The ice and rink continue to fill up as the NHL season draws near.
The Sabres have 19 players on the ice this morning in Northtown Center at Amherst. They are surrounded by hundreds of fans. The players have been skating at the same time for the last four months in front of crowds that ranged from zero to three, but it appears hockey fever is back.
Also back are goaltender Ryan Miller and defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Alexander Sulzer. They are participating in their first skate with their Buffalo teammates.
Also on the ice: Forwards Tyler Ennis, Ville Leino, Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, Matt Ellis, Patrick Kaleta, Steve Ott, Drew Stafford and John Scott; defensemen Jordan Leopold, Andrej Sekera, Mike Weber, Tyler Myers, Adam Pardy and Robyn Regehr; and goalie Jhonas Enroth.
The schedule for the season will officially be released Saturday. The Sabres will open at home at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 20 against Philadelphia. The Sunday matinee is expected to be broadcast by NBC.
--John Vogl