The Watch List for June 25

June 24, 2013, 11:19 pm

≫ Next: Three locals pass Porter Cup qualifying test

LIVE EVENTS

Horse Racing

• Fort Erie, 4:15 p.m.

ON TELEVISION

Baseball

• Texas League All-Star Game, 7 p.m., TWC.

College Baseball World Series

• Mississippi St. vs. UCLA, 8 p.m., ESPN.

Golf

• PGA of America, Professional National Championship, 4 p.m., Golf.

MLB

• Texas at N.Y. Yankees, 7 p.m., Ch. 67.

• N.Y. Mets at Chicago White Sox, 8 p.m., SNY.

Soccer

• U-20 World Cup: Mexico vs. Paraguay, 10:45 a.m., ESPN2.

• U-20 World Cup: Turkey vs. Columbia, 1:45 p.m., ESPNU.

Tennis

• Wimbledon Day 2, 7 a.m., 3 p.m., ESPN.

WNBA

• Phoenix at San Antonio, 8 p.m., ESPN2.

ON RADIO

Baseball

•Buffalo at Gwinnett, 6:05 p.m., 1520.

↧

Three locals pass Porter Cup qualifying test

June 24, 2013, 11:19 pm

≫ Next: Bulletin Board for June 25

≪ Previous: The Watch List for June 25

LEWISTON — Western New York golfers took back control of a tournament Monday that over the past two seasons had been dominated by their Canadian counterparts.

Three of the eight top finishers in the annual Porter Cup qualifier at Niagara Falls Country Club were recorded by those who call the 716 home.

Medalist Bryce Edmister is from just down the Thruway in Rochester as well, making it an even better day of finishes for upstaters. Edmister recorded eight birdies on a hot, blustery day on the escarpment on his way to shooting a round of 5-under-par 65.

That was one shot better than 22-year-old Patrick Sheedy Jr. of Clarence and 20-year-old Jon Clark of Orchard Park, both of whom carded a round of 4-under 66. Also qualifying for the 55th Porter Cup, which will be played July 24-27, was 19-year-old Austin Nowak of Lancaster, who shot 67.

Canadian flags had dominated the leader board at the qualifier the last two seasons, with four of eight spots in 2011 and five of eight spots last year going to golfers from north of the border. In that time, only three spots went to local players (Buffalo’s Chris Covelli made it in both years and Hamburg’s Brian Jurkiewicz made it in 2012).

Nowak set the early pace for the locals, making the turn at 1 over for his round before ripping off a stretch of 5-under through the first six holes of the back nine that included an eagle at the par-5 11th.

“I actually hit into the group ahead of me on 11. I was like 270 yards out, into the wind. I didn’t think I could get there, and I rolled it on to like 15 feet,” he said.

Nowak, who attends N.C. State but does not play golf for the Wolfpack, finished fourth in the New York State boys championship in 2010 as a junior at Lancaster, but played only one round as a senior because of illness. He plays out of Lancaster Country Club, but his competitive rounds have been limited while he’s in school and working part time.

“Not like this to be honest,” he said when asked if he felt a good round coming. “I felt pretty good. I played Sunday night, and played pretty well, but I didn’t see 67. I’ve only broken par twice all year in about 15 rounds. I didn’t expect a 67 by any means.”

Sheedy next took over the clubhouse lead. He recorded six birdies and had only one slip-up when he double bogeyed the par-3 fourth hole.

“I just hooked a 5-iron off the tee into the bunker and it plugged,” he said. “Then I hit the next shot over the green and couldn’t get up and down.”

No matter, he steadied himself and like Nowak, went after the stretch of holes to start the back nine, recording birdies on the 10th, 11th and 13th.

“One of my goals was to make the turn at even or better, and I shot even on the front, so I was in a positive mind frame from that,” he said. “After I birdied 10 and 11, that got me a little momentum going. My short game was pretty solid. I was a little squirrely with the driver, but the ball striking with my irons was really good.”

Sheedy, who plays out of Brookfield, graduated from Clarence and played at Florida Tech. He came back home last year and works as a civil engineer.

“I definitely thought a red number was possible. Every day I was practicing last week, it just kept getting better and better, he said. “I felt really confident coming into today,” he said.

Both Sheedy and Nowak were playing in their third qualifier, while for Clark it was “at least his fifth.”

The 2010 International Junior Masters champion attends the University of South Florida. He also trains at the Missing Link Golf Academy in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Over the summer, Clark plays out of Crag Burn. He carded a bogey-free round, with birdies at Nos. 2, 7, 14 and 16. On the difficult par-3 16th, he hit a 7-iron to within 3 feet.

“I’m hitting my tee ball really well, and when I hit my tee ball good, it gives me way more confidence,” he said.

Edmister, who will be a senior at Binghamton in the fall, recorded the round of the day thanks largely to his putter. He needed only 21 putts in his round, including a 6-footer on the par-3 18th.

“I just wanted a 65. It sounds a lot better,” he said.

Also among the top eight earning a spot in next month’s field were Kevin DeHuff (67), Nicholas Torrance (69), Stephane Dubois (69) and Hagen Barmasse (69).

email: jskurski@buffnews.com

↧

Bulletin Board for June 25

June 24, 2013, 11:20 pm

≫ Next: Area golf for June 25

≪ Previous: Three locals pass Porter Cup qualifying test

Hilbert College and coach Rob deGrandpre were selected as the recipient of the Collegiate Basketball Officials Association’s Sam Schoenfeld Sportsmanship Award for the 2012-13 season. This award, voted on by the collegiate basketball officials in Upstate New York, is given to the school, coach and players who best exemplify the highest degree of sportsmanship, character and ethics, which are all characteristics of Sam Schoenfeld, who was a founding father of CBOA. The award was presented by Kevin Ferguson (area rep) and Benjy Bluman (past president CBOA). Hilbert had its first 20-win season (20-6).

...

ATHLETICS: Hilbert College, a NCAA Division III institution, seeks qualified applicants for a graduate assistant coaching position with a background in either baseball, women’s basketball, cross country, men’s lacrosse, softball, men’s or women’s volleyball. See complete job posting at hilbert.edu. Send resume, cover letter and references to krehbaum@hilbert.edu.

BASKETBALL: The third annual Brian Galfo Memorial 3-on-3 Tournament will be held July 14 at Evans Town Park, Angola, across from Mickey Rats Beach Club. Registration can be completed at www.empirebasketball.com. Entry Deadline is July 1. Contact Tony Pulvirenti at 984-7266. … Daemen College is still accepting registrations for its girls basketball camp, July 22-26. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Cost is $175. Call 839-8336.

CYCLING: The 20th annual Raccoon Rally Cycling Festival Weekend is Saturday and Sunday in Allegany State Park Camp. Saturday’s events include a road bicycle race and mountain bike trials. Sunday’s events include a mountain bike race and kids mountain bike races. Festival runs 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and is open to all ability levels. Proceeds benefit the WNY Mountain Bicycling Association and Allegany Nordic Ski Patrol. For information and to register, visit www.heartrateup.com.

GOLF: The sixth annual Buffalo Sabres Golf Tournament will be held Friday, Sept. 11, at Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. with an 11:30 a.m. shotgun start. Fans will have an opportunity to play a round of golf with a member of the Buffalo Sabres, Sabres Alumni or Sabres broadcast team. Each foursome that registers will be joined by a celebrity golfer for the 18-hole scramble-format. Visit www.sabres.com/golf to reserve a foursome, or contact Teresa Belbas at 855-4588.

SOFTBALL: The 17th annual Gowanda Men’s Slow Pitch Tournament is set for 11 a.m. Saturday. It will be a double-elimination format. There is still an opening for one more team. Cost is $75. Call Mark Benton at 532-4053 or email hidibenton@aol.com to register.

The Bulletin Board appears twice weekly, Tuesday and Friday. Information must be submitted by mail (c/o Buffalo News, Sports Dept., One News Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14240), fax (849-4587) or email (sports@buffnews.com). Items are limited to one appearance. There is no charge.

