BUFFALO, N.Y. - While the Sabres prepare for a new season, excitement is building. Meanwhile on the Canisius College campus, excitement is also building.
The campus newspaper is reporting that the Sabres and Canisius have had preliminary talks about partnering up for an arena on campus. A facility that would serve as a home arena for the Golden Griffins and a training facility for the Sabres. Again, discussions have happened according to both college and Sabres officials, but both sides say at this point it is nothing more than that, and they haven't talked about it since June.
With Canisius looking to bolster its hockey program and the demand for ice time up around Western New York, many people beyond campus or at the First Niagara Center are hoping this becomes more than just talks and dreams.
Brad Waltz, who manages rentals at the Northtown Center at Amherst says that prime time at his facility is booked for the season and it is a similar story that he hears from operators of Western New York's other rinks. He says the demand is definitely there for another arena offering one or two pads of ice.