2001 Summer Season Schedule

Sabres Season Record: 12-5-1  (W-L-T) 

Sabres Win the SSHL Mid-Summer Championship!!!

Most Recent Game Summary

Game 15 - August 30, 2001 - vs. Bladerunners
The Sabres moved back into a tie for second place with a decisive win over the Bladerunners, clinching the season series with one more match to go.  Rob Siegel (0-5-5) once again led the team's charge with 5 assists, and offensive weapon Mike Huschle (4-1-5) managed a hattrick on Bladerunner goalie, Carl Azbell (.800 Sv.Pct.).  Greg Nordick (2-1-3) returned to the Sabres lineup with three points and Sean Hastings (1-2-3) showed his two-way play with impressive back checking and three points.  Eric Dock (2-0-2) and Bill McMurtry (1-1-2) each had two points.  Another great showing by the Sabres defensive corps -- Doug Vender (0-1-1), Mark Burack (0-1-1) and talented new defenseman Brian Sherry (0-1-1) -- allowed the offense to get the winning goal less than 3 minutes into the second period.  Goalie Pete Griffith (.900 Sv.Pct.) made 40 saves, including a 20-shot, 3rd period shutout. 
Result: Won 10-5 

(See summaries for previous games below schedule)

Next Game:  Thursday, September 9th at 8:15 pm vs. SpeeDee.  The only meeting of the season between these archrivals is sure to be an all-out battle.  It is no secret that there is no love lost between the two teams. 

Previous Game Summaries

Game 1 - June 5, 2001 - vs. Bladerunners
The Sabres started the season right with a resounding win over the Bladerunners.  Steve Noble (4-3-7) led the offensive charge with seven points with linemates Joel Bines (1-3-4) and Greg Nordick (2-3-5) racking up points against the lackluster Bladerunner defense.  Jeff Hall (3-0-3) notched a natural hattrick with solid two way performances from Jim McAndrew (0-2-0) and Steve Demuth (0-2-0).  Both defensive lines were successful in shutting down the top Bladerunner forwards.  Neal Reik (0-2-0) and Ron Morse (4 PIM) did not allow a single goal and were +6 for the night.  The Sabres led 5-0 going into the third period until the Bladerunners finally scored in the first minute of the period.  But then the high-scoring Sabres offense followed with 5 more goals and the defense only allowed one more goal in the closing minutes of the game.  
Total shots were 38 for the Sabres and 19 for the Bladerunners.
Result: Won 10-2

Game 2 - June 10, 2001 - vs. Texas Tech
The first ever matchup between the Sabres and Texas Tech started out with the Sabres in total control.  After one period, they had the college boys down 3-0.  But then they Red Raiders released their secret weapon, #98 Arthur "chicken" Koop who wound up scoring their first 4 goals almost single-handedly (and assisting on two others for a six point game).  But the scoring line of Greg Nordick (3-3-6), Eric Dock (3-1-4) and Jim McAndrew (1-3-4) matched their one-dimensional attack goal-for-goal.  Tech tied the game midway through the third period on their 3rd powerplay goal of the game and went ahead with less than 4 minutes remaining.  But seconds later, McAndrew scored off a Nordick pass to even the game up.  The Sabres killed off a controversial Texas Tech powerplay for the final 1:45 to secure the tie and remain undefeated. 
 Shots on goal were 29 for the Sabres and 26 for Tech.
Result: Tied 7-7

Game 3 - June 17, 2001 - vs. Sudsuckers
The Sabres maintained their undefeated status with a strong showing against the Sudsuckers who came into the game unbeaten as well.  Jason "bang bang" Maxwell put the Sudsuckers up early in the first period with a low wrist shot through traffic, and carried a 1-0 lead into the second period.  But the Sabres offense ignited with a goal at 10:10 in the 2nd period by Rob Siegel (2-0-2) assisted by Jeff Hall (0-1-1) and new teammate, Dennis McMahon (0-1-1).  Dave Donaghy (1-1-2) gave the Sabres the lead fifteen seconds later with his first goal of the season, assisted by Mike Hamilton (0-1-1) and John Wright (0-2-2) who leads the team in penalty minutes with his aggressive style on the checking line.  Three minutes later, Ron Morse scored the game winner off another Wright helper.  The Sabres continued the onslaught with an insurance goal by Siegel who clearly dominated the offensive charge in his first game back with the team this season.  Hubert Giebel managed to score a late second period breakaway goal for the Sudsuckers, but that would be their last goal of the night, despite the 17 shots they put on goal in the final stanza.  With two minutes to go in the game and down 4-2, the 'Suckers pulled their goalie for a sixth skater, but the two Sabres defensive lines (Neil Reik / Ron Morse and Mark Burack / Doug Vender) and goalie, Pete Griffith shut them down completely.  Captain Joel Bines scored an empty netter at the buzzer to make it a 5-2 final.  Shots were 41 for the Sabres and 35 for the Sudsuckers.
Result: Won 5-2

