Its 34 degrees (88 F) and sunny in Buffalo today.
Good day to be in the air conditioned comfort of the rink.
Thats where a dedicated group of present and former Sabres are as we speak.
Sabres Adam Mair, Tim Connolly, Max Afinogenov, Andrew Peters, Dan Paille, Nathan Paetsch, Paul Gaustad, Clarke MacArthur, Marek Zagrapan, along with Jay McKee, Marty Biron, Michael Peca, and some assorted Junior and College guys are on the ice as we speak.
Just an aside, I had to do a double-take when I saw Marty in his White Flyers practice sweater and orange and black gear. I guess I've been living in denial. He's not a Sabre anymore. McKee's French Blue and Gold sweater has finally sunk in with me. Pecs is proudly wearing his Team Italia sweater.
Camp opens September 14th - ish, however, that isn't stopping the boys from getting their cardio up to mid-season level.
The boys converge on this local rink every August, in anticipation of the opening of their respsective training camps. They play their 5 on 5, they skate their "suicides", and they work hard with their buds. Gone are the days when players go to camp to get in to shape. The rules of engagement have change dramatically over the years. Now, you better show up to camp in superior cardio, physical,and mental shape, or else you're riding the bus to Bingo or Lowell.
Mair's ready to rumble. When isn't he ready? The guy works just as hard in pre season training than he does in game 82. Thats why he'll be the Sabres next Captain.
Connolly looks as slippery and dnagerous as ever. He appears to me to have hit the weights this Summer-- especially in the upper body and core. Great news for Sabres fans.
Max is-- well, MAX! Hands and feet flying at 120 miles per hour. How's the scaphoid bone healing? Hard to say right now. We'll see in September.
Petey and Paille have been banging the weights with Mair in Buffalo thsi Summer. They are in great shape and Paille skating extremely well. Paille's ready for a breakout season.
Goose is a tower of power and his tendon issue appears to be a thing of the past. He's cutting, starting and stopping with no resistance of fatigue. This is a tremendous amount of good news for Sabre fans, as Goose will provide a large amount of leadership on and off the ice this season.
MacArthur is steady and sure. Both he and Zags have to be eyeing the prize of the fourth platoon centre job. Both will compete for the gig in camp.
The Sabres that are in town look great. It won't be long until Stafford, Vanek, Pominville, Hank, Toni, Teppo, and the crew comes rolling in.
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