Buffalo Pro Hockey

[Fusebazell]

The article in the paper says "But while the NEHL was having trouble taking care of its first four teams, a new team was announced for Buffalo on Feb. 20. The announcement was made by the former general manager of a defunct pro team in Michigan. But on March 28 it was reported in The Buffalo News he had been arrested by the Michigan state police and was chraged with identity fraud, fraudulent computer access, unauthorized credit application and providing false statements."

Also, the Connecticut Cougars weren't always the Cougars. They moved mid-season from Poughkeepsie.

[paynomind]

this is all old news guys... stuff that has been covered before...

[sammysabre]

Here is some "New" news as seen in the Artvoice.

"I finally have to admit that the Sabres aren't going to make the playoffs. Because they didn't, despite having the best record in the Eastern Conference since March's trade deadline. But the antics of Derek Roy, Milan Bartovic, and Chris Taylor continue in the playoffs: they've returned to the Amerks to boost the team through the Division Semifinals against the Syracuse Crunch, in a best-of-seven series stating in Syracuse on the 16th. Other Sabre call-ups include Jason Botterill, Norm Milley, Jiri Novotny, Domenic Pittis, and goalie Ryan Miller, with veteran winger Jason Dawe rounding out the familiar faces.

Closer to home, hockey continues to entertain the masses on other levels. The Buffalo Wings Roller Hockey League (born of the Wings professional team, and well-outliving the professional league) has joined the Professional Inline Hockey Association this year with a semi-pro team. The coaches (Jay Cieselski, Sr. and BWRHL founder and "all-around old goalie" Jason Klein) hand-picked BWRHL players for the team, making local talent the rule. Klein and Cieselski will be "taunting officials" while "alternating bench door-opening duties" for local players Eric Haak (Lockport), top-ranked roller hockey goaltender Jason Flowers (Lancaster), star pugilist of the Buffalo Wings pro team Ken Corp (Buffalo Riverside), and Niagara University ice hockey star Chris Welch (Kenmore).

The exhibition team's only two home games will be played on May 22nd at the Amherst Pepsi Center. Tickets for the games are already on sale there, for a whopping $5 each. If you'd rather "do" than watch, join one of the nearly 100 youth and adult inline teams competing this summer in the BWRHL - open registration continues at the APC until April 22nd, with details available at http://www.buffalowings.net.

"Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction" is in reruns now. The show "re-enacts" several incredible situations. At the end of the show, the host tells you which are true, confirmable stories, and which ones they made up. And THAT is the page that is always missing from my Buffalo News.

The team name and logo for Buffalo's new minor-league hockey team were unveiled at a recent press conference. Team owner Joe Kolodziej answered questions about the team, the North East Hockey League, players, schedule ... and then the News reporter asked if he had the rights to the franchise.

Confused by the question (the team was announced in February), Kolodziej explained that the franchise agreement was signed December 23rd. The News story then ran with... the new logo? No. One of many photos taken at the Chophouse? No. It ran with the headline "Dispute Clouds Hockey Announcement." No mention of Kolodziej's confirmation of a signed franchise agreement. It quoted the GM of the Jamestown Titans as saying, "We have not picked the owner yet."

"We?" Rob Madia was the GM and a player at the time the article was written, not a League official. He had approached Kolodziej for a job with the Buffalo franchise, so he understood at some point that Kolodziej was already the franchise holder. After the News' article appeared, Madia's involvement with the League was reduced to an "as-needed" basis.

I've seen the franchise agreement (amended January 13th) - there's no dispute. Any resemblance to real persons or events is coincidental.

Other facts the News thought readers wouldn't find interesting: the Buffalo Stampede has hired Alain Lemieux as a special consultant. Lemieux played professionally for St. Louis, Québec, and Pittsburgh, coached in the ECHL, and has a younger brother named Mario. He'll be in Buffalo to run free agent camps over the summer.

The NEHL's salary cap is $4000 per team per week: "These guys are playing for the love of the game. They're not playing to make a whole lot of money, because they're not making a whole lot of money." By keeping all ticket prices under $10, Kolodziej can put families in the seats: "We'll focus on skill development, fair play, and a fun time. ... Where can you go out as a family of four and spend $40 for the best seats in the house?"

