BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Buffalo Sabres announced the team will hold its annual Military Appreciation Game on Friday, Nov. 10 against the Florida Panthers at KeyBank Center. The annual event is dedicated to honoring both current and former members of our nation’s armed forces and will feature several tributes throughout the night. The first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a Sabres-themed military dog tag.
As a salute to the military, Sabres players will wear special camouflage jerseys during warm-ups. The jerseys will be auctioned on Sabres.com/auctions from Wednesday, Nov. 8 starting at 5 p.m. to Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m., and proceeds will benefit the Buffalo Sabres Foundation, which consistently supports veterans programs.
Sabres alternate captains Ryan O’Reilly and Zach Bogosian will donate a suite to members of the Coast Guard for the game. Those Coast Guard members will be invited down for a meet-and-greet with the players following the game. The Sabres will also donate more than 200 tickets and an additional five suites to military organizations. Sabres players will also do a meet-and-greet with children of military families after their morning skate, families will also be invited to the game.
The Sabres will offer all active, reserve, National Guard and retired military personnel the opportunity to purchase tickets in the Buffalo Creek 300 Level for $25. These tickets can be ordered at Sabres.com/military. Military members will also receive a 25 percent discount at the Sabres Store the day of the game.
Before the game, the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station will display military vehicles in Alumni Plaza. The Blue Aces Air Force band will play pre-game in the 100 level pavilion and lead singer, Christina Bagley, will perform the anthems.
The Buffalo Sabres Foundation is sponsoring a Sabres Military Appreciation trip to Washington D.C. With help from Veterans One-Stop Center, the Sabres will be taking four veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to tour the Washington D.C. monuments and Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, Nov. 6th. Accompanying the veterans on the trip will be Sabres alumni Danny Gare and Rene Robert. Sabres players will visit the Coast Guard Station on Furhmann Boulevard after practice on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
The Buffalo Sabres Foundation will also be donating $7,500 to the Buffalo Blues Benefit for Veterans at the Cove on Saturday, Nov. 25 from 8-9 p.m. Sabres alumni will be in attendance for the benefit. Tickets to the benefit are $10 at the door and more information can be found at Buffaloblues.org. All proceeds for the Buffalo Blues Benefit for Veterans will go to the WNY Veterans Housing Coalition.
In addition to Military Appreciation Night, the Sabres are hosting two programs throughout the 2017-18 season to honor local military members. Matt Moulson will continue to host a veteran each home game with free seats as part of the Tickets for Troops program. The Original Pizza Logs are also donating tickets and honoring a local veteran on the ice during the national anthems at each home game. Military members can sign up for the programs at Sabres.com.
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