2014-15 UB Bulls Men’s Basketball schedule

credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Salvatore Vuono

The UB Bulls, under head coach Bobby Hurley, play their home games at Alumni Arena on UB’s North Campus in Amherst (my alma mater!) .

• Thursday, November 6^th – at home against Wheeling Jesuit (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, November 14^th – at home against South Dakota State (7:30 p.m. tip-off)
• Sunday, November 16^th – on the road against Kentucky at the Cawood Ledford Classic (noon tip-off)
• Tuesday, November 18^th – on the road against Texas-Arlington at the Cawood Ledford Classic (8 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, November 21^st – on the road hosting Montana State at the Cawood Ledford Classic (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Tuesday, November 25^th – on the road against Grand Canyon at the Cawood Ledford Classic (9 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, November 29^th – at the First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo against Canisius (4:15 p.m. tip-off)
• Wednesday, December 3^rd – on the road against St. Bonaventure (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Sunday, December 7^th – on the road against Robert Morris (1 p.m. tip-off)
• Tuesday, December 16^th – at home against Drexel (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, December 19^th – at home against Niagara (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Sunday, December 28^th – on the road against Wisconsin (TBD)
• Tuesday, December 30^th – on the road against Binghamton (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, January 3^rd – at home against Cornell (3 p.m. tip-off)
• Wednesday, January 7^th – on the road against Miami (Ohio) (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, January 10^th – on the road against Western Michigan (TBD)
• Wednesday, January 14^th – at home against Northern Illinois (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, January 17^th – at home against Miami (Ohio) (3 p.m. tip-off)
• Wednesday, January 21^st – on the road against Central Michigan (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, January 24^th – on the road against Ohio (TBD)
• Tuesday, January 27^th – at home against Western Michigan (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, January 31^st – at home against Kent State (2 p.m. tip-off)
• Wednesday, February 4^th – on the road against Ball State (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, February 7^th – on the road against Akron (TBD)
• Tuesday, February 10^th – at home against Toledo (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, February 14^th – at home against Central Michigan (2 p.m. tip-off)
• Wednesday, February 18^th – on the road against Eastern Michigan (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, February 21^st – on the road against Bowling Green (2 p.m. tip-off)
• Tuesday, February 24^th – at home against Akron (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, February 28^th – on the road against Kent State (TBD)
• Tuesday, March 3^rd – at home against Ohio (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, March 6^th – at home against Bowling Green (7 p.m. tip-off)

Learn more about the UB Bulls at www.ubbulls.com. 

2014-15 Niagara University Purple Eagles Men’s Basketball schedule

credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Salvatore Vuono

The Purple Eagles play at the Gallagher Center on campus in Lewiston – the season kicks off on Monday, November 3^rd.

• Monday, November 3^rd – at home against Roberts Wesleyan (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, November 14^th – on the road against Pitt (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Thursday, November 20^th – on the road against St. Peter’s (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, November 22^nd – at home against Hartford (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, November 29^th – at the First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo for the Big 4 Classic against St. Bonaventure (2 p.m. tip-off)
• Tuesday, December 2^nd – on the road against St. John’s (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, December 6^th – at home against Canisius (3 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, December 13^th – on the road against Davidson (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, December 19^th – on the road against UB at Alumni Arena in Amherst (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Tuesday, December 23^rd – at home against Arkansas State (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Tuesday, December 30^th – at home against Albany (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, January 2^nd – at home against Manhattan (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Sunday, January 4^th – at home against Monmouth (2 p.m. tip-off)
• Thursday, January 8^th – on the road against Siena (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, January 10^th – on the road against Manhattan (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Tuesday, January 13^th – at home against Penn (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, January 16^th – at home against Iona (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Sunday, January 18^th – at home against Siena (2 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, January 23^rd – on the road against Monmouth (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Sunday, January 25^th – on the road against Iona (TBD)
• Friday, January 30^th – at home against Marist (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Sunday, February 1^st – at home against Quinnipiac (2 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, February 6^th – on the road against Marist (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Sunday, February 8^th – on the road against Quinnipiac (1 p.m. tip-off)
• Friday, February 13^th – at home against St. Peter’s (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Sunday, February 15^th – at home against Rider (2 p.m. tip-off)
• Thursday, February 19^th – on the road against Fairfield (7 p.m. tip-off)
• Saturday, February 21^st – on the road against Rider (2 p.m. tip-off)
• Tuesday, February 24^th – on the road against Canisius at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo (8 p.m. tip-off)
• Sunday, March 1^st – at home against Fairfield (2 p.m. tip-off)

Get more information about the Purple Eagles at www.purpleeagles.com.

Five Things to Do in November 2014

credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Naypong

Check out HARBOR CENTER – the Pegulas’ latest addition officially opened on October 30^th, when Tim Hortons opened its doors, and the ice was broken in on October 31^st with the Canisius College/Ohio State game, but there’s plenty going on in November – another Canisius/Ohio game on November 1^st, the HARBOR CENTER Cup U16 and U18 tournaments through November 2^nd and the debut of the Buffalo Junior Sabres on November 4^th.

Get your holiday shopping in gear – before Black Friday, there’s plenty of shopping to be done. Check out the Clarence Holiday Arts and Crafts Show November 1^st and 2^nd, Christmas in the Country at the Hamburg Fairgrounds November 6^th through 9^th and Shea’s Shopping Soiree on November 20^th. Still looking for more? There’s Christmas in Ellicottville November 28^th through 30^th (that’s Black Friday weekend).

Get ready for Santa – yes, Buffalo, it’s that time of year already. Santa arrives at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum on November 29^th, but I’m sure he’ll show up at a mall or two before then.

Visit the Buffalo History Museum – the brand new Tim Russert exhibit is open, and the Museum is hosting the 16^th annual Paint the Town fundraising event on November 6^th. M&T Third Friday takes place November 21^st, and November 28^th is Train Day at the Museum.

Check out the baby giraffe at the Buffalo Zoo – the new cutie and his parents will have some down time while they get adjusted to each other (first-time parents and all), but you’ll be able to see them through the windows of the giraffe house. If you’re a military member, you and up to four guests will be admitted to the Zoo for $5 on November 11^th (Veterans Day).

Purple Mums and a Corpse Flower: A Trip to the Botanical Gardens

One of my favorite places in Buffalo is the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, especially when they’re having a flower show. This time around, the showcase is one of fall’s favorite flowers, the mum.

But there’s a special guest at the mum show.

I didn’t make it to the Gardens while their original corpse flower, Morty, was in bloom in August (read about it here), I did get a chance to see Morty’s sibling – I’ll call it Morticia, because that’s what I voted for in the “name the new corpse flower” contest the Gardens is holding (and because I’m all about the Addams Family).

The Gardens purchased three corpse flower tubers in July from a nursery in Massachusetts – Morty has bloomed, while Morticia has a tree-like leaf structure. They only bloom - its stinky flower smells like rotting flesh - once every six to 10 years (that’s probably a good thing). Learn more about the corpse flower in this piece from the Gardens’ website.

Yep, it is that big.

But back to the mums. They’re absolutely beautiful, and the colors are so vibrant (especially the purple ones - my favorite color!). I can’t help but take more pictures than I really should (because then I have to go through and just pick out a few to show you!).

all photos: paulathompsonfreelance.com

2014-15 Niagara University Purple Eagles Hockey schedule

The Niagara Purple Eagles are off to a 0-4 start after losses to Clarkson, St. Lawrence and Robert Morris (two). The Purple Eagles play their home games on campus in Lewiston at Dwyer Arena.

• Friday, October 10^th – hosted Clarkson at Dwyer Arena (lost 1-3)
• Saturday, October 11^th – hosted St. Lawrence at Dwyer Arena (lost 2-10)
• Friday, October 17^th – visited Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pennsylvania (lost 2-5)
• Saturday, October 18^th – hosted Robert Morris at Dwyer Arena (lost 1-4)
• Friday and Saturday, October 24^th and 25^th – at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana (7:35 p.m. face-off Friday, 7 p.m. face-off Saturday)
• Friday and Saturday, October 31^st and November 1^st – at home against AIC (7 p.m. face-off Friday, 4 p.m. face-off Saturday)
• Friday and Saturday, November 7^th and 8^th – at Bentley in Waltham, Massachusetts (7:05 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, November 21^st and 22^nd – at home against Army (7:05 p.m. face-off Friday, 7 p.m. face-off Saturday)
• Friday and Saturday, December 5^th and 6^th – at home against Holy Cross (7:05 p.m. face-off Friday, 7 p.m. face-off Saturday)
• Friday, December 12^th – at RIT in Rochester (7 p.m. face-off)
• Saturday, December 13^th – at home against RIT (7:05 p.m. face-off)
• Friday and Saturday, January 2^nd and 3^rd – at Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Connecticut (7:05 p.m. face-off Thursday, 7 p.m. face-off Friday)
• Friday and Saturday, January 9^th and 10^th – at Air Force at the USAF Academy in Colorado (9 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, January 16^th and 17^th – at North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota (7 p.m. face-off both games)
• Thursday and Saturday, January 22^nd and 24^th – at home against Canisius (7:05 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, January 30^th and 31^st – at Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts (7 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday, February 6^th – at home against RIT (7 p.m. face-off)
• Saturday, February 7^th – at RIT in Rochester (7:05 p.m. face-off)
• Friday and Saturday, February 13^th and 14^th – at Mercyhurst in Erie, Pennsylvania (7 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, February 20^th and 21^st – at home against Army (7 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday, February 27^th – at home against Robert Morris (7 p.m. face-off)
• Saturday, February 28^th – at Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pennsylvania (7 p.m. face-off)

