smooth landing, time after
time. These are the skis that
freestyle Punx must have.
Oakley Flight Deck Prizm
Goggles – The most recent
offering from Oakley is the
next generation of eyewear.
They allow you full line of
sight and the spherical lens fits
perfectly around a rider’s face.
They are a must-own for any
serious snowboarder this win-
ter.
Burton Clutch Gloves –
They are some of the warmest
gloves on the market and are
the perfect fit with any Burton
winter jacket. They come in
red, green and black from XS
to XL.
DC Lynx Snowboard Boots
- The boots come in both
black and charcoal grey. They
have Wolverine Waterproof
leather and a very accessible
tongue. The Lynx are one of
the best finds this winter to
keep your feet toasty warm.
Women’s Gear
Burton Feelgood Snowboard
– It may seem a little more
underrated than the company’s
previous models, but it still
comes with four colors. It is
one of the lightest boards ever
made and will give female rid-
ers the ultimate control down
the mountain.
K2 First Lite Snowboard –
The most recent board from
K2 moves well on any type of
snow. The board is riddled
with varying horizontal lines,
but the complimentary color
scheme glimmers off the snow.
Elan Delight QT Skis – The
Elan Delight QT Skis have
earned attention for being the
lightest skis in the world. They
allow the rider to gain tons of
speed and air, but their strong
composite makes them sur-
prisingly durable. The Elan
Delight skis will be one of the
top finds in 2015.
Anon Tempest Goggles –
The Anon Tempest have the
classic polycarbonate spheri-
cal lens that blocks out the sun
and give you a wider peripher-
al view down the mountain.
They come with a one-year
warranty and come in several
colors, but purple is by far the
pair that pops the most.
Burton Gore-Tex Under
Gloves Sorcerer Pretty Oops –
The name may leave some-
thing to be desired, but the
Sorcerer Pretty Oops gloves
are the perfect gloves for any
type of rider. The Gore-Tex
lining is guaranteed to keep
you dry this winter and the
durable underside will allow
you to master your grabs.
2015 snow season product guide
Winter HoursMon...11am–1pmTues ..4:30pm–6pmWed ...4:30pm–6pmThur..11am–1pmFri......7pm–9pm Sat ....5:30pm–6:30pmSun....7pm–9pm
Public Skating Everyday!
Kids 4 & under - FREE5-17 $118 & over $2
Skate Rentals $2
EASY PARKING – EXPANDED PARKING LOT!
Birth
day Parties
hday Pa
Birth
day Parties
& Private Rentals
Nike SB Vapen Snowboard
Boots – The Nike Vapen boots
shimmer with gold from top to
bottom. These waterproof
beauties also come in black for
the less flashy riders, but the
gold ones are fit for a queen.
Youth Gear
K2 Vandal Snowboard – The
K2 Vandal is a modern day
Moby Dick with a true mosaic
mural on the backside. It has
the vintage W1 core, so it will
remain strong throughout
years of wear and tear. The K2
Vandal is one of the hottest
boards out there and will get
plenty of fist-bumps this win-
ter.
K2 Kandi Snowboard –
What kid doesn’t like candy?
The K2 Kandi is extremely
lightweight and easy to main-
tain on the powder. This is the
perfect beginner board for any
young girl ready to take on the
mountain.
Atomic Vantage Junior Skis
– The Atomic Vantage Junior
are the ultimate freestyle skis
for boys. They have tight edges
and strong tips for a fast trip
down the mountain. They can
be found in 130, 140 and 150
millimeters.
K2 Missy Skis – With pinks
and purples, the K2 Missy Skis
are the ideal set of skis for any
teenage girl. They are well bal-
anced and allow you to turn
seamlessly through the snow.
These skis will be on the top of
many female riders’
post-Christmas wish list.
Burton Grom Snowboard
Boots – There is no question
that the most popular youth
boots this season is the Burton
Grom. They are completely
waterproof and come with
Velcro straps to allow the rider
easy exit.
K2 Lil Kat Snowboard Boots
– Footwear is probably the
most important piece of gear
to buy. The K2 Lil Kat boots
are the latest version of this
fan favorite and have every-
thing you want in a pair of
snowboard boots. They have
an eye-catching white and
pink color scheme, which any
little girl will fall in love with.
These boots will help keep any
beginner rider on their feet.
Burton Hickory Pop Camo
Gloves – The Burton Hickory
Pop Camo gloves are a fan
favorite this winter. They have
a classic camouflage print and
the waterproof DRYRIDE
Ultrashell. These gloves will fit
in well with any youth rider.
Burton Jadiete Gloves – The
Burton Jadiete Gloves are a hot
commodity at the moment.
They are fully waterproof and
come with a one-year warran-
ty. The pleasant light mint
color will be a welcomed sight
for the girl that isn’t crazy
about the current pink snow-
board craze.
DOWNHIILL/SNOWBOARDINGAND MOREBristol Mountain, 585-374-6000www.bristolmountain.comHoliday Valley, 716-699-2345www.holidayvalley.comHoliMont, 716-699-2320www.holimont.comKissing Bridge/Colden Tubing, 716-592-4963www.kbski.comPeek ’n Peak, 716-355-4141www.pknpk.comSwain, 607-545-6511www.swain.com
CROSS COUNTRY/SNOWMOBILING/SNOWSHOEAllegheny State Parkwww.nysparks.comArt Roscoe, Allegany State Parkwww.buffaloaudubon.orgByrncliff Resort & Conference Center, 585-535-7300www.byrncliff.comCummings Nature Center, 585-374-6160www.rmsc.orgHoliday Valley, 716-699-2345www.holidayvalley.comHoliMont, 716-699-2320www.holimont.comwww.monroecounty.gov/parkswww.nysparks.comPaths Peaks & Paddles, Inc.www.pathspeakspaddles.comPeek ‘n Peak, 716-355-4141www.pknpk.com
SKI CLUBSAdirondack Mountain Clubwww.adk.orgNiagara Frontier Chapter, 716-564-2106,Genesee Valley Chapter, www.gvc-adk.orgBell Ski Club, 716-773-3901Buffalo Nordic Ski Clubwww.buffalonordic.orgBuffalo Ski Clubwww.bscskiarea.com Huggers Ski Clubwww.huggersskiclub.orgLederhosen Ski Clubwww.lederhosenskiclub.comMeetup.comwww.meetup.com/WNYSkiClubMonroe Y Ski Clubwww.monroeyskiclub.orgNAR (Niagara Adult Racing)www.narracing.comRochester Nordic Ski Clubwww.rochesternordic.orgRochester Ski Clubwww.rochesterskiclub.comSchussmeisters Ski & Snowboard Clubwww.schussmeisters.comSCOL (Ski Club of Lockport)http://skicluboflockport.com
SNOWMOBILENew York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA)Go to www.nyssnowassoc.org for a listing by county of NYS snowmobile clubs and other valuable information.888-624-3849http://nysnowmobilewebmap.com
Winter DirectorySNOWMOBILE REGISTRATION http://www.dmv.ny.gov/recreation.htm#snowmobilesYou must register your snowmobile if you operate the snowmobile in New York State. A registration is not required if the snowmobile is operated on the private property of the owner or private property the owner has a contractual right to use. A snowmobile that is registered in another state and owned by a resident of that state, but is operated in NYS, must get a NYS registration. A non-resident of NYS with a snowmobile registered in another state can apply online for a NYS snowmobile registration. A temporary NYS registration is issued at the end of the transaction for immediate operation of the snowmobile in NYS.Cattaraugus County Snowmobile Federationwww.enchantedmountains.info/what_to_do/snowmobiling.aspwww.snowmobilingWNY.comChautauqua Countyhttp://www.tourchautauqua.com/where_to_play.aspxWyoming Countywww.gowyomingcountyny.comAllegany Countywww.DiscoverAlleganyCounty.comNew York State Office of Parks Snowmobile Unit518-474-0446
OTHER CLUBS & INFOwww.weather.comGenesee Region Trails Coalitionwww.grtcinc.org Monroe County Sports Commissionwww.monroecountysports.orgwww.visitbuffaloniagara.com/sports-commissionwww.monroecounty.gov/parkswww.nysparks.comwww.IloveNY.comwww.buffalocurlingclub.orgwww.rochestercurling.orghttp://buffaloriverworks.comhttp://www.canalsidebuffalo.comhttp://www.buffalospeedskating.orghttp://www.rochesterspeedskating.orgwww.snowcrystals.com
If we missed your club,please contactus and we will be sure to include younext year.
Community Sports Report
Chautauqua County sits
directly in the path of lake
effect snowstorms that gather
strength over Lake Erie and
drop more than 200 inches of
snow annually. More often
than not, the holidays are wel-
comed with a carpet of white
and the winter season becomes
a frozen crystal wonderland.
This pocket of precipitation is
precisely why winter is a per-
fect time to plan a visit.