↧

Area golf for June 25

June 24, 2013, 11:21 pm

≫ Next: Kelly’s prayers answered

≪ Previous: Bulletin Board for June 25

AREA GOLF

PORTER CUP QUALIFIER

at Niagara Falls CC

Par: 70

Top eight finishers received spots in this year’s Porter Cup, July 24-27.

1, Bryce Edmister (Rochester) 34-31-65*. t2, Patrick Sheedy, Jr. (East Amherst) 35-31-66*, Jonathan Clark (Orchard Park) 33-33-66*. t4, Austin Nowak (Lancaster) 36-31-67*, Kevin DeHuff (Coto De Caza, Calif.) 33-34-67*. t6, Nicholas Torrance (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) 36-33-69*, Stephane Dubois (Brantford, Ont.) 34-35-69*, Hagen Barmasse (Houston) 38-31-69*. t9, Oliver White (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.) 35-35-70, Blair Hamilton (Burlington, Ont.) 33-37-70. t11, Desmond Stoll (Lockport) 34-37-71, Daniel Yustin (East Amherst) 34-37-71, Matthew DeJohn (Geneva) 37-34-71. t14, James Blackwell (North Tonawanda) 39-33-72, Luke Moser (Waterloo, Ont.) 37-35-72, James Krantz (Oshawa, Ont.) 35-37-72, Zachary Kempa (Brantford, Ont.) 40-32-72, Michael Boss (Lewiston) 36-36-72. t19, Ryan Dyck (Welland, Ont.) 36-37-73, Kyle Harman (Orchard Park) 37-36-73, Harris Bundy (Toronto) 36-37-73, Matthew van Niekerk (Rochester) 37-36-73, Josh Stauffer (Bradford, Pa.) 35-38-73, Bradley Graham (St. Catharines, Ont.) 38-35-73, Will Betts (Leechburg, Pa.) 37-36-73, Jonathan Kim-Moss (Mississauga, Ont.) 37-36-73, Brian Churchill-Smith (Oakville, Ont.) 38-35-73. t29, Bill Gaffney (Williamsville) 37-37-74, PJ Alterio (Buffalo) 37-37-74, Michael Jiggins (St. Catharines, Ont.) 36-38-74, Mark Young (Toronto) 38 36-74, Chris Wiatr (Woodbury, Conn.) 35-39-74, Derek Bard (New Hartford) 38-36-74, Turner Southey-Gordon (Toronto) 36-38-74, Michael Blair (Ancaster, Ont.) 37-37-74, Sean Bozuk (Burlington, Ont.) 38-36-74. t38, Jackson Lizardo (Fairfax, Va.) 36-39-75, Chase Parker (Akron, Ohio) 40-35-75, Carl Schimenti (Ithaca) 38-37-75, Brad Burgess (St. Catharines, Ont.) 38-37-75, Christopher Holmes (Ajax, Ont.) 37-38-75, Derek Dalziel (Oakville, Ont.) 38-37-75, Brandon Ng (Toronto) 39-36-75, Mike Lalicich (Niagara Falls, Ont.) 39-36-75, Trevor Sluman (Rochester) 36-39-75. t47, John Edwards (Grand Island) 40-36-76, Mark Hajnos (Grand Island) 40-36-76, Larry Cheung (Markham, Ont.) 37-39-76, Jack Uecker (Akron, Ohio) 38-38-76, James Parsons (Barrie, Ont.) 36-40-76, Russell Bowie (Mississauga, Ont.) 37-39-76, Zach Soccio-Marandola (Thorold, Ont.) 40-36-76, Brandon McGregor (St. Catharines, Ont.) 39-37-76, Pierce Terrance (Lancaster) 41-35-76, Davis Jensen (Loudonville) 40-36-76. t57, Dean Arthur (Williamsville) 42-35-77, Billy Hanes (Elma) 37-40-77, Stosh Kajfasz (Niagara Falls) 40-37-77, Scott Avery (Lewiston) 39-38-77, Sean Carlino (Hamilton, Ont.) 38-39-77, Jordan Bakhsh (Newmarket, Ont.) 38-39-77, Michael Lancaster (Ancaster, Ont.) 41-36-77. t64, Eric Hajnos (Grand Island) 40-38-78, Kevin Borowicz (Grand Island) 40-38-78, Mitch Kennedy (Toronto) 37-41-78, Brian Jurkiewicz (Hamburg) 39-39-78, Nicholas Powell (Toronto) 37-41-78. t69, Kristopher Boyes (Tonawanda) 38-41-79, Michael Davern (Buffalo) 40-39-79, Colin Burns (Kenmore) 39-40-79, Jacob Felicetti (Niagara Falls) 43-36-79, Robb Walter (Williamsville) 41-38-79, Marc Siebert (Eden) 40-39-79, Andrew Bolinger (Castalia, Ohio) 38-41-79. 76, Gregory Sibick (Williamsville) 39-41-80. t77, Alex Buerger (Lockport) 41-40-81, Chris Covelli (Buffalo) 39-42-81, Alex Turner (Toronto) 38-43-81. t80, Brandon Akromas (West Seneca) 44-38-82, Jacob Kreuz (Amherst) 43-39-82, Paul Kudela (Niagara Falls) 41-41-82, Marc-Anthony Manion (Toronto) 44-38-82. t84, Steve Wrzochul (Elma) 43-40-83, Ryan Morley-Stockton (Woodstock, Ga.) 43-40-83. t86, Brandon Lustig (Toronto) 43-41-84, John Simpson (Whitby, Ont.) 40-44-84. 88, Anthony Mameli II (Naples, Fla.) 42-43-85. 89, Sean Eisen (Markham, Ont.) 40-49-89. 90, Chait Dhariwal (Wesley Hills) 46-44-90. 91, Jordan Jackson (Toronto) 49-44-93. 92, Jordan Hernandez (Hilton) 47-47-94. Ryan Balbierz (Hamburg) w/d, Brendan Gibson (Lynden, Ont.) w/d.

WNYPGA CHAUTAUQUA WATERSHED CONSERVANCY PRO-AM

at Chautauqua GC

Pro: 1, Kirk Stauffer (Pine Acres) 68; 2, Michael Frisina (North Hills) 69; 3, Sean Coleman (Kahkwa Club) 70.

Lady Pro: 1, Cindy Miller (Wehrle Dome) 75; 2, Marlene Davis (Paddock Dome) 76; 3, Patty Jordan Smith (First Tee of WNY) 78.

Team

Men: 1, Michael Frisina-Ron Kilpatrick-David Bird-Stu Northrup 126; 2, Stan Marshaus-John Tanner-Matt Fuller-Dan Colwell 129; 3, Jack Widger-Al Wager-Tony Caruth-David Miller 130.

Ladies: 1, Kathy Cassese-Colleen Reeve-Dale Matthews-Julie Lescynski 126; 2, Marlene Davis-Barb Blanchard-Pat Jones-Jane Stirniman 131; 3, Cindy Miller-Ann Neville-Jana Stone-Linda King 133.

↧

Kelly’s prayers answered

June 24, 2013, 8:25 pm

≫ Next: Blackhawks stage championship rally; S. Buffalo’s Kane named playoffs MVP

≪ Previous: Area golf for June 25

Jim Kelly is cancer-free.

The Buffalo Bills’ Hall of Fame quarterback made that uplifting announcement Monday morning as his 26th annual football camp got underway inside the team’s fieldhouse.

Kelly learned last week he won’t have to go through radiation treatment or chemotherapy following surgery on June 7 to remove cancer in his upper jawbone.

“Which to me, is a blessing because what I’ve been told about all the stuff that they did in surgery, that if I had to do radiation or chemo, it would put me way back,” said the 53-year-old Kelly, whose speech was perhaps a little slower than usual, but otherwise clear and strong in making his first public appearance since the surgery.

Kelly said he was experiencing some expected soreness in his jaw, but otherwise his recovery is right on track.

“Big-time relief,” he said. “Trust me, prayers definitely had a big part in it, there’s no doubt. Not just with my family, but all across the country. And I’ve received so many letters and emails from people that have had similar circumstances as I did, and some of them were not very good, and some of them were very good.