Get more information about the Purple Eagles at www.purpleeagles.com.

2014-15 Canisius College Golden Griffins Hockey schedule

The Canisius Golden Griffins men’s hockey team is off to a 2-2 start after series with Western Michigan and Army. The team opens up the HARBOR CENTER main rink Friday and Saturday, October 31^st and November 1^st against Ohio State; HARBOR CENTER will serve as the Griffs’ home rink beginning this season.

• Friday and Saturday, October 10^th and 11^th – hosted Western Michigan at the First Niagara Center (won 4-2 and lost 1-4)
• Friday and Saturday, October 17^th and 18^th – visited Army at West Point (won 6-4 and lost 0-3)
• Friday and Saturday, October 24^th and 25^th – at AIC in Springfield, Massachusetts (7:05 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, October 31^st and November 1^st – at home against Ohio State (7:35 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, November 7^th and 8^th – at Sacred Heart in Milford, Connecticut (7:05 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, November 14^th and 15^th – at home against RIT (7:35 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday, November 21^st – at Mercyhurst in Erie, Pennsylvania (7:05 p.m. face-off)
• Saturday, November 22^nd – at home against Mercyhurst (7:35 p.m. face-off)
• Friday and Saturday, November 28^th and 29^th – at home against Air Force (2:05 p.m. face-off Friday, 7:35 p.m. face-off Saturday)
• Friday and Saturday, December 5^th and 6^th – at home against AIC (7:35 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, January 2^nd and 3^rd – at Maine in Orono, Maine (7:05 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, January 9^th and 10^th – at home against Holly Cross (11:05 a.m. face-off Friday, 7:35 p.m. face-off Saturday)
• Friday and Saturday, January 16^th and 17^th – at home against Bentley (7:35 p.m. face-off both games)
• Thursday and Saturday, January 22^nd and 24^th – at Dwyer Arena in Lewiston against Niagara (7:05 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, February 6^th and 7^th – at Robert Morris in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (7:05 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday and Saturday, February 13^th and 14^th – at home against Army (7:35 p.m. face-off both games)
• Friday, February 20^th – at Mercyhurst in Erie, Pennsylvania (7:05 p.m. face-off)
• Saturday, February 21^st – at home against Mercyhurst (7:35 p.m. face-off)
• Friday and Saturday, February 27^th and 28^th – at Air Force at the USAF Academy in Colorado (9:05 p.m. face-off Friday, 7:05 p.m. face-off Saturday)

Get more information about the Golden Griffins at www.gogriffs.com.

Reinvention…Buffalo Sports Style

Once again, Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs – and ex-pats around the country and the world, for that matter – are basking in the glow of Pegula-mania. Terry and Kim Pegula , owners of the Sabres for a few years now, now own the Bills as well, and in essence become the most powerful couple in Buffalo.

credit: bills-backers.com/97Rock.com

This is not a bad thing.

The Pegulas, the Sabres and the Bills are all a vital part of the reinvention of Buffalo: the city is changing, growing, rebuilding – and so are our sports teams. Reinvention, growth, change, constructions – they all come with some growing pains, and it can take what seems like a long time, but it can all be worth it in the end.

The Pegulas share a vision with many of us for Buffalo, and they have shown their love for the Queen City by creating: jobs, revenue, places to go and things to do. They are also the epitome of the Buffalo dream: start small, work hard, become successful. They’ve become successful enough that they’re now trying to help our area recognize a couple of other dreams: championships for out hockey and football teams.

In Buffalo, we’re used to rough rides, be it in sports, the weather or the economy. But we get through it, and we’re stronger for it. Some people refer to Buffalo as a drinking town with a sports problem – if that’s the case, raise your glass to the Pegulas, sit back, strap in and enjoy the bumpy ride.