With annual snowfall that
rivals Colorado ski towns,
southwestern NY offers plenty
of opportunity for downhill
snow sports. Near Findley
Lake, the Peek’n Peak Resort
and Spa provides an excellent
backdrop for true beginners all
the way to expert level skiers
and snowboarders with 27
slopes, eight chairlifts, three
progression terrain parks and
a half pipe. There’s even a tub-
ing area and trails for cross
country skiing. The instruc-
tors at Peek’n Peak’s Snow
Sports School are professional-
ly trained and the lodges, din-
ing rooms, pool and spa are
welcome amenities after a day
on the slopes.
Go cross country skiing or
snowshoeing along many of
the trails throughout the
county. Long Point State Park,
Lake Erie State Park,
Chautauqua Institution and
the Jamestown Audubon
Center offer both trails and
open spaces. Join Evergreen
Outfitters for guided snow-
shoe hikes that are planned
around weather conditions.
Hundreds of miles of trails
groomed by five local snow-
mobile clubs provide an ideal
setting for riding over old rail-
road beds, former trolley lines,
open farm fields, heavily
wooded areas and seasonal
roads. Trails officially open a
week or so before Christmas,
weather permitting. New York
requires that all sleds be regis-
tered. Information can be
found at www.tourchautau-
qua.com/snowmobiling.aspx.
While on the trails, look for
blue diamond-shaped signs
that indicate ten tour stops on
an interactive, self-guided
Winter Trails Cell Phone Tour
developed by the Roger Tory
Peterson Institute. Dial the
number on the sign or scan
the QR code to access infor-
mation, audio files, pictures
and video related to the natu-
ral history or significant his-
torical events on the area.
Winter is a great time to
visit the wineries in Lake Erie
Wine Country. Tasting rooms
are less crowded, the experi-
ence is more educational and
intimate, and many new vin-
tages are released. Also winter
and ice wine, a specialty wine
unique to the northern cli-
mate, just naturally go togeth-
er. Visit during the annual
Wine and Chocolate Weekend,
Enjoy Chautauqua County this winter
Feb. 13-15, for a special
Valentine’s treat. Each of the
participating wineries will pair
a luscious chocolate creation
with a wine accompaniment.
On Jan. 17, the Grape
Discovery Center in Westfield
will host “Frozen,” an ice wine
festival featuring ice carvings,
a bonfire as well as ice and
specialty wines.
Try seasonal brews during a
tour at Southern Tier Brewing
Company. Stop by the Empty
Pint Brewery Pub for a selec-
tion of 14 draught beers,
including some guest taps,
Thursday through Saturday,
evenings, as well as Saturday
and Sunday afternoons.
Hickory-smoked pulled pork,
meatloaf, and cheese sand-
wiches, snacks and non-alco-
holic beverages are also on the
menu. Arrive early on Saturday
and take a 45-minute guided
tour of the brewery at 12:15,
1:00, 1:45, 2:30, 3:15 or 4 p.m.
Tours are $15, available on a
By Rich Davenport
Another year is in the books and now that winter has offi cially arrived anglers across WNY eagerly await safe ice to form across lakes and ponds. Safe ice has started showing in smaller lakes and ponds, and the colder than normal November temperatures have most every signifi cant water body ready to harden up. Trout streams show strong fi sh presence, offering trout trekkers a post holiday treat.
Trout and SalmonThe heavy snows of winter
storm Knife delivered a most signifi cant uptick in stream water levels, creating conditions for winter-feeding trout to freely move into just about all stretches of Lake Erie streams from Smoke’s Creek in Blasdell to Chautauqua Creek in Barcelona. When weather permits and ice cover on the streams is low, a trout trek this time of year delivers hot fi shing action. Early morning hours presenting egg-patterns and minnow presentations work very well this time of year, with most active fi sh holding in the deeper pools and near riffl es. Fish can be very wary, so your approach to these fi sh-holding areas requires some stealth. Steelhead and brown trout both are available, with more brown trout activity showing the further west you go. Lake Ontario streams, although not as fortunate with the snow pack and water fl ow as a result, still shows good fl ow and subsequently good runs of brown and steelhead trout in most of the major streams. Lower Niagara River casters and drifters report kwikfi sh presentations are triggering all trout, including lake trout, into strikes. Some Coho salmon are also mixing in.
Ice AdventuresAs hard water enthusiasts
await safe ice, most area lakes and ponds show water temperatures on the verge of freezing – thanks in large part to a colder than normal mid-November driving lake temps down in dramatic fashion. Even Lake Erie, which was
first come basis and often sell
out. They also take place in a
working production facility
that may be hot, cold, wet
and noisy, so be prepared.
See the splendid sights and
old-fashioned picturesque
fun during the Currier & Ives
Sleigh Rally at Chautauqua
Institution, Sun. Jan. 18.
While the rally participants
are horsemen and their
sleighs, at approximately
noon, spectators can watch the
Victorian style sleighs and cos-
tumed drivers as they parade
through the historic grounds
with sleigh bells jingling.
Sleigh rides are on Saturdays
and Sundays throughout
January and February through
running a few degrees above normal just before the NYS Southern Zone Opener of Regular Big Game hunting season, dropped nearly eight degrees over a couple day span that encompassed winter storm Knife.
While we wait, the outlook couldn’t be better for another solid season of ice fi shing across WNY.
Chautauqua LakeThis lake has shown up and
down quality for yellow perch in recent years, with numbers high, but sizes seemingly decreasing, as several good reproductive years have boosted ringback numbers to levels that may indicate over-abundance. Expect the fi shing to be very good for perch on “Bag Tied in the Middle,” but expect to weed through many smaller fi sh before fi nding “keeper” sized perch. Walleye numbers seem to be on the rise and anglers could see a banner season this year. Crappie and bluegill action should start fi rst in Burtis Bay at the far end of the south basin, with the deeper basin and its denizens of perch and walleye not far behind.
Small Boat Harbor Typically one of the fi rst
waters to freeze up solid, the Small Boat harbor this year will see operations shift from the NFTA to NYS Parks and Recreation. We have heard that the parking area near Doug’s Dive will remain open and accessible throughout the season – good news for anglers worried about the transition from one operator to the other.
Wilson HarborHigher water levels across
Lake Ontario has boosted harbor water levels higher than they have been in recent years. Northern pike, perch and rainbow and brown trout are favorite targets in this harbor.
Lake ErieCould we have another
solid ice season on Lake Erie this year? If the Farmer’s Almanac is correct (again), we should be getting onto the Big E at some point in February off Sturgeon Point and areas eastward. Last year’s ice cover provided perfect conditions for spawning walleye and yellow perch, and this year could really be impressive in numbers and sizes of fi sh caught.
Ice Safety Early ice delivers exciting
fi shing action, but also poses dangers anglers must be aware of. Snow piling onto newly forming ice will slow the freeze up, leaving uneven ice thickness and unseen danger under the snow. Fish with a friend, and invest in an ice chisel, commonly call a spud bar, to check thickness while slowly venturing out. Do not rely upon other anglers’ tracks in the snow, as what was safe earlier may have deteriorated later in the day. Four inches of clear, blue ice is considered “safe” for walkers, but two inches of clear, blue ice can hold 2,000 pounds. Steer clear of creek mouths or anywhere a current may set up, as these are not good places as early season options.
Remember, take a kid fi shing, and give the gift that lasts a lifetime.
Rich Davenport is co-founder of WeLoveOutdoors.com, an avid Outdoorsman and member of the NYSOWA. His works are also published in NY Outdoor News, Walleye.com and the Buffalo News. Rich is also the Recording Secretary for the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Secretary of the Western NY Environmental Federation, member of the Erie County Fisheries Advisory Board and is the Co-Chairman and Region 9 Rep NYSCC Big Game Committee. Email [email protected].
Anglers anxiously await hard water action
the historic grounds of
Chautauqua Institution. Rides
run every half hour from 1
p.m. to 3 p.m. and tickets are
available at the Chautauqua
Bookstore on Bestor Plaza.
President’s Day Weekend
brings with it the annual
Winter Festival in Mayville,
Feb. 13-15, featuring events,
activities and contests for all
ages including fireworks, a
flare parade, and more!
Weather permitting, you
might see a castle made from
blocks of ice harvested in the
traditional way from
Chautauqua Lake.
Memories, nostalgic and
newly made, are waiting at the
Fenton History Center. Held
from Nov. 28 to Jan. 19, the
Center’s annual holiday exhib-
it, “Tis the Season,” fills four
floors of the elegant 1863
Fenton Mansion and includes
a dozen decorated Christmas
trees. Listen to Christmas car-
ols, learn about Jamestown’s
holiday traditions and visit the
gift shop.
Enjoy a weekend at a B&B,
vacation home, resort or inn.
Chautauqua isn’t your every-
day winter weekend getaway!
For more ideas on visiting
Chautauqua County any time of
year, visit www.tourchautauqua.
com or call 1-866-908-4569. Be
sure to reserve a 2015
Chautauqua County Visitors
Guide.
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE | WINTER 2015
Photo courtesy of Rich Davenport
Collins Center angler Dane Stocker shows off a couple Lake Erie perchcaught last ice season offSturgeon Point, NY.
Volunteer workers use blocks of ice harvested from Chautauqua Lake to build a castle for the annual President’s Day Weekend Winter Festival in Mayville.
Photo by Cindy Abersold Ferraro
WINTER PULLOUT 2015Community Sports Report
This season embrace the
winter in the Enchanted
Mountains of Western New
York where you can glide over
hills and valleys of pristine
snow on your snowmobile,
find the thrill of skiing down
the slopes or keep warm in
one of the many cozy cabins,
museums and galleries, all
while watching a stage pro-
duction. Cattaraugus County
celebrates all season, no mat-
ter the temperature!
Unwind in the tranquil set-
ting of Allegany State Park by
renting a winterized cabin.
There are plenty of opportuni-
ties for sparkling photographs.
Cross Country skier? Then
you’re in luck! Allegany State
Park is the home of the Art
Roscoe Trail System where
over 20 miles of trail are
groomed as needed. Well-
designed, you can discover
snowy fun whether you are a
novice or an expert, with great
views of vistas and snow-cov-
ered trees. Rentals are avail-
able in the Summit Mountain
Shop.
Hike, snowshoe or cross
country ski on the trails out-
side of the Park, such as the
Pat McGee Trail, a 12-mile
multi-use trail that connects
Salamanca and Cattaraugus or
the Allegheny River Valley
Trail that travels around
Allegany and Olean. Visit
Pfeiffer Nature Center where
you can take a nature walk,
learn to snowshoe, make recy-
clable bird feeders and learn
about the environment in the
area.
Ellicottville is a winterized
wonderland. Home to Holiday
Valley and HoliMont, and bet-
ter known as the Aspen of the
East, you can play in the snow
while skiing, boarding and
tubing. For a chillingly fun
ride, check out the Mountain
Coaster at Holiday Valley
which is open year round and
zigzags 4,805 feet down the
mountain while maneuvering
15 curves, 12 waves, a jump
and corkscrew spiral. Sledding
fans can take a quick shuttle
ride to Holiday Valley Tubing
Co. with 12 groomed lanes,
two tows to carry you to the
top of the hill, a snack bar and
game room.
Perhaps one of the most
exhilarating activities of win-
ter is snowmobiling. Dash
through the snow on any of
the 329 miles and 68 addition-
al in Allegany State Park.
Come across some of the most
beautiful trails as you explore
the open fields and wooded
forests. The small towns of
Randolph, Delevan, Gowanda
and Cattaraugus all welcome
snowmobiles so you are never
too far away from gas, food or
just a break to warm up a lit-
tle! Allegany State Park has
newly renovated Group
Camps, perfect for the whole
gang. Enough room to provide
privacy to each person, but
leaves opportunities for group
fun with an outfitted mess hall
complete with full kitchen.
You can reserve your winter
weekend now at www.
ReserveAmerica.com. Call the
number below to learn of the
current snowmobile trail con-
ditions or to request a trail
map.
Still haven’t got you con-
vinced to explore the great
outdoors when they are snow
covered? For your indoor
pleasure, make it a point to
visit the museums, galleries
and stage productions. Or root
for the Atlantic 10 Conference’s
men or women’s teams during
a “Bonnies” game. Theater
performances are available
through Olean Community
Theater and Olean Theater
Workshop or follow the Ray
Evans Seneca Theatre, newly
renovated, for their upcoming
movies, plays and musicals.
You can visit Regina A. Quick
Center for the Arts, a world
class museum, located on the
campus of St. Bonaventure
University. The museum is
free, open to the public and in
addition to its vast and chang-
ing exhibits, hosts perfor-
mances throughout the year.
Try your luck at the Seneca
Allegany Resort & Casino
where you can choose your
favorite slot or table game.
Continually updating, they
offer the most current slot
machines surrounded by art-
work from the Seneca Nation
Artists. Spend the night for
one of their exciting perfor-
mances at the Events Center
such as “America” on Jan 23.
Dining options abound with
signature dining restaurants to
The ArT roscoe
TrAil sysTem
is The lArgesT
in WesTern
ny, WiTh 20+ miles of snoWy
sATisfAcTion!
Naturally Yours To Enjoy!
1-800-331-0543VisiT enchAnTedmounTAins.com
AllegAny sTATe PArk is A WinTer WonderlAnd of fun!find cAmPing, snoWmobiling, And cross counTry skiing!
Community Sports Report
The 25th annual WNY Sport & Travel Expo, pre-sented by Erie Promotions and Expos, Inc., will be held at the Event Center on the Fairgrounds in Hamburg on March 5-8. The four-day event boasts over 220 exhib-itors throughout four build-ings, including outfitters from all over the world, spe-cial show pricing on hunting and fishing gear, and much more. This year’s featured entertainers are Pat and Nicole Reeve from The Outdoor Channel’s hit show “Driven.” Pat & Nicole will be meeting and greeting fans, taking pictures, and signing autographs during all four days of the event.
The WNY Sport & Travel Expo features something for all ages of outdoor enthusi-asts. Kids can enjoy Bwana Jim’s Wildlife Show or fish-ing in the Southtowns Walleye Association’s live trout pond. Hunting and fishing seminars from local
Sports and Travel expocomes to WNY
and national experts will take place all weekend, including a special appear-ance from the Outdoor Channel’s “Forever Wild Outdoors.” Expert retriever trainer Jim Beverly will be conducting seminars and hosting the annual Companion Retriever Hunting Challenge Sunday March 8.
Tickets to the WNY Sport & Travel Expo are $9 at the door. Kids 10 and under are free. On-site parking is free at the Fairgrounds. The event will be open to the public during the following times: Thur. March 5, 12 - 9 pm; Fri. March 6, 12 - 9pm; Sat. March 7, 10 am – 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 8, 11am - 5pm.
For more information on the WNY Sport & Travel Expo, please visit www.wnysportshow.com or contact Mark Concilla at 814-790-5079 or [email protected].
Don’t get left outin the cold
an award winning Steakhouse
to huge buffets!
If the view of the Enchanted
Mountains doesn’t draw you in,
the exciting festivals, fair, and
other events will! For more
information call 1-800-331-
0543, or visit www.
EnchantedMountains.com.
Holiday Valley ranked as the No. 5 Ski resort in the East and offer some of the best night-time skiing around
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE Page 11
NCCC THUNDERWOLVESwww.niagaracc.suny.edu
FORMER BASEBALL STAR BEER HONORED
KIRCHBERGER TO LEAD WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Graduated Niagara County Community College shortstop Chris Beer was recently named to Canadian Baseball Network’s All-Canuck Team for 2014. The Burlington, Ont. native and current junior at Div. I Arkansas Pine Bluff finished third in the Western New York Athletic Conference batting race with a .417 mark, was second with 22 steals - one back of the leader - was seventh in RBIs with 34 and was tied for eighth with three home runs. His average was the third highest amongst Canucks with 100 at-bats or more behind only Connor Bowie (.455) and Tom Muelenthaler (.420).
In 45 games, Beer had 58 hits (scoring 50 runs) with 14 doubles, three triples and three homers. He slugged .626 as part of a 1.163 OPS. Beer had 15 multi-hit games. His best outings were three hits, including a triple, a homer and an RBI in a 7-5 loss against Montgomery, three hits including a pair of doubles and two RBIs in a 12-0 win over Jamestown and three RBIs in an 8-3 win against Broome.
Sarah Kirchberger was appointed head women’s lacrosse coach by athletics director Bob McKeown this past fall. Kirchberger spent the 2014 season as an assistant to former coach Nate Beutel, who is now leading the NCCC softball program.
Kirchberger, a West Seneca West graduate, played two years of lacrosse at both Buffalo State College and Erie Community College. While at ECC, Kirch-berger was named first team All-Western New York Athletic Conference and team MVP. She received team MVP honors with the Bengals as well.
Kirchberger has spent time coaching both U10 and JV-aged travel teams with the Buffalo Lacrosse Acad-emy. As an assistant at NCCC, Kirchberger helped the team to a school-record four wins and played a part in former standout April Maziarz becoming the first All-Region selection in school history.
Beer who played for the Hamilton Cardinals and coach Gord Thompson before heading across the border to play for NCCC coach Matt Clingersmith, earned first team All-Region III honors, was an NJCAA All-American and a Rawlings Gold Glove winner.
“We’re incredibly proud of all that Chris accomplished at NCCC,” Clingersmith said. “He was a top-notch player and more importantly a top-notch student and top-notch kid. I’m excited to see him excel at the Division I level this spring.”
Beer’s current teammate and countryman Russell McGibbon, also a former NCCC baseball standout, was an honorable mention selection.
“My coaching experience is very diverse and I think that will help me,” Kirchberger said. “Even though I’m at the college level now, you still need to be able to teach the basic skills really well.”
And even though it’s one of NCCC’s newest sports, Kirchberger believes the Thunderwolves’ women’s lacrosse program is close to turning the corner as it competes in the toughest region in the country.
“We were real close last year and I think we could’ve done even better, but we just need a little more dedication,” she said. “We need to be ready to work and not give up. We can’t be intimidated by the other team’s name…but instead have faith in each other.”
NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPS
Boys Basketball Camp
Monday, July 27 - Thursday, July 30 9am-4pm / Ages 7-14 $130 per camper
Co-ed Soccer Camp
Monday, July 20 - July 239am-4pm / Ages 7-12 $130 per camper
Co-ed General Sports Camp Monday, July 6 – Thursday, July 9 Monday, July 13 – Thursday, July 16 9am-4pm / Ages 7-12 $130 per camper
For More Information Contact Amanda [email protected] . (716)614-6259
Jan/Feb 2015
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINEPage 12 Jan/Feb 2015
By Dave Ricci
On Dec.8, the Tonawanda
Lady Warriors basketball team
stood on their home court
inside the George H. Miller
Gym in Tonawanda High
School and gazed up at the
two raised championship ban-
ners. One honored their 2011-
12/2012-13 back-to-back
ECIC IV title winning teams.
The other was for the 2013-14
squad that made school histo-
ry by winning the Section VI
Class B1 and overall Class B
title en route to the Far West
Regionals.
“I think it’s still sinking in a
little bit,” junior Dahnea
Harrison said with a smile. “It
was just a very cool experience
to be a part of and that I
helped the team out to get
there. It definitely helped me
out a lot to know what I’m
capable of. It’s definitely an
achievement. It’s cool.”
Pretty heady stuff for a pro-
gram that, nine or 10 years
ago, was trying to keep its
head above water. Victories
were few and far between for
Tonawanda who was the
smallest school in Class A in
those days. They often found
themselves overmatched
against bigger schools while in
ECIC III. But times have defi-
nitely changed.
“It was amazing to see how
a winning team plays. The
Tonawanda basketball: Rise of the Lady Warriorsteamwork that goes on,”
returning sophomore Haley
Schoelerman said. “And I was
glad I could see it so I knew
how to lead the team in years
to come. So I’m just hoping I
can do that.”
Current head coach Jay
Hall, who had previously
coached the Lady Warriors JV
team with his friend Tom
Burdo took over the varsity
team as interim coach in 2007
when former coach Glenn
Gast was unable to continue
due to a serious medical issue.
Inheriting a team that was
led by very skilled players
Jillian Feldmeyer and Victoria
Burtch, Hall said that he felt
that Gast had laid a solid foun-
dation with some quality girls.
His plan going forward was to
find the pieces to add to the
existing talent and create what
he hoped would be a more
balanced lineup.
“Those girls were the begin-
ning of turning it around,”
Hall said. “Getting everybody
mentally ready saying ‘hey we
can actually win.’”
Perhaps the biggest turning
point was prior to the 2011-12
season during a scrimage in
which Class AA Kenmore
West absolutely schooled
Tonawanda in now uncertain
terms.
The result? The Lady
Warriors returned to Miller
gym the next day an angry and
focused group. Mad at them-
selves for not taking Ken West
more seriously and mad at
themselves for allowing anoth-
er team to beat them on their
own court when they know
they could have done better.
At a players only meeting the
senior leaders spoke up and
said that the effort against
Kenmore West simply was not
acceptable.
“We were seen as the under-
dogs and we were kind of
playing like that. But us as
captains realized the potential
that we had as a team. So we
wanted them to see it as well,”
former Lady Warrior Heather
Heim explained. “We had a lot
of chemistry as a team. If we
could just be more serious and
see the potential that we really
had. Working well together as
friends that we could really go
forth and do something.”
“The leaders really took
charge,” Hall said. “It wasn’t
just me saying let’s go we gotta
work. The players really
bought into it. That’s when
everybody started working
hard and it’s carried on right
through to this team. They’re
working their tails off every
single day.”
Tonawanda then went forth
and accomplished something
special, winning the first
league title in the history of
the girls’ basketball program
and the first step in a new cul-
ture of winning. While Heim
and fellow seniors like Tina
Partridge and Kila Gilcart were
the core leaders, this success-
ful season featured strong con-
tributions from younger play-
ers like junior JoAnna
McCarthy and sophomore
studs Alanna Herne and Kalyn
Compeau who gave the team a
one-two punch at guard.
An injury to Herne played a
huge factor in the Warriors
being eliminated in the quar-
terfinals of sectionals, but the
dye was cast. Tonawanda had
arrived and they returned the
following season to repeat as
ECIC IV champions. After sev-
eral players endured a lengthy
delay when returning from a
school trip abroad, their lack
of rest for the 2pm game the
next day didn’t bode well and
they once again exited in the
quarterfinals.
Although they missed the
three-peat as division champs
the leadership of Herne,
Compeau, fellow senior cap-
tain Savanna Baughman and
strong contributions from girls
like Paige Hill and Dahnea
Harrison, propelled the
Warriors past Newfane in the
quarterfinals and Buffalo Arts
in the semis. Earning a trip to
Buffalo State College,
Tonawanda first beat Bennett
for the B1 title and then upset
powerhouse B2 champ Wilson
for the overall Class B title.
Herne forever cemented her
name in Tonawanda sports
lore during this playoff run
when down by six against
Buffalo Arts at halftime she
asked the coaches for a players
only meeting and snapped the
rest of the team out of their
funk.
Although Tonawanda’s run
came to an end in the Far West
Regionals a few days after
beating Wilson it isn’t the end
of the most exciting season in
Lady Warriors basketball so
much as another chapter in a
continued story of success.
Proud of how far the girls
have come, coach Hall stressed
that it has always been a total
team effort with every player
bringing something important
to the overall dynamic;
Rremove just one girl from the
equation and history is
changed.
“It’s definitely a team effort
and they’ve bought into that,”
Hall said. “It took a while to
get them to buy into it to get to
the team aspect instead of the
individual aspect. But the last
few years you can see they’ve
really bought into that and it’s
paid off for us, big time.”
Heim said that she and
other former Warriors still
keep tabs on how the team is
doing and that she couldn’t be
more proud of how far they’ve
gone. Now when you put on
Tonawanda maroon and white
winning is expected, not a nice
surprise.
“You have to work as hard
as you can to do what we did
last year,” Schoelerman said.
“So we definitely have to push
it even harder.”
By Paul Gotham
Region 3 conference play
takes center stage throughout
Western New York where a
pair of nationally-ranked
squads fend off the competi-
tion in the quest to advance in
March. The Erie CC Kats host
Genesee CC’s Cougars on Jan.
22. Finger Lakes CC hosts
Onondaga, Jan. 21. Niagara
County CC visits Monroe CC
on Jan. 22 as MCC’s Tribunes
continue their defense of the
regional title.
Erie Community College KatsCurrent record: 7-3
2013-14 record: 16-10 / 7-4
– lost in the Region III D2
conference tournament
Coach: Alex Nwora – 16th
season.
Top Players: Dashawn King
(14.9 points per game), Yusuf
Yakubu (11.6 points per
game/12.4 rebounds per
game).
Yusuf Yakubu paces an ECC
squad that won five straight in
Local junior college men’s basketballkicks into full gear
November and eventually took
seven of eight. The Kats look
forward to getting back to the
friendly confines of Flickinger
Athletic Center where they
have played just one game this
season. Michael Vigilance led
three in double figures with 15
points as Erie outlasted
nationally-ranked Cuyahoga
CC in overtime, 74-72. It was
Erie’s second OT victory of the
season having knocked off
Oakland CC, 106-105 in the
opening round of the TJ
Memorial Classic.
Finger Lakes Community College Lakers
Current record: 13-2 / 2-0
2013-14 record: 18-12 / 7-5
– lost Region III D3 quarter-fi-
nal
Coach: Richard Jones –
13th season.
Top Players: Kievonn Banks
(18.6 points per game),
Brandon Bullock (13.7 points
per game/ 7 rebounds per
game/ six assists per game),
Dylan Verkey (12.1 points per
game)
Scoring nearly 92 points a
game, FLCC’s Lakers carry a
seven-game winning streak
into the second half of the
season. This after FLCC
opened the campaign 7-0.
Kievonn Banks (Rochester/
Charlotte) and Dylan Verkey
(Seneca Falls/Mynderse) com-
bined for 26 points as the
Lakers erased an 11-point
halftime deficit and took their
home opener from Monroe
CC, 87-82. FLCC’s 12.7 steals
per game ranks seventh in the
country.
Genesee Community College Cougars
Current record: 12-1
2013-14 record: 23-8 / 7-4
Coach: Terry George -
fourth season.
Top Players: Naquil Jones
(18.8 points per game), Ervin
Mitchell (23 points per game),
Jason Perry Murray (11.6
points per game/11 rebounds
per game)
Ranked 16th in the nation,
GCC has won 12 straight. The
Cougars’ defense ranks second
in the country holding oppo-
nents to a 38.4 field goal per-
centage. Jason Perry Murray
leads the efforts on the boards
where GCC’s 49.4 rebounds a
game ranks second nationally.
The Cougars convincingly
beat perennial national con-
tender, Community College of
Rhode Island, 93-55 en route
to taking the Cougar Holiday
Classic.
Jamestown Community College Jayhawks
Current record: 11-3
2013-14 record: 7-18 / 0-11
Coach: Michael Cordovano
- 20th season.
Top Players: Ohndo Smith
(27.4 points per game/15.1
rebounds per game), Chris
Van Buren (24.4 points per
game).
Undefeated at home (5-0)
and netting 86 points a game,
Jamestown CC looks to get a
spot in this year’s regional.
Ohndo Smith turned in a rare
20-20 game tallying 28 and
grabbing 23 rebounds as the
visiting Jayhawks topped
Lorain County CC, 89-79.
Chris Buren added a game-
high 31 going 3-of-8 from
behind the arc.
Jamestown Community College (Cattaraugus County) Jaguars
Current record: 11-3
2013-14 record: 2-12 / 0-4
Coach: J.R. Kemp - sixth
season.
Top Players: Deonn Moore-
Colomb (17.5 points per
game), Rob Sanders (15.4
points per game/nine rebounds
per game).
J ames town CC
(Cattaraugus) won three
straight to open December,
part of a run which saw the
Jaguars take five of six. A. J.
Marion led five in double fig-
ures as Jamestown CC downed
Pitt-Titusville, 98-81. The
freshman guard hit 8-of-14
from the floor and 6-of-7 from
the free throw line as the
Jaguars took an 18-point
advantage at halftime and
never looked back.
Photo by Dave RicciL-R coach Jay Hall, captains Savanna Baughman, Alanna Hearne and Kalyn Compeau w/Section VI B1 title.
Photo Courtesy of Monroe Community College Athletics
Anthony Hemingway (23) averages 19.5 points a game and hands out 2.9 assists for the nationally ranked MCC Tribunes.
continued on page 15
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE Page 13Jan/Feb 2015
Local college basketball
teams have an array of talent,
including some players earn-
ing national attention. To help
you spot the faces on campus,
here are several of the local
standouts to keep tabs on
throughout the 2014-15 sea-
son.
F Adam Fezza, Alfred State
College – Fezza is tops on
Alfred State with 11.5 points
per game. He also has an
impressive 43 percent shoot-
ing percentage and he rarely
takes a poor shot. The junior
forward is one of the most
natural shooters in the
Rochester area.
G A.J. Horde, RIT – The
freshman sensation is one of
only two players on the team
that has started every game
this season. Horde is incredi-
bly leading the team in points
2014-15 Collegiate Basketball Shining Starsper game (14.2), assists (42),
steals (22) and triples (24).
The guard will be a star to
watch for years to come.
G Zach Lewis, Canisius
College - Lewis is the only
Griffin averaging double-digit
points (14.3) per game. The
sophomore is also leading the
team with 31.4 minutes per
game to go along with 2.8 tri-
ples. Lewis is one of the best
scorers in the WNY area and is
worth keeping an eye on this
winter.
F Justin Moss, University at
Buffalo - Moss is the backbone
of this Bulls squad. The junior
standout is leading the team
with 16.4 points per game to
go along with an impressive
9.4 rebounds. He will continue
to fill the boxscore on a night-
ly basis for the Bulls.
C Youssou Ndoye, St.
Bonaventure University – The
Senegal native has dominated
the glass this season for the
Bonnies. He is even earning
national attention as he is cur-
rently third in the NCAA with
11.5 boards per contest. He is
adding 10.9 points per game
as well, which makes him one
of five players on the team
averaging double-digit points.
It is hard to miss this sev-
en-footer on the court.
G Marcus Posley, St.
Bonaventure University - Posley
is averaging a staggering 17.6
points per contest. He is also a
strong shooter from behind
the arc, as he has knocked in
34 triples through the first 12
games of the season. Posley
will be worth watching any-
time he has the ball in his
hands.
F Ramone Snowden, Niagara
University - Snowden is second
on the team with 10.4 points
per game, but he is leading the
team with a healthy 6.8
rebounds. He is a dominant
presence on the glass and has
mastered the art of boxing out
By Eric Venator
After a slight hiccup to start
the year, it appears that all the
Bandits needed to get the 2015
season on track was a little
home cooking.
Coming off a 12-8 loss on
the road to the New England
Black Wolves, the Bandits
returned to the First Niagara
Center and treated fans to an
exciting home opening week-
end with a 9-8 victory over the
Edmonton Rush. Seven unan-
swered goals, including four
by Ryan Benesch, put the
black and orange far ahead
and sealed the first victory of
the year.
If you didn’t know who
Benesch was before last game,
you know who he is now after
seeing him on the Jumbo Tron
over and over and over again
with highlight reel goals.
Although the Bandits paid a
steep price in the form of two
first round picks to acquire
Benesch from the Minnesota
Swarm last season, the invest-
ment has already paid great
dividends. Benesch’s numbers
may be down slightly from
2011 when he paced the
league in points (95) but he’s
remained a consistent scorer.
Last season he netted 78 points
(25 goals, 53 assists) and at his
current clip he’s on pace to
score 54 goals this season. His
left-handed craftiness and
scoring touch have so far out-
weighed the development of
the potential prospects given
up for him and he looks poised
to succeed now and for a long
time to come.
Another success story has
been the return to form of fan
favorite and hometown hero
Mark Steenhuis. The legend-
ary forward appears to have
rebounded from his previous
injuries and is currently tied
for second on the team with
eight points. Two of his three
goals have had assists from
Benesch and if Steenhuis can
stay healthy that one-two
punch could prove very dan-
gerous to anyone squaring off
against the Bandits this season.
Beyond the numbers, however,
Steenhuis has long shown that
character and off-the-field
So far, so good for the Bandits
characteristics go a long way
towards becoming a leader.
Steenhuis, with his play and
leading by example, also helps
set the tone for players new to
the organization, which is a
hard thing to quantify in a box
score.
Moving from forwards to
the net, the Bandits have got-
ten solid goaltending from vet-
eran Anthony Cosmo. Now
suiting up for his fourth NLL
team, “Cozzy,” as he’s affec-
tionately known, has more
than lived up to expectations
in his third season with the
Bandits. At press time, he is
currently second in the league
in both GAA (9.5) and save
percentage (.817 percent).
In addition to the excite-
ment of the on field action, the
Bandits have stepped up their
game for the fans in the stands.
For the remainder of the sea-
son every game has a theme,
such as Super Hero Night, and
includes various promotions
geared for the whole family to
enjoy. The atmosphere in the
stands of the First Niagara
Center encourage fans to dress
up as intense as they wish to
show their support.
With the defending
Champion’s Cup Rochester
Knighthawks stumbling out of
the gates, the Bandits have a
real chance to rise to the top of
the east and finish the season
as champions. Instead of a
“four-peat” for Rochester, let’s
hope that the trophy comes
back to the Queen City.
By Ryan Esguerra
Olivia Luciani sits alongside
the court before her practice at
Buffalo State College. The
senior, who is the school’s
career leader in three pointers,
sits amongst her teammates
and laces up her newest pair of
custom-made Nikes. These
Nikes are part of a collection
that Luciani has gathered
throughout her years as a bas-
ketball player.
As a “sneakerhead,” a term
coined by those with a passion
for shoes; Olivia decided to
take her love of sneakers to the
next level by starting Pro
Soles, a shoe restoration and
customization company.
Partnered with her friends
Zach Skeen and Tiffany Aybar,
Luciani is attempting to build
the brand of their three-
month-old company one step
at a time.
“My friends and I were sit-
ting in the student union one
day and were thinking of ways
we could make money.”
Luciani explained. “We all
love sneakers so we had the
idea to start restoring them, it
developed into customization
and it kind of just took off
from there.”
Through Instagram shout-
outs and reposting of work
that has been done in three
short months, Pro Soles has
gathered over 1,000 Instagram
followers with intent to grow.
Pro Soles has done work for
rappers/singers such as Rae
Sremmurd, Fetty Wap and
Olivia Luciani: Shoes andthree-point shooting
Dylan Hyde as well as Division
1 Syracuse guard BJ Johnson.
D1 athletes from various
schools such as Rutgers, St.
Bonaventure, South Carolina
and Sienna are also in contact
with Pro Soles for shoe cus-
tomization.
On the court Luciani is a
fierce competitor with a deco-
rated four year athletic career
at Buffalo State. In the 2013-
2014 season, Lucani broke the
record for most three point
field goals made and three
games into the 2014-2015 sea-
son she broke the record for
three pointers in a career.
Luciani is a leader among
her teammates. In her senior
season, she was elected as a
captain by her teammates, the
ultimate signifier of hard work
and dedication to her craft.
Sue Roarke, who has
coached Luciani all four years
of her playing career at Buffalo
State spoke glowing-
ly about her senior
captain.
“Olivia is the
most consistent
shooter that I have
ever coached, she
works so hard at
what she does.”
Roarke said. “After
her second year
teams started to key
in on her shooting,
so she made the
adjustment and
began working on
putting extra things
on her game.”
Luciani brings the
same intensity and motivation
that she displays on the court
to her business, making it dif-
ficult to bet against the young
entrepreneur.
“I remember Olivia bringing
her business cards the first day
of practice, she explained to
me her business and I think it’s
a great idea” Roarke added.
“You go to college to do what
you love, and Olivia is doing
just that, so I think if anyone
can make it, it’s her.”
What once started as an
idea for three friends to make
money in college evolved into
a business that could poten-
tially pave the way for the path
of Luciani’s career. Currently,
the Pro Soles name is in the
process of being trademarked.
Starting a company from the
ground up can be an expensive
process so all of the money
that Pro Soles receives from
shoe sales goes directly to
on the defensive side of the
ball. Snowden is easily the
most recognizable player on
Lewiston Road.
F Chris Thompson, Buffalo
State College – Thompson is the
Glass Man for Buffalo State.
The forward is grabbing an
impressive 7.4 rebounds per
game, which is tops on the
team. The senior forward is
also scoring a healthy 12.9
points per contest. He is a
obtaining and promoting new
product.
Pro Soles gives out free cus-
tomizations for celebrities in
exchange for notoriety, but
charges clients $120 for kids
and $180 for adults per pair.
College athletes are given dis-
counts for work done on their
shoes so that they do not vio-
late the NCAA rules and regu-
lations.
“This company took off way
more than we originally
expected,” Luciani comment-
ed. “We thought that we
would just be doing shoes for
people around campus but it
turned into something more
than that.”
Through the use of social
media and word of mouth, Pro
Soles has grown without any
other forms of promotion. A
website and a Twitter page are
currently under construction
to accompany the Instagram
page that is already active.
As a public communica-
tions major at Buffalo State,
Luciani is drawing from her
experience in the classroom to
promote her work in hopes
that the Pro Soles name con-
tinues to gain the attention she
and her fellow founders are
looking for. It is the hope that
one day this company grows
large enough to have a store
opened in its name.
“Right now we want to get
to around 5,000 followers on
social media, then we will go
to radio and hopefully televi-
sion.” Luciani said. “I’d love to
be able to one day open a store
and hire workers, if that hap-
pens and we take off more,
maybe we can go even bigger.”
strong presence in the low
post and is one of the most
overlooked scorers in the area.
G Michael Vigilance, Erie
Community College – Vigilance
has been a steady contributor
for the Kats this season. One
of his most impressive perfor-
mances was a game against
Cuyahoga Community College
in which he posted 15 points,
seven rebounds and two assists
in the 74-72 victory.
Photo Courtesy of Olivia Luciani
Olivia Luciani hard at work on another pair of custom kicks.
Photo by Jake French
Ryan Benesch will be a key component in the success of the Buffalo Bandits. He is projected to have another phenomenal season.
By Adam McGill
Photo Courtesy of Paul Hokanson/ U
B Athletics
After coming off the bench last season, forward Justin Moss is showing that he can dominate in several aspects of the game.
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINEPage 14 Jan/Feb 2015
By Ivan the Impaler
“I wasn’t playing a scared kid on TV – I WAS a scared kid on TV”
-Colin Delaney
We all had a dream when we
were young. Colin Delaney was
no different from us.
“...Some people wanted to be
football players or pilots;
I always wanted to be a pro-
fessional wrestler,” says Colin. “I
guess after the Attitude Era, a lot
of people grew out of it, but I
never did.”
What set Delaney apart from
most of us? While he began
working towards his goal, he hit
the big time (WWE, then WWF)
at age 21 - with no advance
notice. It was reminiscent of an
old movie where a producer
chomping on a cigar spots some-
one on the street and says “Kid,
I’m gonna make you a STAR!”
Well, sort of like that...
The Rochester native debuted
for WWE’s ECW brand in
December of 2007. But while his
big chance seemingly came like
a lightning bolt out of the blue,
it wasn’t as if he was unprepared
for his shot.
Colin immersed himself in
the ways of wrestling since a
young age. In his early teens, he
worked ring crew for New
Millennium Wrestling (later
RPW, NWA NY, NWA Upstate
and now UPW), eventually
moving up to being an announc-
er/commentator for both feds, as
well as Roc City Wrestling. It
was in that role when he won his
first match and title at the same
time. While interviewing RCW
Hardcore Champion Superstar
LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE: THE SAGA OF COLIN DELANEY
Rob Schulz, Colin attacked
Schulz with a microphone and
pinned him for the belt, The title
reign lasted about one minute,
as Colin was then beaten by
Gardner “Big Daddy” Watts for
the hardcore crown.
That fleeting moment of glory
aside, Colin continued to train.
He was eventually recruited to
form one of the legendary tag
teams in Western New York his-
tory - The Olsen Twins.
“Jimmy Olsen was already in
a tag team, but his partner was
wavering on whether or not to
keep wrestling,” recalls Colin.
“So I was basically bred to be
Jimmy’s partner. They called me
Colin Olsen and we were the
Olsen Twins... We look nothing
alike, but we did a lot more with
it than (many) would’ve
thought... We were eighteen
years old and getting good work
in wrestling… We worked for
CHIKARA, CZW and UWA
Hardcore in Canada; we had
eyes on us.”
He accumulated titles along
the way (NWA NY tag belts with
Jimmy, “Lord of the 3-Way
Dance” in NWA Empire) and
made himself known through-
out the Northeast. But nothing
prepared him for the surprise
message he received on Dec. 18,
2007.
“I was at my factory job in
Rochester, working from 9 to 5,”
says Delaney. “(Some guy named
Luke) called me from backstage
at WWE and told me they need-
ed someone to wrestle Shelton
Benjamin on TV that night, ...I
was just up the road from the
Blue Cross Arena (in Rochester,
NY)... l ran to the front of the
factory and probably screamed
‘Hey l gotta leave, l think l can be
on TV tonight.’ They were just
like, ‘pffffft’, so I bolted...”
“When I got there, Jamie
Noble (WWE agent) met me at
the door. He brought me in and
asked, ‘Do you swear to God you
can wrestle’?. I said, ‘yes, of
course.’ He kept asking me if I
could wrestle like a hundred
times...”
The television world beheld
him in the middle of the ring
being interviewed by Taz, as
Colin announced that he’d never
wrestled before. It’s almost
unheard of for an unknown
“enhancement talent” to even
have an opportunity to speak on
TV before a match. Delaney the-
orized that when he showed up
at 5-foot-9, 150 pounds, “the
writers thought, ‘Oh, let’s do
something with this,’ “ which
led to a hastily scripted promo.
He then had the honor to
wrestle (and lose to) Shelton
Benjamin, but it was his selling/
reactions that stole the show. It
was realistic without seeming
theatrical; in other words, he
showed FEAR- but kept compet-
ing until being pinned. To an
extent, Delaney knew art was
imitating life, admitting “I wasn’t
just playing a scared kid on TV
- I WAS a scared kid on TV.”
After exiting through the cur-
tain after the match, he was met
by John Laurinaitis, WWE Head
of Talent Relations. “He asked if
I was available to come back
next week (to a taping in
Norfolk, Va.). And then it just
kind of snowballed from there”
he recalls. Delaney also learned
from referee Scott Armstrong
that The Chairman of the Board,
Vincent K. McMahon himself,
was impressed with the perfor-
mance as well, yelling out
during the match “Who is this
kid? We gotta sign this kid!”
He’d show up at events when
asked, wrestled, lost, and then
get asked back in a week or two.
It was two months before he
actually signed a WWE contract.
The losses started to mount,
as well as the bandages/wraps he
wore due to the accumulated
beatings. But his persistence
impressed fans and ECW legend
Tommy Dreamer as well. He
took Colin under his wing; they
scored a tag team victory over
The Miz and John Morrison.
Delaney eventually secured his
first singles victory over
Armando Ajejandro
Esssssssstrada. And later?
Delaney turned heel on Dreamer
By Bob Caico
The New York State Boxing
Hall of Fame announced their
2015 class. The fourth annual
NYSBHOF induction dinner will
be held on April 26 in Howard
Beach, N.Y. Last year boxing
writer and historian Angelo
Prospero of Batavia and Buffalo
received the honor. This year
Buffalo’s “uncrowned middle-
weight champion” Joey Giambra
will be one of the living induct-
ees. Giambra had a 65-10-2, 31
KOs record from 1949-1963 and
while rated in the top-10 for
many of those years he never
received a middleweight title
shot.
Jimmy Slattery of Buffalo,
who had a 114-13, 51 KOs
record from 1921-1934, will be
Local boxing happeningsinducted posthumously. Slattery
twice won the world light heavy-
weight title in the 1920s and is
also a member of the
International Boxing Hall of
Fame. Prospero, Giambra and
Slattery are Ring 44 Buffalo
Boxing Hall of Fame members
and much deserving of this
honor.
••••
Ring 8, out of New York City,
had their annual Holiday Event
and Awards Ceremony on Dec.
21. Winning their Uncrowned
Champion award this year was
“Baby” Joe Mesi of Buffalo. Mesi
was 36-0 with 29 KOs in a career
that spanned 1997-2007.