“So you’re encouraged on one hand, and then discouraged on the other, but to find out where they’ve been, and the prognosis of where I’m going, I’m very excited. I’m happy. Never thought I’d be saying the word cancer … but it’s part of what has happened to me in the ups and downs of life.”

One of the most difficult parts of his diagnosis, Kelly said, was telling his daughters, Erin and Camryn.

“It’s an emotional ride,” he said. “My kids are used to hearing daddy say, ‘Don’t worry I’ll be fine.’ Sometimes you start wondering if they believe me now, because I keep saying, ‘Oh, I’ll be fine’ and something else pops up. But they’re strong, they’re Kellys and they understand the part of being Kelly tough.”

The support they’ve received from the community has overwhelmed the Kelly family.

“I just want to thank personally everybody from this area. This community has rallied around me when I played for the Bills, when my son Hunter was diagnosed, and of course, my latest setback with cancer,” he said.

“There’s not enough words to describe the feeling in my heart, and in my family’s heart, how much it means to me that people took the time out to email me, write me hundreds and hundreds of letters. The prayers that have been answered because of the things I don’t have to do now.”

There was little doubt Kelly would be in front of campers Monday. He scheduled his surgery for June 7 so that he could take part in his annual golf tournament – where he made the announcement June 3 – and have enough time to recover for his camp.

“I never thought it would last this long, but as years went on, and the fun that I had, I saw how much it really helps,” he said.

Kelly’s “chalk talk” at camp has always been more about life than football, and his recent trial has given him another topic: perseverance.

“We’re all going to go through things in our lives,” he said. “It’s what you do about it that counts. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. How do you turn something bad into something good? I’ve always stressed that to my kids.”

Kelly will meet with his doctors in about a month and a half to have a CT scan and more blood work done, then have subsequent checkups every two months.

“Just like anything, it could come back,” he said. “But right now, so far, so good.”

During surgery, Kelly had most of the left side of his jaw removed, along with several teeth on the left side of his mouth.

Restricted from eating solid foods, he’s lost 14 pounds, but joked, “I could think of other ways to lose weight other than going through this.

“I need to lose about 10 or 15 more. We’re getting there.”

A skin graft was also performed, with tissue from Kelly’s left leg used in his mouth. Kelly will go back for a check-up Wednesday to make sure the graft is still taking. Even after undergoing recent surgeries on his back and neck, as well as to correct a hernia, Kelly said his most recent surgery has been the most painful he’s ever endured.

“It’s very, very sore, but it just takes time,” he said. “When you have a knee surgery or a shoulder surgery, it’s sore for a small period of time, you rehab it and everything’s good. You just take your time. This is just constant pain for now, but … it’s a small price you’ve got to pay for where I’m going to be later on down the road.”

Kelly said doctors have not given him a cause of the cancer, medically known as squamous cell carcinoma. He said he’s never been a smoker or used chewing tobacco.

“Luck of the draw. Bad luck. I don’t know what you want to call it,” he said. “I know that growing up we didn’t have the best dental care. I mean, my dad worked in steel mills and didn’t have much. I think the only time we ever went to the dentist as kids is when we had a toothache and we had to get it pulled. That was pretty much it.”

One of the things Kelly has learned since his diagnosis is that the human body contains cancer cells, “but it’s just something that triggers it to have to come out.”

“Unfortunately something triggered mine, but the good thing about it is, it’s out,” he said. “I got it taken care of and hopefully I’m cancer free for the rest of my life.”

email: jskurski@buffnews.com

↧

Blackhawks stage championship rally; S. Buffalo’s Kane named playoffs MVP

June 25, 2013, 12:12 am

≫ Next: Bills individual game tickets go on sale July 9, 10

≪ Previous: Kelly’s prayers answered

BOSTON — An NHL-record unbeaten streak to start the lockout-shortened season.

Three straight victories to clinch the title.

From beginning to end, the Chicago Blackhawks skated away from the rest of the league.

Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland scored 17 seconds apart in the final 1:16 and the Blackhawks staged a stunning rally to win Game Six of the Stanley Cup finals 3-2 on Monday night for their second NHL championship in four seasons.

Jonathan Toews returned from injury to add a goal, and Corey Crawford made 23 saves for Chicago in the first final round between Original Six teams since 1979.

“I still can’t believe that finish,” Crawford said. “Oh my God, we never quit.”

South Buffalo’s Patrick Kane, whose overtime goal in Game Six beat Philadelphia to win the 2010 championship, was voted the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoffs MVP.

“It was the best year of my life, just playing with these guys,” said Kane, who becomes just the fourth American-born player and third in a row to earn the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Kane finished the postseason with nine goals and 19 points, ranking second in both categories. Teammate Patrick Sharp finished with 10 goals, while Boston’s David Krejci had 25 points.

Toews scored his third goal of the playoffs to tie it for the Blackawks at 4:24 of the second of Game Six – exactly two minutes after teammate Andrew Shaw was penalized for roughing.

“In 2010, we didn’t really know what we were doing,” Toews said. “We just, we played great hockey and we were kind of oblivious to how good we were playing.

“This time around, we know definitely how much work it takes and how much sacrifice it takes to get back here and this is an unbelievable group. We’ve been through a lot together this year and this is a sweet way to finish it off.”

Boston, needing a win to extend the series to a deciding Game Seven, came out aggressively and led 1-0 after one period on Chris Kelly’s second goal of the playoffs. The Bruins outshot the Blackhawks 12-6 in the first period but the margin dropped to 18-15 through 40 minutes.

Each team got one of its best players back when Toews and Boston alternate captain Patrice Bergeron returned to the lineup after leaving the Blackhawks’ 3-1 win with injuries on Saturday.

Toews scored when he got past Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara along the boards in the neutral zone. Chicago’s captain skated up the right side and fired a hard shot from the right faceoff dot that beat goalie Tuukka Rask between his pads.

It was Toews’ second goal in three games. Of Chicago’s last 10 goals, Chara was on the ice for nine.

Boston right wing Jaromir Jagr was shaken up in the first period. He returned for the second but left the bench, and Tyler Seguin replaced him on the second line with left wing Brad Marchand and center Bergeron.

The play that led to Kelly’s goal began after a faceoff that rookie defenseman Torey Krug rushed in to tip toward a teammate. The puck went to Daniel Paille, standing about 40 feet on the left. He passed to Seguin, who caught the puck with his right glove in the slot and dropped it.

Seguin then passed to Kelly, who scored his second goal of the playoffs 7:19 into the game.

It came just seven seconds after a whistle stopped a scrum in front of the net that followed an extended period of pressure by the Bruins.

Just two minutes after the goal, Chicago had one of its best chances of the period when Michal Frolik skated in with the puck behind the defense and fired a 15-foot drive from the left, but Rask made the save.

Boston had another solid chance at 12:24 when Milan Lucic took a 15-foot shot from the slot that Crawford stopped. Lucic gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead at 12:11 of the third, fostering hope Boston could force a Game Seven just as it did when it won the Cup in 2011.

It didn’t happen. Bicknell tied it with the goalie pulled off assists from Toews and Duncan Keith.

Then Bolland capped the stunning rally. Bolland put the game-winner past Rask when he converted a shot deflected by Michael Frolik that went off the left post.

“It was a shot from the point. Deflection, rebound, goal. A lot of plays happen like that,” Rask said.

↧

Bills individual game tickets go on sale July 9, 10

June 25, 2013, 10:12 am

≫ Next: Area golf, bowling and baseball scores for June 26

≪ Previous: Blackhawks stage championship rally; S. Buffalo’s Kane named playoffs MVP

By Mark Gaughan

Individual-game tickets for the Buffalo Bills' home games will go on sale July 9 and 10, the team announced.

Sales for the general public open at 9 a.m. July 10. There is a "presale" that starts at 9 a.m. July 9 for fans who are connected to the team online through its website and social media sites. That includes fans who have signed up to the team's site via email or who have followed the team on Facebook, Twitter or the team's mobile application. To sign up, visit www.buffalobills.com/ticketpresale.

