Buffalo to Host Fall USA Hockey Event

This fall, the First Niagara Center will host the first ever All-American prospects game. The game will include the top 40 American players eligible for the 2013 NHL entry draft.

This announcement continues the trend of great national and international hockey events coming to the area. Remember that only a short while ago in December 2010, Buffalo was the host city for the World Junior Championships, a tournament between the best NHL prospects in the world. Before that, Buffalo hosted the first ever NHL Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008. What’s next, will we host the Winter Olympics? No, but it is nice to see Western New York getting recognition for being the great sports area that it is.

Back to the tournament this fall, ticket information won’t be released until next month, but when they do I’d get my hands on a pair. They should be relatively inexpensive, and the on-ice display will certainly be a unique one and a chance to see future NHL players born in the U.S.

Here’s Channel 4’s report on the story with interviews: