Sabres & Erie Otters (OHL) FNC Event – IceDogs at Otters – Wed Oct 22, 7:00PM ET

[Woodhouse]

Niagara's play-by-play guy retweeted the following, so it looks like it's a regional matchup with Erie vs Niagara.

Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler · 8m
It's expected the Sabres, with the Erie Otters and the Niagara IceDogs, will announce an OHL game to be played in Buffalo tomorrow.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

@BNHarrington

The Erie Times-News is reporting McDavid will attend tomorrow's presser. #Sabres simply saying an Otters contingent will be here.

 

[Woodhouse]

Also, if it's in fact Erie vs Niagara, eligibles to watch for include:

• Travis Dermott, LD, Erie Otters
• Vince Dunn, LD, Niagara IceDogs
• Graham Knott, LW, Niagara IceDogs
• Hayden McCool, LC, Niagara IceDogs
• Connor McDavid, LC, Erie Otters
• Dylan Strome, LC, Erie Otters

 

[Jim Bob]

I hope that McCool has had to wear these sunglasses one time or another when he's been a rookie.

 

[Disengage]

Maybe we're pulling an old school Canadians move when they bought the league LaFluer was playing in

That was Beliveau.

 

[Paxon]

I know everyone naturally wants to make this about McDavid and the possibility of us drafting him, but it's just a plain great thing for hockey. Hell, I wish they'd do two or three of these a year. Erie is very close, it's a natural thing to do. The star power of McDavid irrespective of the potential for drafting him also makes it a great treat for WNY hockey fans, but even if Erie had no notable star players it'd be something I'd like to become a tradition.

@BNHarrington

The Erie Times-News is reporting McDavid will attend tomorrow's presser. #Sabres simply saying an Otters contingent will be here.

No surpise there. He's the face of the Otters. Hell, he's the face of the entire CHL at this moment. Just appearing at the press conference will help hype this event.

 

[zenthusiast]

Gauging response for a future CHL team?

 

[26CornerBlitz]

The game will be a sellout. Yes or No?

 

[Paxon]

Gauging response for a future CHL team?

HARBORcenter's main rink would be too small, and using the FNC on a regular basis seems like it might not be too feasible.

 

[zenthusiast]

What's seating at HC?

 

[tsujimoto74]

Gauging response for a future CHL team?

More likely gauging response to our future franchise center.

 

[Cirris]

What's seating at HC?

HarborCenter has only 1500 capacity.

It's obvious that the game would be held at FNC.

 

[VaporTrail]

Sabres to trade Stafford, Stewart, and Ellis to the Otters for McDavid - e3

 

[EON]

I suspect this announcement will be for a preaseason game. I'd be surprised if either team would be willing to give up an actual home game (though Buffalo is in close proximity to both Erie and Niagara). I'd like to see this become something of a tradition. Get some Buffalo people interested in junior hockey, it's great, and much cheaper than NHL games. I think there may be a larger amount of Sabres fans visiting Erie this year than usual.

I wonder if they have a longer term eye on perhaps bringing an OHL team to Buffalo?

Like if say the Otters get tired of the really old building in Erie and they can't get a deal done to build a new one....

Erie Insurance Arena just got a $42 M+ renovation, it's pretty much brand new now, easily a top 5 arena in the OHL. The Otters aren't going anywhere.

 

[zenthusiast]

Too bad on the HC, maybe if there's an addition I can hope for a junior team someday.

Make sure to talk about how lovely Buffalo is, ErieOttersNews

 

[lifeisruff]

I'm surprised this hasn't made it's way onto one the main forums. There are lots of logical reasons to do this, but the optics still look bad.

 

[LaxSabre]

Since its going to be an Erie home game vs Niagara - here are the dates that the Otters host the IceDogs this season -
Wednesday, October 22 - Friday, December 19 - Wednesday, March 11.

Wednesday, October 22 is open - no events currently scheduled - Sabres have an away game that night vs the Ducks. Since that game is a 10:30 pm ET start, the Otters-IceDogs game will be done in plenty of time for fans to get home to watch.

Friday, December 19 is open - no events currently scheduled - Sabres host the Avalanche on Saturday, December 20.

Wednesday, March 11 is open - no events currently scheduled - Sabres have an away game that night vs the Maple Leafs.

LaxSabre - Wednesday, October 22 should be the date - I doubt Erie would want to give up a Friday home date especially against Niagara whose fans would travel down so Friday, December 19 is out. Also Wednesday, March 11 should be out as well just so the Sabres don't have a hockey event at the arena going head to head with one of their games especially one vs the Maple Leafs.

In case anyone wants to go over the border - Niagara hosts Erie on the following dates -
Thursday, November 6 - Friday, November 14 - Sunday, March 22 (regular season finale).

Heres a link to the 2014-2015 Erie Otters Schedule - http://ottershockey.com/schedule

 

[Jim Bob]

Erie Insurance Arena just got a $42 M+ renovation, it's pretty much brand new now, easily a top 5 arena in the OHL. The Otters aren't going anywhere.

Cool.

I just remember playing youth hockey there when I was a kid and didn't realize that it had been renovated.

 

[Paxon]

I'm surprised this hasn't made it's way onto one the main forums. There are lots of logical reasons to do this, but the optics still look bad.

Which "optics" look bad?

 

[Jim Bob]

Which "optics" look bad?

Yeah, it's not like Connor McDavid is a pending UFA...

 

[Deleted member 27798]

The game will be a sellout. Yes or No?

Maybe 10,000. Depends on how tickets are priced.

 

[Chainshot]

Niagara is closer than Erie, so they should have home-ice in terms of fan support. Let's not act like Dylan Strome is chump change.

I'd like to think a bunch of WNY hockey fans will turn out for something like this, akin to the USDP top prospects game two years ago.

 

[sjci]

Tickets will be $15 for 100/200 level, but only $10 for Sabres season ticket holders. Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Sept 13th

 

[26CornerBlitz]

@WGRZ

Buffalo #Sabres announce the @ErieOtters will host the @OHLIcedogs at @FirstNiagaraCtr on Oct. 22


ERIE OTTERS TO HOST OHL GAME IN BUFFALO: http://sabresdigitalpressbox.com/2014/08/21/erie-otters-to-host-ohl-game-in-buffalo/

The Buffalo Sabres and the Erie Otters today announced plans for the Otters to host the Niagara IceDogs in an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) game at First Niagara Center on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m.

“The Sabres organization has made a real commitment to develop and grow hockey at every level,” said Sabres president Ted Black. “This will be a great chance to give the OHL a bigger platform to showcase their exciting brand of hockey. We are looking forward to a great game between the Otters and IceDogs and expect a great crowd to be on hand here in Buffalo.”

Tickets for the game will be on sale at 9 a.m. on Sept. 13 and can be purchased at the First Niagara Center box office or online at Tickets.com. Prices for 100-level and 200-level seating will be $15 and $10 for Sabres season-ticket holders.

“First off, the Erie Otters are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a first-rate organization like the Buffalo Sabres,” said Sherry Bassin, general manager and managing partner of the Otters. “This is an exciting moment for hockey fans in Buffalo and our fans in Erie. They’ll have the chance to see the hockey stars of tomorrow play in a future NHL home like First Niagara Center. It’s a special opportunity for the Ontario Hockey League, as a hockey town like Buffalo will provide great exposure for the top junior hockey league in the world.”

 

[Woodhouse]

Erie Otters will host the Niagara IceDogs in an OHL game at FNC on Wed Oct 22, 7pm. Meanwhile, the Sabres play the Ducks in Anaheim at 10:30pm later that night.

http://sabresdigitalpressbox.com/2014/08/21/erie-otters-to-host-ohl-game-in-buffalo/