Season tickets still are on sale, but individual tickets for the regular-season home opener against New England on Sept. 8 are sold out.

Season-ticket holders already had the chance to buy extra individual tickets. Group tickets (blocks of 15 or more) also previously went on sale to the general public.

Fans can buy tickets at the stadium ticket office, via the team's website or at 1-877-BBTICKS.

↧

Area golf, bowling and baseball scores for June 26

June 25, 2013, 7:16 pm

≫ Next: The Watch List for June 26

≪ Previous: Bills individual game tickets go on sale July 9, 10

AREA GOLF

BDGA Women’s Individual Championship

at Tan Tara

Thursday’s Tee Times

8:00 a.m.—Kit Creighton/Michelle Hanes/Ann Marie Luhr. 8:10 a.m. — Chelsea Dantonio/Julie Murphy/Kari Kaul. 8:20 a.m. — Sarah Godfrey-Singleton/Jacqueline Kim/Kathy Hunt. 8:30 a.m. — Marah Penn/Victoria Parker/Alyssa Klenk. 8:40 a.m. — Molly Balbierz/Sara Riso/Sydney Shaw. 8:50 a.m. — Christy Malo/Linda Burroughsford/Donna Parker. 9 a.m. — Sharon Johnson/Jeanne Kay/Lori Potter. 9:10 a.m. — Mary Beth Hourihan/Kathy Zawicki/Vaso Kroto. 9:20 a.m. — Lindley Bowen/Therese Deluca/Stacy Galanes. 9:30 a.m. — Diane Charsley/Ellen Sommer/Peggy Lou Kennedy. 9:40 a.m. — Marci Bevilacqua.

BRIERWOOD: Ladies Stagette — Overall: Lynn Schroeder/Lisa Eckis/Deb Tuberdyke/Tonya Donovan 116. Stars Flight: 1. Sue Giacomini/Erin Wodzynski/Cary Costa/Patty Clinton 117, 2. Peggy Kennedy/Carry Deluka/Pamela Lampman/Ellen Sommer 118; Stripes Flight: 1. Dorothy Jennetti/Gail Lindstrom/Debbie Buczek/Dawn DiPaolo 126; 2. Kathy Saab/Deborah Hill/Mary Margaret Fierle/Lee Martin 129.

CAZENOVIA: 3rd Annual Joe Spires Invitational — Overall: Kevin Roth/Eric Ruppert; Spires Flight: Tim Esford/Bob Shenk; Swartz Flight: Rick Grochala/Dino Armini.

GOWANDA: Ruth Youngberg Memorial Mixer — Low net: Trudy Jackson/Joni Jackson/Kim Pagels/Les Jamieson 116; Low gross: Kim Gier/Maryanne Hoisek/Roni Speick/Michele Schifano 164.

ORCHARD PARK: 9-Hole Ladies ABC Tournament — 1. Jen Puleo/Lynn Markel/Sarah Pieri 26; 2. Pat Mancuso/Maryanne Wach/Kathy Currie 26; T-3. Deb Ehlers/Janette Neumeister/Pam May 31; T-3. Sharon Brouillard/Betty Ramming/Mira Boyczuk 31.

Area Bowling

THRUWAY: Tuesday Have Ball — Frank Lustan 257, Dave Lucas 279-269-770.

Amateur Baseball

MUNY AAA

Meridian Titans 8, Mader Construction 2

New Era 7, Royal Printing 5

Ken-Hy 7, Pignataros 0

CEBA Collegiate

SCBA 10, River Rock 5

CEBA Scholastic

Elma 4, Hamburg 3

↧

The Watch List for June 26

June 25, 2013, 7:19 pm

≫ Next: Fishing Line by Will Elliott for June 26

≪ Previous: Area golf, bowling and baseball scores for June 26

LIVE EVENTS

Horse Racing

• Buffalo Raceway, 5 p.m.

ON TELEVISION

College Baseball World Series

• Mississippi State vs. UCLA, 8 p.m., ESPN (if necessary).

Golf

• PGA of America, Professional National Championship, 4 p.m., Golf.

MLB

• Texas at N.Y. Yankees, 7 p.m., ESPN2.

• N.Y. Mets at Chicago White Sox, 8 p.m., SNY.

Soccer

• Confederations Cup Semifinal: Brazil vs. Uruguay, 2:30 p.m., ESPN.

Tennis

• Wimbledon, 7 a.m., ESPN2.

ON RADIO

Baseball

• Buffalo at Gwinnett, 6:05 p.m., 1520.

↧

Fishing Line by Will Elliott for June 26

June 25, 2013, 7:20 pm

≫ Next: Lessons from the pros: Hit and hold

≪ Previous: The Watch List for June 26

Summer did not take long to transition from spring-like conditions for anglers this season.

Inland shorelines often retain minimal weed growth. Great Lakes waters such as the Niagara River currents show an early presence of green algae in waters that have yet to reach 70 degrees.

Fish movement may be erratic and anglers might have to check usually unproductive shallows as well as deeper hot spots to find good bait and predator schooling during the first full week of summer.

Wherever and however lines are set this weekend, all anglers in New York State have an opportunity to check out fishing prospects during the Department of Environmental Conservation’s annual License-Free Weekend held each year on the last weekend in June.

Adults have a chance to take kids on outings and assist in setting up their rods, reels and terminal baits without the need for a current fishing license. Supervising mentors must be aware of fishing regulations: creel limits, baits, lines in use, etc. while helping kids and rookie anglers enjoy their time on the water.

Lake Erie

Derby and tournament results reveal a much improved walleye presence in Lake Erie’s eastern basin. High winds kept boaters in average-sized crafts off the water, but some respectable walleye schooling – mainly in U.S. waters – showed later last week and on Saturday.

Experts differ in lure selection. The standard worm harness has been good at several depths. Minnow-type baits scored high with rigs run high over shallow or deeper waters. Many colors and pattern combinations have connected, but purple finishes have gotten the most mention when boaters could get lines in the water this past week.

Same goes for perch prospects. Deeper waters produced slightly west of Sturgeon Point and east of Cattaraugus Creek. Anchored boats are scattered between Grandview Point and Evangola State Park, with most of the better numbers and sizes coming from depths of 55 to 72 feet. Often, boaters separated from the clusters do as well as the flotilla folk.

Bass have cooperated well along shoal edges from Buffalo to well past Sturgeon Point. Daytime temperatures and warming nights have pushed surface temperatures to above 70 degrees in spots, but water clarity holds and some of the bigger smallies can still be found cruising rocky shoals such as Seneca, Pinehurst, Evans-Angola and Eagle Bay. Don’t write off rock piles west of the Catt for the next week or two at least.

If anything, the Greater Niagara BassEye Celebrity Challenge will once again depend much upon a good reading of both bass and walleye movement for wins in this Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser set for Friday out of the Buffalo Small Boat Harbor.

After a Thursday evening bash at Coca-Cola Field, the competition will begin early Friday. Awards will be presented that afternoon at about 3:30 p.m. Guides and charter captains will be on hand to share catch commentary after the competition. For details on this event, go to basseye.com.

Kids caught a bunch of nice panfish and a few bass during a clinic at Chestnut Ridge Park on Saturday. Southtowns Walleye Tournament winners received awards during a Saturday afternoon gathering. Look for a detailed account of both events on the Sunday Outdoors Page.

Lake Ontario

Those nasty “thermal layers” have begun to cooperate and both bait schools and major predators have started moving into 80- to 100-foot depths along the state-side shore.

Lake trout have been the better biter, but some boaters have also hit into bigger king salmon that have slid in with the lakers. Lines set at or near bottom could connect on both species with variations of speeds and turns that change the speed and depth level of down rigs and side-planer presentations.

Pick any bay or feeder-stream outflow from the Niagara River to Point Breeze and the locals will tell you about bass and pike. Some nice panfish (mainly bluegills and crappie) continue at Lake Alice in northern Orleans County, but the shoreline bite is mainly either a smallmouth or a northern. The perch bite has been so-so at most of the popular access sites open to shore casters.