Although rated the WBC No.1
heavyweight contender he didn’t
UPWColin Delaney has the advantage over Cheech Hernandez in a 2010 NWA Upstate match.
at the Great American Bash PPV
in July, costing Tommy a shot at
the ECW Title.
On Aug. 18, 2008, WWE
released Delaney from his con-
tract. An official reason is rarely
given, but to paraphrase Colt
Cabana,”creative (probably) had
nothing” for him. Colin took the
release in stride; in fact, that
very night, he made a surprise
return to UWA Hardcore, resur-
recting the Olsen Twins with
Jimmy.
Colin acknowledges, in retro-
spect, that he took things for
granted in the first few years
after his WWE run. “I got to age
25, 26, and I realized the only
thing holding me back in wres-
tling was me. I was done screw-
ing around....I knew I had to
turn myself around” He started
going to the gym, something he
didn’t need to do when younger
and realized more work was nec-
essary to get to a higher level.
He’s back on the road almost
every weekend, working in
Pittsburgh (IWC), Cleveland
(AIW), Ontario as well as WNY
(UPW, ESW, 2CW). He’s also
wrestled for Ring of Honor.
He’s now training the next
generation of wrasslin’ stars;
Colin and Marc Hauss are the
lead trainers at Kayfabe Dojo,
the UPW wrestling school in
Rochester, NY. Ironically, that’s
where Delaney received most of
his training when he started.
What about the future? “My
goal is to do the best I can in
wrestling” he states. He’d love to
get another opportunity nation-
ally, or with WWE if invited to
their NXT developmental. “NXT
is one of the best things in the
world; the stuff they’re doing is
crazy.”
“Crazy.” Perhaps that’s the
best word to describe the life-
style Colin Delaney lived for
about nine months. And also to
describe that, at age 27, he’s
achieved more than 99 percent
of the people lacing up a pair of
boots. ..Not to mention that he’s
young enough to do it again.
It’s crazy!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, Jan. 17 - ESW - St.
Johnsburg Fire Hall, 7165 Ward
Road -N. Tonawanda, N.Y.- 6
p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 7 - PWR - Saga
Club, 3828 Washington Ave. -
Erie, Pa - 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 8 - Destiny
Wrestling - Don Kolov Arena -
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada - 6
p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 14 - Kayfabe
Dojo - Pineapple Jack’s,
Spencerport Road - Rochester,
N.Y. - 4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 28 - WWE
(non-TV) - Ricoh Coliseum -
Toronto, Ont., Canada- 7:30
p.m.
Sunday, March 1 - WWE
(non-TV) - First Niagara Center
- Buffalo, N.Y. - Time TBA
Friday, March 6 - WWE (non-
TV) - Blue Cross Arena -
Rochester, N.Y. - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 14 - UPW -
Eagles Club, Buffalo Road -
Gates (Rochester), N.Y. - 6 p.m.
Friday, May 15 and Saturday,
May 16 - ROH - Ted Reeve Arena
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada -
7:30 p.m.
MEDIA STUFF
There’s a new podcast/web-
cast we’d like you to sample.
View “Wrestlevision Presents:
The Big Schmozz” on either
ROCSportsnetwork.com or you-
tube.com
Follow @Wrestlevision on
The Twitter... See encore
Wrestlevision episodes on Time-
Warner Cable in Suburban Erie
County on Channel 20; watch
Saturdays at 4 p.m. and
Mondays at 11:30 p.m.
Confused by all this? Just
check www.wrestlevision.com
for help.
get a chance because of a medi-
cal condition that basically
ended his career.
••••
The 2015 Buffalo (New York
State) Golden Gloves
Tournament will be gearing up
in January at The Tralf Music
Hall on Main Street in down-
town Buffalo. Opening night
will be Saturday Jan. 24 with
amateur boxers from all over the
state competing. The tourna-
ment continues at the same
venue on Feb. 28, March 28 and
May 2. The tournament champi-
ons will be NYS Champions
with the open class winners
advancing to the National
Golden Glove tournament in Las
Vegas on May 11-16.
••••
Speaking of the Buffalo
Golden Gloves, this was the pre-
mier tournament for over 45
years from 1932-1976 and also
recently with the return of the
event to Buffalo. The “Gloves”
was a family event in the past as
grandfathers, fathers and chil-
dren not only attended the fights
but was a tradition and an honor
to have fought in the Golden
Gloves down the generation
line. There are many stories of
families participating in the
action and one in particular
comes to mind.
In 1953 Memorial Auditorium
held the finals of the Gloves
with 13,559 fans witnessing the
event. The Hall family of Buffalo
had three brothers participate in
the annual tournament; Lee,
Calvin and Dick. On finals night
of Dec. 7 Lee Hall won the 147-
pound open title over Al Piccoli
of Niagara Falls. Calvin Hall
dropped the 160-pound open
title to Mario Calandra of Buffalo
and Dick Hall lost the 126-
pound novice title to Richie
Todaro of Buffalo. These results
were impressive and sure made
the family proud. The three Hall
brothers though were not satis-
fied.
The 1954 Golden Gloves
finals were held Dec. 6 in front
of 10,007 fans at the Aud. This
time the Hall brothers made the
event their own. Lee Hall moved
up the 160-pound division and
won that open title over
Armando Marchieone of Buffalo.
Calvin Hall dropped down to the
147-pound division and defeat-
ed Ed Wallace of Niagara Falls
while Dick Hall captured the
135-pound open title by defeat-
ing rival Richie Todaro. Three
brothers, three open division
Golden Gloves champions in
one year; now that is a Golden
Glove memory for a lifetime.
Additionally, older brother
Jimmy Hall won the 1952 160-
pound open class with a win
over Billy McGhee of Buffalo.
Prentiss Hall was runner-up in
the 1941 147-pound open class
to Parson Ohonesian of Niagara
Falls and Charles Hall won the
1940 118-pound novice title
over Gene Covert.
Dick Hall joined his brothers as champion in Buffalo Golden Glove history.
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE Page 15Jan/Feb 2015
COLLECTINGMEMORIES
I hear the same question at
all sports card
shows. Newcomers
to the hobby won-
der aloud, “What
should I collect?”
they ask me.
This isn’t doing
homework or walk-
ing the dog. There is
no clear-cut answer
to this question.
Collect what you
like. There are hob-
byists who hold onto auto-
graphed baseballs, while oth-
ers collect team yearbooks or
media guides. How about the
people who can’t wait to add
another ticket to their collec-
tion.
Of course, I prefer sports
cards: baseball; football; hock-
ey; and basketball. I even
throw in some golf and boxing
cards. BUT NEVER SOCCER
CARDS!!!! I hate that game.
Back in the 1980s, you
could literally collect ALL
sports cards. By 1985, I really
Unitas, Gretzky, Aaroncards among No. 1 choices
had 80 percent of all sports
cards from
1948 to the
present. It
was easy then
with low
prices and
only three
c o m p a n i e s
for baseball
and one each
for football,
hockey and
ba ske tba l l .
Now only Donald Trump
could afford that.
Blame it on my age, but I
don’t enjoy any of the cards
from the 21st century. They
are boring. But if you are look-
ing for a goal, I say collect at
least one card from every year.
Go back to the 1940s. Imagine
having a 1948 Bowman Ferris
Fain, a 1949 Eddie Joost, a
1950 Jack Banta, a 1951 Chico
Carrasquel and a 1952 Topps
Mickey Vernon. You’ll under-
stand the beauty of the vintage
cards.
Of course, to make it tricki-
er I suggest you collect the
same number in each set. The
best number to collect is No.
1. In many cases that will be a
really nice card. The great Ted
Williams (Topps 1954, ‘57 and
‘58) and Hank Aaron (Topps
1974, ‘75 and ‘76) had three
No. 1 cards each. Joe DiMaggio
was No. 1 in 1940 for Playball
and in 1948 for Leaf. The
Whitey Ford rookie card is
No. 1 in 1951 Bowman and
Yogi Berra was the same num-
ber in 1952 Bowman.
Nolan Ryan had cards from
1968 to 1994 but his only No.
1 was 1990 Topps. Jackie
Robinson was No. 1 in 1953
Topps. Ken Griffey Jr.’s rookie
card was No. 1 in 1989 Upper
Deck. Roger Maris was No. 1
in 1962 Topps, coming after
his 61 home run season of
1961. The only time Willie
Mays was No. 1 came in 1966.
You might say Johnny Unitas
was popular with Topps. The
great quarterback was No. 1 in
Topps from 1959 to 1963.
Aaron Rodgers has been the
lead car in football cards four
times and Doak Walker was
No. 1 in 1950 Bowman and
1955 Bowman. Buffalo’s O.J.
Simpson was the lead card in
1974 Topps. Peyton Manning,
Bart Starr, Drew Brees, Norm
The NFL playoffs have
begun (yes, Bills fans, the
league still has playoffs), and
football fans will be tuning in.
Use these questions to stump
your friends while you wait for
the pizza to arrive at halftime.
