Buffalo Hosting Two World Championships
By Janet Schultz
USA Hockey announced today (Wednesday, May 28) that two major world ice hockey championships will come to Buffalo and be played in the soon-to-be-completed HARBORCENTER.
“This is the first time a city has hosted two world championships in one year,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director for USA Hockey.
The U18 Women’s World Championship Tournament will be played January 4 through 12, 2015 and will feature the most outstanding young women in the United States.
Second, but not at all least, is the 2015 International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship April 24 through May 2, 2015. Team USA is coming off a gold medal in Sochi. In addition to the World’s USA Hockey will be holding a Select Camp in Buffalo at the Northtown Center in July.
“This is a great hockey market,” said Ogrean. “We are excited to come here and we thank the entire Sabres and HARBORCENTER organization, as well as the Pegulas, for helping us move forward.”
“We are incredibly pleased to have USA Hockey back I Buffalo,” said HARBORCENTER President John Koelmel.
“We have developed a strong relationship between USA Hockey, the Buffalo Sabres and HARBORCENTER.
“This is a positive day for the City of Buffalo and Mayor Byron Brown and provides more evidence that we created a unique destination for hockey events and activity for not only our region and across the country, but from around the world.”
Ted Black, president of the Buffalo Sabres, also thanked the Pegulas for what they have done and noted that they want to elevate hockey and there isn’t a better way to do it than host two major world championships and continue the relationship with USA Hockey.
“The City of Buffalo, the franchise and the sport of hockey are headed in the right direction,” said Black.
Up first, and UP being the word since the games will be played on the sixth floor of HARBORCENTER, are the women’s U18 World Championships featuring the United States, Canada, Czech Republic, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Japan and Switzerland. Team USA has played in the gold medal game in each of the first seven editions of the event. They captured the prize in 2008, 2009 and 2010, but never on U.S. soil and hope to do that in 2015.
“It’s exciting to bring the U18 Women here,” said Reagan Carey, director of women’s hockey for USA Hockey and general manager of the 2015 U18 Team.
“Fans will have a unique opportunity to see the best women athletes in the world,” she continued.
“This facility and the world-class nature of the event contributes to the growth of women’s ice hockey,” she continued.
“It’s an opportunity for girls to see where they can go and motivate them to that next level,” she explains.
The competition starts with 400 girls selected by USA Hockey at District camps, those selected move on to a development camp and from there those selected move on to a series in Lake Placid. From the top 30, the roster will be finalized in late Fall.
In 1998 there were 19 Division I Collegiate programs for women and 20,000 registered female players. Today there are 35 DI programs and 66,000 registered players and the numbers continue to grow.
Returning with another gold medal from the 2014 Paralympics, Team USA will continue to play for the gold at the Worlds in Sledge Hockey.
Only two players come from New York and both are from Western New York. Adam Page and Paul Schaus are sporting that Gold Medal and will return to the ice in the World Championships. But before that they, along with other members of the 2014 Team, will be in Buffalo for the Tryout Camp in July at the Northtown Center, Amherst.
“Adam and Paul are two different people. Adam was born with his disability and Paul lost his limbs serving in the military in Afghanistan,” said Team USA Coach Jeff Sauer. “Yet, they have meshed together as a team.”
“I love each one like a son and I don’t treat them any differently than I treat any hockey player,” explained Sauer. “We use the same drills, the same words between periods. The bottom line is they are athletes.”
“I tell them every day they are better athletes than some of the players in the National Hockey League,” said Sauer. “And they are. They can do things that an NHL player can’t.”
Sauer explained that Page can shoot with both hands and score from either side of his body, which a guy in the NHL can’t.
Sauer also wants fans to know that this is a physical game and these guys hit each other.
“This is a tremendously exciting sport and fun to be around.
“I love to stand back and watch them play,” said Sauer.
City of Buffalo Mayor Brown concluded the day with promising that the City of Good Neighbors will roll out the hospitality to the athletes, their families, coaches and fans.
“Thank you USA Hockey,” said Brown. “We are anxiously looking forward to 2015.”