Chautauqua Lake

The walleye bite is less than slight, but both smallmouth and largemouth bass keep kids of all ages happy to be on the water. For casters, a Senko worm (nose-hooked, not the whackie-styled middle hooking) is deadly for largemouths moving between weeds and around docks. Smallies hold along weed edges and go for live bait or any large-lipped lure body that shows great movement and simulates a distressed minnow or crayfish.

Western Finger Lakes

Waters warmed considerable, but weed masses have yet to form heavily on Silver, Conesus and Honeoye. For perch, a close competition exists between Canandaigua and Seneca. Canandaigua also has a fair run of bluegills on the side. Seneca boaters also hook into sizeable sunfish while perch fishing.

email: odrswill@gmail.com

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Lessons from the pros: Hit and hold

June 25, 2013, 8:01 pm

≫ Next: Herd’s Gomez homers twice in loss

≪ Previous: Fishing Line by Will Elliott for June 26

This is a simple drill that has benefitted me and many of my students over the years to hit iron shots longer, more solid, and more consistent and should benefit your game as well.

This drill is called hit and hold. It helps to create a great impact feeling for golfers with early releases, casting or scooping motions. If you find yourself losing power or hitting shots that curve to the right (slices for right-handed golfers) you may be releasing your wrist angles too early in the downswing.

First, take your normal address position and focus on shortening your backswing while fully hinging your wrists. On the downswing try to maintain the angle created in your right wrist as long as possible.

It’s important to hit the ball by holding the angle in your right wrist and turning your body through the shot. It may feel as though you have an abbreviated follow through but this will give you the feeling that you need to stop the casting and scooping motion and will lead to longer, more solid iron shots.

Marc Rosa, PGA Assistant Golf Professional, Country Club of Buffalo. For Rosa’s video demonstration of this tip, go to www.buffalonews.com/video. WNY PGA club pros will offer weekly tips in Wednesday’s editions of The News.

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Herd’s Gomez homers twice in loss

June 25, 2013, 8:01 pm

≫ Next: Youth Hockey by Miguel Rodriguez: Injury only slows Gicewicz’s U.S. team bid

≪ Previous: Lessons from the pros: Hit and hold

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Triple-A home run leader Mauro Gomez homered twice for Buffalo, accounting for all the Bisons’ run, but a solo blast by Joey Terdoslavich of Gwinnett carried the Braves to a 4-3 victory Tuesday night before 3,476 at Coolray Field. It was the opener of an eight-game road swing for the Herd, which concludes in Durham.

The G-Braves (35-45) were last in the International League’s South Division entering the game but own a 4-1 record against Buffalo (39-38), with three of the victories by one run.

Gomez raised his home run total to 23 and increased his league lead over Ernesto Mejia of the G-Braves and Zach Walters of Syracuse, who have 18 each. His first tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth inning and the second, a solo shot in the eighth, cut the margin to 4-3. Terdoslavich’s bases-empty blast in the seventh proved to be the winning run.

Gomez has five multi-homer games this season and leads the Bisons with 52 runs batted-in.

Bisons starter Justin Germano (4-7) yielded three of the four Gwinnett runs in taking his third straight loss, second in a row at the hands of the G-Braves. Mickey Storey gave up the Terdoslavich homer.

Gwinnett took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on singles by Phil Gosselin, Matt Pagnozzi and Sean Kazmar and a double by Jose Constanza. After Gomez tied it, the Braves got took the lead again with an unearned run in the sixth. Brandon Boggs reached on a error by second baseman Eugenio Velez and came home on the third Gwinnett hit of the inning, a single by Pagnozzi.

The Bisons threatened to tie it in the ninth when Anthony Gose doubled with one out. But he was but was thrown out trying to take third on a pitch in the dirt and Braves closer Cory Rasmus then retired Sean Ochino on a fly ball to finish it.

To make room on the active roster for the return of Jose Reyes, the Toronto Blue Jays optioned shortstop Munenori Kawasaki to the Bisons. Kawasaki batted. 225 in 60 games for the Jays.

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Youth Hockey by Miguel Rodriguez: Injury only slows Gicewicz’s U.S. team bid

June 25, 2013, 8:02 pm

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Carson Gicewicz turned 16 on March 4 but the birthday was anything but sweet.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward for Nichols was lying in a hospital bed that day recovering from a lacerated spleen, wondering why did this have to happen now of all times?

Gicewicz suffered his first serious on-ice injury while delivering a hockey hit two days earlier in a playoff game in Aurora, Ont. One would think he was bumming just because he got hurt at the most important time of the year to any player, but that’s only the half of it.

The injury also occurred a few weeks before the United States National Team Development Program’s Under-17 Team 40-man tryout camp. He was one of the select few in the country to earn an invitation to the prestigious camp, which is an opportunity of a lifetime for any American hockey player let alone one with hopes of going places in the sport and following in the footsteps of his older brother R.J., who has twice represented Old Glory at international tournaments and will likely be drafted by an NHL team next year.

“We thought when it happened it was just a bruise and it would be a two or three-week thing and the camp would be an option,” recalled Carson earlier this month.

It turned out to be more than just a bruise as his physician gave him a prescription of three months of rest and no strenuous hockey activity.

In other words, bye-bye tryout.

“That was a blow. … I was pretty rattled,” Carson said.

He’s back rattling opponents’ hockey cages now as he returned to the ice earlier this month, and he has a second chance at earning an opportunity of a lifetime. Gicewicz received a special tryout invitation and will be among the 150 participants in the Team USA Evaluation Camp for 16-and-under players July 7-13 at Northtown Center in Amherst.

That will be the second of three camps taking place over consecutive seven-day periods at the multi-rink facility in Williamsville which has hosted many USA Hockey tournaments the past decade but will be serving as the evaluation camps’ site for the first time. The 17-and-under camp, which will feature closer to 140 candidates, begins Thursday. The 15-and-under camp runs July 14-20 and should feature 180 prospects.

Including camp alternates (those who may be asked to attend on short notice due to player injuries or for other reasons), Western New York (not including Rochester) will have a total of 33 players attending the three camps.

Select individuals who stand out at these camps will be invited to participate in prospects camps/tournaments later this summer. Those who standout in those events will be considered for the few remaining roster spots in the U.S. National Team Development Program’s 17-under and 18-under teams for the 2013-14 season in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The last Buffalo-area player to earn a spot in the National Team Development Program was West Seneca’s Sean Malone, a former Nichols standout who will take his talents to Harvard. He played on the Under-18 team last season and has a good chance of being selected Sunday in the NHL Draft.

Obviously being talented is a good way to catch USA Hockey officials’ eyes at these camp, but that’s only part of it, according to R.J. Gicewicz, the 6-1, 185-pound defenseman who will play juniors in the USHL at Green Bay before moving on to St. Lawrence in fall 2014.

According to Gicewicz, attitude matters as USA Hockey looks for players who carry themselves with class and know how to respect others. Class and respect lead to a positive atmosphere, which makes it easier for players to bond thus increasing chances for team success.

“Getting to know your coaches is really important because every night at the camp, all the coaches have a meeting,” R.J. said. “They put names up on the board and then the coach of the USA team who is scouting all the kids at the camp asks each coach what they think about a certain kid. If the coaches might say the kid is a punk and we don’t like him because he has a bad attitude then the coaches will toss his name right off the board. But if the coaches are ‘I had a good conversation with him. Looks like he’s been working really hard this summer,’ then the coach will keep him on the board and possibly give him a shot.’ “

Carson’s not only been briefed by R.J., but went through the camp experience last year as a 15-year-old.

Carson’s injury happened on the first shift of the best-of-three Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association championship series between the Vikings and St. Andrews College (St. Andrews won in three games). Gicewicz said either he took an elbow or a stick low in the spleen area while hitting a guy bigger than him. At first, he didn’t think the lingering pain was all that serious, until it wouldn’t go away.

“They said right away if I had let it go … if I got hit again it could escalate so quickly,” said Carson of his talk with doctors at the hospital.