1. Tom Brady and Peyton
Manning rank one-two in
career playoff passes complet-
ed. Who ranks third?
a. Jim Kelly
b. Brett Favre
c. Kurt Warner
d. Dan Marino
2. Only three players have
rushed for 16 or more playoff
touchdowns: Emmitt Smith;
Franco Harris; and who?
a. Ray Rice
b. Frank Gore
c. Thurman Thomas
d. Terrell Davis
3. Who was the opposing
quarterback the last time the
Bills won a playoff game?
a. Joe Montana
b. Dan Marino
c. Neil O’Donnell
d. Steve McNair
4. Only three players have
had 28 or more receptions in a
playoff year: Larry Fitzgerald;
Hakeem Nicks; and who?
a. Demaryius Thomas
b. Victor Cruz
c. Marshall Faulk
d. Jordy Nelson
5. Bruce Smith ranks sec-
ond in career playoff sacks,
with 14.5. Who ranks first?
a. Willie McGinest
Trivia quiz
Answers1. b 2. c 3. b 4. a 5. a6. d 7. a 8. c 9. d 10. d
Van Brocklin, Joe Montana
and Troy Aikman had the No.
1 card one time each.
Hockey card collectors will
find Wayne Gretzky was the
No. 1 man many times. The
Great One had his first No. 1
in 1982 OPC. He later paced
the set in 1990 Score, 1990
Topps, 1992 Score, 1992 Topps
and 1994 Upper Deck, 1995
Bowman, 1997 Studio and
1997 Zenith.
Other favorites for No. 1
included Mario Lemieux (four
times), Mike Bossy (three
times), Ray Bourque (three
times), Tim Horton (twice)
and Gump Worsley (twice).
UPCOMING SHOWS:East Amherst’s Rob Schilling
will hold his major sports card
March 29 at the Grapevine
Banquet Hall (formerly
Hearthstone Manor) in Depew.
More than 100 dealers from
the northeast and Canada will
sell, buy and trade their items
at the all-day show. The
monthly free admission sports
card shows at the Leonard
VFW Post in Cheektowaga
will continue Feb. 11, March
11 and April 8.
Mike Dyer, former sports
writer and author, is always
looking for comments from the
readers. Send email to mikedy-
By Mike Fox
b. Reggie White
c. Richard Dent
d. Michael Strahan
6. Who is the career playoff
leader in all-purpose yards?
a. Cliff Branch
b. Darren Sproles
c. Brian Mitchell
d. Jerry Rice
7. Adam Vinatieri holds the
record for most points scored
in a playoff year, with 49. Who
ranks second with 48?
a. Terrell Davis
b. Steve Christie
c. Scotty Norwood
d. Steve Gostkowski
8. Warren Moon holds the
all-time record with 16 career
playoff fumbles. Who is the
active leader?
a. Drew Brees
b. Peyton Manning
c. Tom Brady
d. Tony Romo
9. Entering this year, there
have been 16 occasions in
which a player caught three
TD passes in a playoff game.
Who was the most recent?
a. Amani Toomer
b. Larry Fitzgerald
c. Sidney Rice
d. Rob Gronkowski
10. Six quarterbacks have
led the league in playoff pass-
ing attempts for two consecu-
tive years. The first was George
Blanda. Who was the most
recent?
a. Jim Kelly
b. Kurt Warner
c. Warren Moon
d. Terry Bradshaw
forced 30 turnovers, 19 via
interception and 11 from fum-
ble recoveries.
Whether it was intercepting
Manning twice and snapping
his 52-game streak with a
touchdown pass – albeit in a
losing effort – or forcing Smith
into three first-quarter incep-
tions amid a Week 8 trampling
of the New York Jets, the Bills
defense came to play in 2014.
But no game was bigger for
the Bills’ defense than its feat
in a Week 15 victory over
Rodgers and the high-flying
Green Bay Packers. When they
took the field at Ralph Wilson
Stadium the Packers boasted
the league’s highest-scoring
offense but they managed just
13 points against the Bills.
Even worse, Rodgers finished
with a career-low 34.3 passer
rating and completed just 40
percent of his passes (17 for
42).
“It was frustrating,” Rodgers
said following the loss to the
Bills. “They did a good job on
defense, kind of slowed us
down a little bit.”
And although the usual sus-
pects showed up for the Bills,
it was an unlikely hero who
stole the show against Green
Bay: third-string safety Bacarri
Rambo.
Rambo, who joined the Bills
less than a month earlier, had
two interceptions – including
the first of his career – to help
solidify the stunning 21-13
victory.
“I would like to thank the
Bills organization for giving
me a second chance – because
I got released from the
Washington Redskins and
they gave me a chance,”
Rambo, who spent much of
the season living in Denver
training with retired NFL safe-
ty Brian Dawkins, said. “And I
had to take advantage of my
opportunities.”
Knocking off the Packers
not only gave the Bills a season
sweep of the NFC North but
fans felt a feeling that has been
largely absent from Western
New York for the better part of
15 years: postseason hope
heading into the final two
weeks of the regular season.
And although those playoff
hopes came to a screeching
halt the next week in Oakland,
the Bills closed out the season
with a win in New England –
Buffalo’s first at Gillette
Stadium – to finish 9-7, the
first winning season since
2004.
The Bills can certainly hang
their collective hat on the win-
ning mark, but in a season
highlighted by defense, few at
One Bills Drive will defend the
9-7 record as the ultimate goal
– at least not a playoff-starved
veteran such as Kyle Williams.
“Yeah, I guess but I think it’s
definitely more on the bitter
side or the sour side,” he said,
asked if the season was bitter-
sweet, given the winning
record. “Because like I said, I
told guys yesterday I haven’t
had the opportunity to walk
out of here with a winning
record before, but more
important than that I haven’t
had an opportunity to play a
Sunday game in January in the
playoffs so more bitter than
sweet.”
WITHMIKEDYER
Monroe Community College Tribunes
Current record: 11-4
2013-14 record: 23-7 / 10-1
– lost the District 2
Championship
Coach: Jerry Burns – 23rd
season.
Top Players: Anthony
Hemingway (19.5 points per
game), Jayquan Ashley (6.8
points per game/5.8 rebounds
per game), Elijah Tillman
(11.9 points per game/7.2
rebounds per game).
Monroe opened the season
ranked sixth in the nation and
has hovered in the top 20. The
Tribunes handed Cincinnati
State, currently sixth in the
country, their only two set-
backs. Anthony Hemingway is
as dynamic a guard as there is
in Region 3. Capable of getting
to the basket off the dribble,
the sophomore has grown into
a solid decision maker who
sets up teammates with drive
and dish situations. Jayquan
Ashley is a rising star for
MCC.
Niagara County Community College Thunderwolves
Current record: 12-4
2013-14 record: 22-7 / 6-5
– lost in Sub-Regional
Coach: Bill Beilein – sev-
enth season.
Top Players: Jordan Green
(13.9 points per game/7.7
rebounds per game), Eli Jones
(18.1 points per game/7.5
assists per game), Sheldon
Zablotny-Crosby (19.1 points
per game).
Eli Jones (Fairport, N.Y./
Fairport) has picked up where
he left off tallying double fig-
ures in 13 of 15 contests. The
sophomore forward scored a
season-high 30 on 12-of-18
shooting from the floor as
NCCC defeated Middlesex
County College, 112-88. Jones
is hitting 54.2 percent (97-for-
179) of his shots for the sea-
son. The Thunderwolves hit
almost 22 free throws per
game (second in the country).
JR Collegefrom page 12
Defensefrom page 2
five goals and six assists, not
to mention that he was a stag-
gering +13 over the course of
the tournament. It may not
turn up on the box score, but
Reinhart’s defensive proficien-
cy was also a huge asset to the
team. His father Paul, a former
NHL all-star defensemen with
the Atlanta/Calgary Flames,
watched as his son and his
teammates locked down on
defense to shut the door and
take home the gold. Reinhart’s
two older brothers are also top
prospects in the NHL with
Max having been drafted by
the Flames in the third round
and Griffin being drafted by
the Islanders fourth overall.
“Sam had a great junior
tournament and is having a
great season so far in juniors,”
Sabres head coach Ted Nolan
said when asked about the
prospect of Reinhart helping
the team in the not too distant
future. “He has great hockey
sense and the ability to see the
plays develop on he ice. This
season is a great opportunity
for him to grow and mature
physically. His size and
strength will improve as he
grows. It’s such a tough game
physically and mentally and
all his experience this year will
help him gain even more con-
fidence.”
“As we continue to develop
our team and roster for years
to come, it’s so important that
our young players are put in
the right situations for their
growth,” Nolan added. “They
need to be put in positions to
succeed. Just as we have seen
this year, if we feel the players
can take on larger roles and
more ice time they will have
the opportunity to earn it as
the season progresses.”
If coach Nolan and the rest
of the organization can contin-
ue to develop young players
like Reinhart to their maxi-
mum potential, there’s no tell-
ing how far the team can go in
the future.
2015 IIHFfrom page 5
Antler IceAntler IceAntler IceStops ‘em Cold