The Buffalo Sabres today announced that the team will again be participating in the 2013 NHL Prospect Tournament, which runs Thursday, Sept. 5 to Monday, Sept. 9, at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City, Mich.
The eight-team tournament features the top prospects from the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers.
Included on the roster are three players born in New York State. Justin Bailey comes from Buffalo and played last seson with the Kitchener team in the OHL. West Seneca’s Alex Lepkowski is also on the team. Lepkowski palyed last season with the Barrie team. On the goaltender list is Connor Knapp of York, New York. Knapp played for the AHL Rochester Amerks.
The Sabres are the defending champions after defeating the New York Rangers,5-2, in the championship game of the 2011 tournament. The 2013 NHL Prospects Tournament format divides the eight-team field into two separate four-team divisions. The Gordie Howe Division will feature Detroit, Dallas, Minnesota and St. Louis. The Ted Lindsay Division will be comprised of Buffalo, Carolina, Columbus and New York. Teams will play a round-robin format by facing-off against each team within their division before a crossover on the final day of the tournament that concludes with the Howe and Lindsay division winners battling in the championship game on Monday, September 9.
Tickets for the tournament are $10 per day (four games each day) and are currently on sale exclusively at Centre ICE Arena. For more information on tickets, visit www.centreice.org.