Gicewicz admits it was frustrating at times waiting for the healing process to run its course.

“That was the worst part about it,” said Gicewicz, who recorded 13 goals and 23 points in 63 games last winter. “When I wasn’t feeling pain and I was feeling fine but not being able to do anything and risking reinjuring it.

“I hope this summer is a time I can shine at the evaluation camp.”

He helped a local Under-16 all-star squad win the North American Prospects Spring Tournament in his return earlier this month. He also participated in a prospects camp with the Youngstown Phantoms’ Junior A team for six days.He’s also worked out on-ice with his brother R.J., who was his teammate for the first time last season with Nichols.

Carson made a good enough impression at the 15-and-under camp last year to get on the USA Hockey map. Another good showing could lead to the ultimate breakthrough.

“Socially, I’m pretty capable,” he said. “I got invited to the camp for a reason. If they didn’t want me to play with them, they wouldn’t have invited me.”Here are the Buffalo-area boys who survived regional camps to earn invitations to USA Hockey Evaluation Camps, including alternates who could also receive a last-second call to attend one of the camps.

17-and-under: Eric Benshadle (Regals/Jr. Sabres), Michael Ederer (Nichols), Joshua Gabriel (Regals/Jr. Sabres), Charles Manley (South Kent Prep School, Conn.), Anthony Tirabassi (Nichols). Alternates: Christian Zimmerman (Regals/Jr. Sabres), Dennis Gilbert (St. Joe’s).

16-and-under: Joshua Biasillo (Regals/Jr. Sabres), Harrison Oates (Nichols), Nicholas Passafiume (Nichols), Collin Rutherford (Regals/Jr. Sabres), Carson Gicewicz (Nichols), Michael Bevilacqua (Regals/Jr. Sabres), Joseph Cecconi (Regals/Jr. Sabres), Aaron Fanti (Nichols). Alternates: Owen Green (Williamsville), Brendan Miller (Regals/Jr. Sabres), Dante Todaro (Nichols), Zacarey Herrmann (Nichols) and Trevor Micucci (Regals/Jr. Sabres).

15-and-under: Nicholas Alfieri (Regals), Justin Cmunt (Regals), Matthew Jakubowski (Hamburg Hawks), Griffin Loughran (Hamburg Hawks), Michael Faso (Regals), Alex Camarre (Hamburg Hawks), Stephen Dhillon Regals). Alternates: Chris Berger (Regals), Nicholas Carbone (Regals), Matthew Novo (Regals), David Kompson (Regals), Alexander Randaccio (Regals), Tyler Johnson (Regals).What about the girls, you ask? Fourteen Western New Yorkers will take their talents to the 14-under, 15-and-under and 18-under USA Evaluation Camps in July at St. Cloud, Minn.

They are: Allison Gasuik (Buffalo Bisons), Annika Zalewski (Bisons), Madison Sansone (Bisons), Brandy Streeter (Bisons), Julianna Iafallo (Bisons), Olivia Zafuto (Bisons), Abby Cleary (Shattuck St. Mary’s), Rachel dePerio (Bisons), Bailey Lewczyk (North American Hockey Academy), Ava Simoncelli (Bisons), Lila Toczak (Bisons), Abby Welch (Bisons), Maureen Murphy (Bisons) and Taylor Piatrowski (Regals).

email: mrodriguez@buffnews.com

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IJM leader kicked soccer habit

June 25, 2013, 8:02 pm

≫ Next: Kane is building a career worthy of the Hall of Fame

≪ Previous: Youth Hockey by Miguel Rodriguez: Injury only slows Gicewicz’s U.S. team bid

Until Tiger Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open, Camilo Aguado had no interest whatsoever in golf. Soccer was his sport. Soccer was his passion. He spent hours upon hours on the pitch, honing his skills, dreaming big dreams.

But what transpired at Torrey Pines that June steered Aguado onto a new path. He was amazed at how Woods persevered despite an ailing knee. He sat mesmerized as Woods and Rocco Mediate battled into sudden death in a Monday playoff before Woods won on the 19th hole.

On that day golf became Aguado’s new pursuit and the results were manifested Tuesday.

A native of Colombia who now resides in Mexico City, Aguado shot a 6-under 29 on the front side en route to a 4-under 67 for the medal-play lead at the International Junior Masters.

One shot back at 68 is Ryan Borg of Caledon, Ont. He’s followed by Sam Hebert of St. Thomas, Ont., at 71.

Grand Island’s Kevin Borowicz led the local contingent with a 73, same as defending champion Joey Savoie of Montreal and 12-year-old Will Thomson of Pittsford. Thomson, the youngest player in IJM history, is the reigning International Junior Golf Tour Under-14 Player of the Year. His rise has drawn comparisons to fellow Pittsford native Gavin Hall, now at UCLA. What’s more, they have the same coach. And the same birth date.

Meanwhile, Murray Naysmith of Scotland owned the shot of the day, an ace on the 145-yard second hole. It was the third career hole-in-one for the 16-year-old, all coming from close to the same distance.

The tournament resumes at 7 this morning at East Aurora Country Club with the final round of medal play. The top 32 finishers will advance to the championship flight of match play beginning in the afternoon.

Aquado’s followed an unorthodox path to become an elite junior. Although he was 13 when Woods won at Torrey Pines, he didn’t start playing in earnest until he was 15 because of limited access to public golf.

“I used to make swings in my bathroom – there’s a mirror – because we weren’t on a golf course, we played public courses, and in Mexico there are not a lot of public courses near where I live,” he said. “So we played once a month, or once every two months.

“When I was 15, a golf teacher at a range, he give me some lessons. I called this teacher and said ‘I want to play more, what’s the next step?’ He said, ‘OK, there’s a junior tour in Mexico that you can play. He helped me to enter like a scholarship, a golf scholarship in a golf course, and I started playing.”

Aguado’s spirits soared when he shot 77 in his first competition and discovered it was the second-best round of the day. He has since played two U.S. tournaments, one in California, one in Florida. His four rounds in those events were all between 72-75.

Aguado once shot a 67 in a practice round but Tuesday was the first time he shot better than 2 under in any tournament round.

“The first nine holes were the best nine holes of my life, by far, by far.” he said.

He started out the front side with a pair of pars before an eagle on the par-5 third sent him off on a dazzling display.

“At first I thought it was going to be a hard golf course because the greens are fast,” Aguado said. “But the second shot on 3, that was a really good shot, 5-wood over the trees with some fade. To get it to the green and make the putt was really nice.”

He birdied the 220-yard par-3 fourth after hitting 3-iron to 10 feet. He added a 15-footer for birdie on the par-4 fifth, a 12-footer on the par-3 eighth and faded a low 9-iron from 154 yards to 2 feet for birdie on No. 9.

Aguado was even on the back nine until he bogeyed 17 and 18.Call it a learning experience for a player just more than three years into the game.

email: bdicesare@buffnews.com

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Kane is building a career worthy of the Hall of Fame

June 25, 2013, 8:22 pm

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Let’s hope he continues to prosper throughout a long and successful career, but he has accomplished so much in so little time that it already merits discussion. At age 24 and with six seasons with the Blackhawks behind him, the question is valid: Is Patrick Kane headed for the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Answer: Yes.

Kane already has built a resume that would be considered for the Hall of Fame if his career ended today. Voters would need to take into account what he accomplished during his career, if it were cut short. Gale Sayers, for example, had only five productive seasons before a knee injury ended his NFL career.

This is not to say Kane in hockey equals Sayers in football, which would be a separate debate comparing two sports from two eras 40-plus years apart. That discussion isn’t worth the trouble. The parallel does help explain that a player can reach the Hall of Fame with a smaller sample size if – IF – he was productive enough during that period.

Kane has been one of the 10 best forwards in the last six years when all factors are considered, especially when adding bonus points for championships and performances in big games. Even if his next six seasons are as productive as his first six, taking him to age 30, the South Buffalo native would have an argument for induction.