After starting a team in Northern Michigan with the IIHL (a league that then fell upon financial troubles), WNY-native Kolodziej took the opportunity to "come home, get in touch with my family, be part of the community." He's not kidding - his players' contracts require them to perform two hours of community service every week. And while arena leases still haven't been settled, Kolodziej is looking for office space in the City: "It's important as an organization to be in Buffalo. If you're going to call yourself the 'Buffalo' Stampede, you need to be well-grounded (in Buffalo)."

What an attitude! Good thing the Buffalo News is there to discourage Buffalonians who want to come home and invest in the area..."

[yh]

Well, I have some bad news guys. The owner of the Stampede has been arrested on charges of identity fraud, fraudulent computer access, unauthorized credit application and providing false statements. I'd post the whole article from the paper, but the problem is the stupid paper charges to use their online site. So, I am gonna scan it soon and paste it here.

I found it for you - and for free.

[MC Buffalo]

I find it interesting that the Artvoice (which for those not from Buffalo is a free paper which pretty much complains about anything and everything that is an established entity) ripped the Buffalo News for not printing "everything from the press conference", but then neglected to print that there is some pending litigation against this new Owner.

I'm not ready to run the guy out of town yet, but if his legal troubles get any worse how can this possibly be a long term project. This team will probably be gone after one season tops......

[winters in buffalo]

I find it interesting that the Artvoice (which for those not from Buffalo is a free paper which pretty much complains about anything and everything that is an established entity) ripped the Buffalo News for not printing "everything from the press conference", but then neglected to print that there is some pending litigation against this new Owner.

I'm not ready to run the guy out of town yet, but if his legal troubles get any worse how can this possibly be a long term project. This team will probably be gone after one season tops......

You don't believe everything you read in Artvoice?

BTW, how's the new bridge, the downtown casino and the international air cargo hub?

[sammysabre]

and the waterfront.

[paynomind]

So... what is the verdict? I think this was a case of horrible reporting.. and Joe is the rightful owner. Did anyone take that differently?

[sammysabre]

as do I.

[sammysabre]

There is a great article comming out in the next sports and leisure magazine in Buffalo.

"The Stampede is coming

By Bob Matuszak

A new hockey team will be charging into the Western New York market this fall, giving fans across the region an opportunity to see professional hockey at an affordable price.

The Buffalo Stampede will make its debut later this year in the North Eastern Hockey League, a lower-level, minor-pro outfit that is currently wrapping up its first year of operation.

?My goal is to build a team and win a championship here,? said Stampede owner and general manager Joe Kolodziej. ?Hopefully that will be something that the fans in the area will be able to rally around and get very involved with.?

Kolodziej, a native of West Seneca, previously owned the Northern Michigan Predators before the team ceased operations earlier this season after the league it belonged to came under financial distress. When the chance to relocate the franchise to Buffalo came up, Kolodziej jumped at it.

?I?ve been looking for an opportunity to move back to Buffalo for the last 10 years or so,? he said. ?For me, I?m still a little kid and I?m lucky to do what I love. I can?t play but I can live vicariously through my players.?

Kolodziej has already hired Alain Lemieux, Mario Lemieux?s brother, as a special consultant, and is in the process of hiring a coach, with a current NHL player as one possibility.

Buffalo will be the fifth franchise in a league that is hoping to expand to eight teams by the upcoming 2004-05 season. Kolodziej said that the expansion efforts will have a regional focus for a couple of reasons.

?It?s a great area for hockey first of all,? he said. ?But mainly, part of the problem with minor hockey leagues is the cost to operate. So by keeping the teams close together, it lowers your travel costs considerably, and travel costs are a very large portion of your budget.?

Kolodziej will be conducting free-agent tryouts throughout the country, including here in Buffalo, where he is guaranteeing at least one local product to be in his lineup next season.

?I?m certain we?ll be able to find that one real good player from here, and I?m fairly certain we?ll find a lot more,? he said.

The North Eastern Hockey League is a developmental league for players who are looking to gain valuable professional experience as they attempt to climb the minor-league ladder. Because of this, fans shouldn?t get too attached to their favorite Stampede player this season.

?That is what this league is about ? developing players,? Kolodziej said. ?This gives them the opportunity to play in a pro system, and hopefully in the second year they won?t be playing for us. That?s the goal.?

Kolodziej is still in negotiations with a few hockey rinks in the area that will host the 30 Stampede home games. The team will also begin to sell season ticket packages to the public over the next couple months at a cost of approximately $240. For that price, Kolodziej said that fans will be thoroughly entertained by a team he intends to make very competitive.

?I want to win,? he said. ?I?m the worst loser in history. I hate losing.?"

[Joshawaggie]

?I?m the worst loser in history

That sounds hilarious...

[Sterling84]

Hey all,

I'm just writing to let you all know that things didn't work out with me and the Buffalo Stampede.

That doesn't preclude things from picking up , or being resolved sometime in the future...but...

I won't get into any detail here. Let's just say I'm sure neither side will be happy with the way things ended up.

I hold no ill will toward Joe and wish him well with the Stampede in the future. Please don't resort to conjecture or bad mouthing or ask me to elaborate as I feel that would be in poor taste.

What I would appreciate is that if you guys could keep your eyes open for me. Lots of people have seen the Stampede logo I developed and as of today....no one but me is authorized to use it. So if you should happen to see it anywhere, please send me a note and let me know. Especially you boys in Buffalo, heaven forbid.

Thanks guys.......take it easy.

Dave

[shiznit1083]

Sorry to hear things didn't work out. You've got my eyes attention.

[GMac]

That sucks Sterling... too bad that was a top notch concept that begs to be used... sigh oh well... its your baby im sure you feel it more than I do...

[KCScout76]

Our eyes and ears our out there for you Sterling84! Good luck with your next project!

[rtrich11]

I think the Stampede/NEHL project was the last great logo party this board has seen. Every day my jaw dropped open at the awesome stuff. Too bad it ended with a thud. It's also where folks became more protective (rightly) of their stuff, and some regulars haven't posted much, or anything since. (Sniff) The end of innocence.

[jcjr81]

As a Buffalo guy I'll be on the lookout. Sorry that things didn't pan out...

[Brian in Boston]

Sorry to hear about that development Sterling. Though I'm not in the Buffalo area, I'll certainly keep an eye out for any "questionable" logo developments on the Stampede front.

Brian in Boston

[paynomind]

Also, on that front, I had been 'awarded' the contract to do the Buffalo Hockey website. I was going to start with Sterling's logo, and base the site around that. I had assumed that all was settled with that transaction.

Just to make sure, I shot Sterling a PM, and found out the communication had not happened. Based on waiting a while, I decided to let Joe know that I wouldn't work onthe site until things were settled with Sterling.

I haven't heard from him since. Nothing ventured, nothing lost. I would not hesitate to assume that his former partner had made it difficult for him to get the money he needed, or that he is waiting till he can take care of everythign to get stuff going. No matter what the reason, I have no hard feelings either, and hope that all ends up progressing as normal.

I want to tell everyone how awesome they did on the NEHL redesign thread. For running illustrator, to providing input, everyone was valuable, and we ended up with several awesome concepts.

If anyone sees anythign about the franchise, its operations, or the season starting... please let us know. Thanks!

[MC Buffalo]

Living here in the Buffalo area, I felt something about this whole deal was a little funky. It might still happen, but like the Waterfront, Peace Bridge and the 15 story Adelphia Corporate Offices this too seems to be more of a fart in the wind than an actual project in motion.

When it came to light that Joe was being investigated I thought the folks on this board were way to quick to jump to his defense and to buy his explanation on face value. Maybe it was mainly because of the hope that someone from this group was going to have the chance to see one of their creations worn in an actual sproting event, but whatever the reason I feel bad for Sterling, Paynomind and everyone on the board who put in the time and resources towards this.

If this team ever does get started, I promise I will keep a close eye on anything they release as "their" team identities and if anything even remotely turns up I will let everyone on this board know, but especially Sterling.