To review, Kane has won two Stanley Cups in the last four seasons, the second coming Monday night in a 3-2 victory over the Bruins in Boston. He skated away with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the postseason, becoming only the fourth American in history, and third straight, to win the award.

He led the Blackhawks with 19 points (nine goals) in 23 playoff games this year. He had 10 goals and 28 points in 22 postseason games in 2010 and scored the Cup-winning goal in overtime to beat the Flyers in 2010. Jonathan Toews won the Conn Smythe that year after leading the Blackhawks with 29 points (seven goals).

Kane had a hat trick in the deciding game over the Kings in the conference finals this year. He had a goal and helped set up the winner in Game Four against the Bruins to tie the series, then had two goals in the next game to lead the Blackhawks to within a win of the title. He has 29 goals and 71 points in 74 career playoff games.

Yes, others have been more productive in the postseason over the past six years, including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. All are likely headed for the Hall.

Another is Daniel Briere, who had 37 goals and 72 points in 68 postseason games over the past six years. He has been a terrific player in the postseason, but he has never won a Cup and lacks career production during the regular season (286 goals, 659 points in 847 games) to warrant induction into the Hall.

David Krejci had 29 goals and 73 points in 81 playoff games over the same span. He won the Stanley Cup. He did not win the Conn Smythe in 2011, when the Bruins won it all. He also has failed to put up career numbers during the regular season (91 goals, 309 points in 424 games) that would be worthy of consideration.

Kane, who was selected first overall in 2007, was named Rookie of the Year in 2008 and is a three-time all-star. He would have been selected this year, but the game was canceled with the lockout.

He was a key contributor in the United States winning a silver medal in the 2010 Olympics. He finished second this season behind Martin St. Louis for the Lady Byng Trophy, given to the player who exhibits sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.

He has averaged 27 goals and 78 points per 82 games for his career. If he continues the same pace for another eight years, or until he’s 32, he would have 365 goals and 1,048 points in 1,102 games for his career. That’s well within reach, assuming he stays healthy, but would it be enough?

Although his statistics would fall short among recent forwards inducted into the Hall, the era in which he played would need to be considered. It has been much more difficult to score during his six-year career than it was in the 1990s and earlier. Goals were in decline for the fourth straight season this year.

Glenn Anderson, who was inducted in 2008, scored 498 goals and 1,099 points in 1,129 career games. However, most of his production came when he played with Wayne Gretzky and the high-scoring Oilers in the 1980s. Anderson had two 50-goal seasons and three 100-point seasons. He also had fewer than 75 points in each of his final eight seasons.

If anything, Kane’s numbers are likely to increase as he continues maturing into a smarter, more complete player. He has 282 points in 284 games over the past four seasons. He’s better overall than at any previous stage of his career. He’s also coming off a career year in which he had 23 goals and 55 points in the lockout-shortened season.

Kane this year was on pace for 39 goals and 94 points over an 82-game season.

In the previous five years, only Crosby, Malkin, Steven Stamkos, Daniel Sedin, Corey Perry, Alex Ovechkin and Jarome Iginla have had more than 39 goals and 94 points in the same season. It’s an impressive list.

Kane has won more Cups than all of them. And he’s just getting started at age 24.

If he maintains the same effectiveness and plays long enough, he’ll waltz into the Hall. It’s a big IF, but he appears to be on his way.

email: bgleason@buffnews.com

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Bills fans feel left out in the cold

June 25, 2013, 9:56 pm

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≪ Previous: Kane is building a career worthy of the Hall of Fame

It’s a tradition as old as Buffalo Bills football, especially for many older fans:

Carrying a seat cushion into Ralph Wilson Stadium, or the old War Memorial Stadium, for comfort and protection against the elements during Bills games.

Alas, that tradition is now just that – history.

Seat cushions are now banned, and that edict comes from the National Football League, which fears that seat cushions could hide explosive devices.

“I think it’s terrible,” said Ray Deibel, a 96-year-old original Bills season-ticket holder from West Falls. “The seats are cold, and the cushion gives you some insulation. I can’t imagine them banning cushions for the seats.”

Deibel, who still attends most games with daughter Patricia, seemed shocked by the reason for the ban.

“Oh jeepers,” he said about the terrorist concerns. “I’m all for the inspections, including the body scanning, and the delay in getting into the stadium is worthwhile for safety. But I think that’s ridiculous to ban seat cushions.”

Last month, following the Boston Marathon bombings, NFL officials adopted a comprehensive policy limiting the size and type of bags allowed in stadiums. The league’s Committee on Stadium Security unanimously recommended the new rules, designed to enhance public safety and shorten the lines of fans entering the stadiums. Those new guidelines, announced two weeks ago, will take effect beginning with this summer’s preseason games.

The seat-cushion ban, found in the middle of the new 10-paragraph policy, states: “Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: purses larger than a clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, seat cushions, luggage of any kind, computer bags and camera bags or any bag larger than the permissible size.”

So when the rain and snow pelt Ralph Wilson Stadium, many fans will lose their favorite fanny protection.

Bills fans got a slight reprieve late Tuesday, when the NFL told The Buffalo News that fans in Buffalo and Green Bay, who must contend with many metal bleacher-type seats and tough winter weather, will be allowed to bring in Styrofoam seating pads and portable seat backs, as long as neither has covers or pockets.

“The traditional seat cushions still won’t be permitted,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

The league, at www.nfl.com/allclear, has provided its own FAQ section, to answer fans’ questions, including whether seat cushions may be taken into stadiums.

“No, they are not, due to the large size and because the way seat cushions are constructed would allow them to be used to conceal a potential explosive device,” league officials wrote.

That will hit especially hard in Buffalo. Thousands of such cushions could be seen at every game, sporting the logos of the Bills, the team’s four Super Bowl appearances or fans’ favorite schools.

It’s an issue that has brought surprisingly little outcry in Buffalo or around the league, perhaps because the reference to seat cushions was buried in the league policy. Maybe it’s because fans have become used to more prohibitions since 9/11. And perhaps the people most affected – many of the Bills’ older fans – aren’t as likely to air their gripes on social media.

But the issue has moved quickly across Facebook and various websites dealing with the Bills.

“I don’t like it,” said Doug Pagano, of the Town of Tonawanda. “I don’t think these terrorists are going to put their bombs in seat cushions.”

Pagano, 58, a former longtime season-ticket holder who now attends a few home games and one away game each year, explained the need for a cushion in Buffalo’s late fall and early winter weather.

“It makes it more comfortable, because the seats are metal,” he said. “And whether it’s warm or cold, if it’s raining or snowing, it keeps you drier.”

Nancy Flaig, 68, a longtime season-ticker holder from Kenmore, called the new policy “troublesome” but added that she understands the rationale.

She’d rather lose her seat cushion than risk something like the Boston Marathon bombings. Still, she’s concerned about the freedoms being lost.

“They’re doing this in the name of freedom and ... terrorism,” she said. “They have to be careful. Are we losing our freedoms in the name of terrorism?”

Like many other longtime fans, Flaig will miss the seat cushions. She and her husband, Don, carry in their two mementos from the Bills Super Bowl in Atlanta.

“The cushions are your comfort,” she said. “Those seats aren’t comfortable at all. You can take a blanket, but that won’t help you in the rain.”

The terrorism angle has brought plenty of comments on social media, including claims that such policies suggest the terrorists have won.

Pagano, the Town of Tonawanda fan, bemoaned the loss of yet another right.

“There are a lot of risks involved in life,” he said. “You can’t prevent everything. Just because one guy has a bomb in his shoes, why should millions of people have to take off their shoes at airports? You can’t prevent all risks. I think the NFL is going a little bit overboard.”

Cynical fans already have pointed out that the Bills and other teams sell their own seat cushions, available for $12 apiece on the Bills website. But it’s tough to imagine fans buying a cushion inside the stadium for one-time use only.

Fans have suggested several options, including offering seat cushions for rental inside the stadium, attaching a cushion to each season-ticket holder’s seat or even allowing much smaller cushions.

The Bills, though, are waiting to hear more from the league and plan to share many of the new guidelines with fans as the preseason opener approaches.

What kind of reaction have the Bills had from their fans so far, as word seeped out about the cushions?

“They understand the bag policy, and they understand the public-safety aspect, but they’re expressing some concerns about the cushions,” said Andy Major, the team’s vice president of event operations and guest experience. “We’re very open to all ideas and suggestions on improving the fans’ experience. It’s part of our normal routine.”

NFL officials noted Tuesday that the new policy was devised during the annual off-season review of league security measures by NFL security personnel and team officials.

“During the review, the Boston Marathon bombings occurred,” NFL spokesman McCarthy said. “That led our security personnel to move forward, to change the types and sizes of bags being brought into stadiums.”

email: gwarner@buffnews.com

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Golf by Jay Skurski: Ailing Nielsen’s not ready to end his Tour career

June 25, 2013, 8:04 pm

≫ Next: Kane is building a career worthy of Hall of Fame

≪ Previous: Bills fans feel left out in the cold

Lonnie Nielsen’s not ready to pack up his clubs just yet.

The Orchard Park resident went on medical disability from the Champions Tour in February because of a nagging left knee injury. The condition is so bad it will require a knee replacement, which Nielsen will have done in September.

Despite that, and the fact Nielsen will turn 60 on Saturday, he’s not ready to say his competitive playing days are done.

“If I get healthy again, I’d like nothing better than to go back and play. I don’t know that I’d go back on a full-time basis, but you never know. If I go out there and catch lightning in a bottle one week and I get fully exempt, then I’d probably start up again,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen in this game.”

Nielsen spent 20 years, from 1984-2003, as the head professional at Crag Burn Golf Club in East Aurora. With his knee preventing him from playing every day, Nielsen is back at the club this summer, and also playing in local tournaments put on by the Western New York Section of the PGA.

“If I kind of pace myself, and take it easy leading up to the little events that I have been playing in, I feel like I can do that. Right now, to play in a three- or four-day tournament, I really don’t think I’d be able to do it. It would be too much golf,” he said. “The walking, amazingly enough, doesn’t seem to bother me much, it’s just strictly the golf swing.”

Nielsen played in eight Champions Tour events last season before shutting his season down in August because of the pain in his left knee.

“If it wasn’t for golf, I wouldn’t get this knee replaced, but I just can’t swing the way I want to – the way I need to – to be competitive, so it’s a little frustrating from that standpoint,” he said. “I’ve had to try to retool my swing to figure out how I can play with this knee the way it is. I’d like to get it done so I can go back to swinging the way I want to.”

Knee injuries are nothing new to Nielsen. He’s had 11 surgeries so far, including having his right knee replaced in July 2010.

Nielsen played in only six Champions Tour events that season, sidetracking a successful career on the senior circuit.

Nielsen made it through qualifying school on his first attempt in 2003.

“There were about 600 guys trying, and they give five spots at tour school,” said Nielsen, who earned his card with a tie for fourth. “I don’t think I’d ever been as prepared for anything in my life as I was for that week. I was in better shape physically at 50 than I was in my early 40s. I did everything I needed to do to get ready for it, and to get through on the first time was a pretty big deal.”

In his first full season in 2004, Nielsen finished 36th on the money list with more than $500,000 in earnings. Over the next five years, he finished no worse than 27th on the money list, and earned more than $4.3 million. His best season came in 2008, when he earned more than $1.2 million and placed 11th on the money list.

He has two career victories – in the 2007 Commerce Bank Championship and 2009 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open – and 33 top-10 finishes.

Nielsen’s win in 2009 came on the day before his 56th birthday.

“Coming out here, I heard ‘it’s a small window from 50 to 55.’ So here I was going to turn 56 the next day, and I said, ‘I’m not going to let that happen to me,’ ” he said. “Quite honestly after that, my game just fell off. Like somebody flipped a switch.”

Still, he’s determined to give it one more shot.

“I just think you still need to have something to keep you going,” he said. “I’m hopeful that at the end of this surgery that I’m going to feel fit enough and good enough about my game that I’d still want to go out and play some more. I do miss it. That competition is great out there. I certainly miss the money, too. ... I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to come back.”

Nielsen knows the challenge will be great. He said four players on the Champions Tour have had right knee replacements, but none have ever had their left knee replaced and come back to play.

“It’s probably going to take me a year to rehab this knee and get it back where it needs to be. Not many guys make comebacks at age 61, so my guess is I’m probably done,” he said, “but I’d like to play a few tournaments. I’d love to play four, five, six times a year. Go out there and see the guys and still have something to look forward to.”

Nielsen’s medical disability lasts three years. When he is healthy enough to play, he’ll have to rely on sponsors exemptions and his ability to Monday qualify to get into tournaments.

Nielsen will have surgery in Florida, near his winter home in Palm Beach Gardens. He and his wife, Mary Jo, who are both originally from Iowa, moved south in 2005. But they never stopped calling Western New York home.

“I think when we get down to one house, it’s going to be our Buffalo home,” said Nielsen, who spends a little more than half the year in Florida. “We both really love it here. We raised our kids here. This has really become our home now. We feel very much entrenched in this community.”

His affection for Crag Burn is much the same.

“There’s still a vitality about this place that excites me. I just love being around here,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of great friends here, and I really enjoy meeting some of the new guys, especially the younger kids. They take me all the way to those back tees: ‘Let’s go pro, see what you got.’ A 60-year-old guy playing with some 25-year-old kids, but it’s fun.”• Western New York PGA professionals Dwayne Randall (Peek n’ Peak), Steve Barber (Locust Hill) and Jason Piurkoski (Webster) failed to make the cut this week at the 46th PGA Professional Championship at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon.

Randall, Barber and Piurkoski were part of a field of 312 professionals from around the country vying for one of the top 20 spots – and the accompanying berth in the PGA Championship in August at Oak Hill that comes with it.

• Local golf news of interest is welcome at the email address below.

email: jskurski@buffnews.com

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Kane is building a career worthy of Hall of Fame

June 25, 2013, 9:59 pm

≫ Next: Tonawanda’s Moore picked for World Games’ U.S. team

≪ Previous: Golf by Jay Skurski: Ailing Nielsen’s not ready to end his Tour career

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Tonawanda’s Moore picked for World Games’ U.S. team

June 26, 2013, 8:20 pm

≫ Next: Draft order set, Sabres have 10 picks

≪ Previous: Kane is building a career worthy of Hall of Fame

Michelle Moore, whose experienced in synchronized swimming began with the Tonawanda and ended up at Stanford University, was among 11 collegiate swimmers who were named to the United States team that will compiete in the World University Games in Kazan, Russia starting next week.

Moore went West to train with the Riverside (Calif.) Aquettes before going to Stanford. She was a senior on the Stanford team which won its seventh national title in March at the U.S. Collegiate Championships. Eight Stanford team members were named to the U.S. squad team for the Games.

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Draft order set, Sabres have 10 picks

June 26, 2013, 8:20 pm

≫ Next: Pillar doubles his fun in Herd win

≪ Previous: Tonawanda’s Moore picked for World Games’ U.S. team

The NHL needed to wait for the Stanley Cup finals to end before officially releasing the draft order. The list is out. Colorado is set to kick things off with the first overall pick Sunday in New Jersey, and the Cup champs in Chicago are scheduled to end the proceedings with selection No. 211.

The Sabres hold 10 picks. They have two selections in each of the first two rounds (Nos. 8, 16, 38 and 52), three picks in the fifth round (129, 130 and 143) and one pick each in rounds three (69), six (159) and seven (189). They do not have a fourth-round pick.

The Sabres won only 21 games last season. They’ve picked nine as their best and will re-broadcast them on MSG.

The two-hour, condensed broadcasts begin at 8 p.m. Monday and will run every week through Aug. 26 on MSG. The games, in order of airing, are: Tampa Bay (played Feb. 26), Florida (Feb. 28), New Jersey (March 2), New York Rangers (March 12), Montreal (March 19), Toronto (March 21), Montreal (March 23), Pittsburgh (April 23) and New York Islanders (April 26).

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