Game 4 - June 19, 2001 - vs. Maple Leafs
The battle of the two undefeated teams led to an exciting, offense-dominated game in the only meeting this season between the Sabres and the Maple Leafs.  It was also the final game for the Sabres' top scoring center, Steve Noble (1-2-3), who had his #12 jersey retired after the game.  Penalties were a factor with a combined 6 goals scored during a man-advantage situation, and the Sabres point leader, Greg Nordick was hit with a major, minor and a game misconduct all in the same play.  The Sabres also allowed two goals off their own players during the game.  Noble had a goal and two assists as did Jim McAndrew (1-2-3).  Rob Siegel (1-1-2) had another strong game with a goal and an assist, and Eric Dock (2-0-2) scored twice as they led the Sabres back from a 7-4 deficit with less than 6 minutes to go in the game.  Joel Bines (1-0-1) tied the game at 7-7 with about 3 minutes to go.  But at the 1:07 mark, the Leafs capitalized on a breakdown in the Sabres' zone and scored the winning goal to hand the Sabres their first loss.  Total shots were 40 for the Sabres and 38 for the Leafs. 
Result: Loss 8-7

Game 5 - June 26, 2001 - vs. Texas Tech
The Sabres took a spanking to the college boys from Tech led by a 4-goal night from team captain, Joel Bines (4-0-4, PIM:4).  John Wright (2-2-4) also had a strong offensive night with two goals and the other four goals were scored by Steve Demuth (1-2-3), Ron Morse (1-1-2), Eric Dock (1-0-1) and Jim McAndrew (1-0-1).  Backup goalie Michael Lauritzen stood in for starter Pete Griffith, with 15 saves on 20 shots.  The Sabres scored 10 goals on 38 shots.
Result: Won 10-5

Game 6 - July 3, 2001 - vs. Bladerunners
The Sabres demolished the Bladerunners in the first game of the season, but went in overconfident for the second of 4 meetings with the rival team.  It started great with the first two goals scored by defenseman Doug Vender (2-0-2), but the Bladerunners tied it up at the end of the first period.  Then the Bladerunners turned up the pressure with three goals on 20 shots in the second period alone.  Rob Siegel (2-2-4) scored with seconds left in the period.  The onslaught continued in the final period with three more goals by the Bladerunners (six goals were scored by #19 Dan Bourbonras who was clearly their best player).  Greg Nordick (1-0-1) and Siegel added another goal each, but it was too little, too late.  Shots on goal were 37 for the Sabres and 48 for the Sabres.
Result: Lost 8-5

Game 7 - July 9, 2001 - vs. Sudsuckers
New Sabres winger, Ashley Aragona (3-2-5) and veteran Greg Nordick (3-2-5) led an all out frontal attack on the hapless Sudsuckers goalie, Nabu Sedal.  Rob Siegel (2-1-3) added two more goals and gritty 2-way forward John Wright (1-0-1) made it 9-5, Sabres.  Things got ugly at the end, resulting in a game misconduct for Sudsucker defenseman, Josh Kruler who was ejected for a dirty play at the end of the third period.  The Sabres star defenseman, Mark Burak, was injured on the play crashing head first into the boards and leaving the arena with a stiff neck.  He expected to play the next game however.  Total shots were 28 for each team.  
Result: Won 9-5

Game 9 - July 22, 2001 - vs. Bladerunners
The Sabres clinched a playoff berth with a solid win over the Bladerunners in their third meeting this season.  Rob Siegel (5-2-7) led the scoring line with Ashley Aragona (3-3-6) and Scott Robb (1-3-4) for a combined 9 goals and 17 points, including a natural hattrick for Siegel during an eight goal run in the second period.  Steve Demuth (1-0-1) and Neil Reik (1-0-1) also scored for the Sabres.  The Bladerunners actually outshot the Sabres 47 to 45, but goalie Pete Griffith snagged 40 saves to keep the Sabres on top for most of the game.  
Result: Won 11-7

Game 10 - July 24, 2001 - vs. Bladerunners
In the fourth and final meeting of these two rivals in first Summer of the season, the Sabres were plagued with scratches and had to battle with only nine skaters.  Rob Siegel (1-3-4) scored less than a minute into the game, but seconds later the Bladerunners tied it up.  Greg Nordick (4-2-6) who led the offensive charge for the Sabres scored soon afterwards to give the Sabres back a one goal lead.  But in the closing minutes of the first period, the wheels came off for the Sabres as Siegel was penalized 12 minutes leaving the Sabres bench seriously depleted for the rest of the game.  The Bladerunners regained the lead and held on to it despite an eight goal effort by the Sabres.  With two minutes to go in the game, Dennis McMahon (2-1-3) put the Sabres within one goal.  At the 1:00 mark, Sabres goalie, Pete Griffith (28 saves) left the ice for a sixth skater.  Despite putting 7 shots on goal in the last minute, the Sabres were unable to solve Bladerunner goalie, Jez Azbell to force a tie.  The Bladerunners added an empty-net goal at the buzzer to seal the win and even the season series at 2-2-0.
Result: Lost 10-8

Championship Game 1 - July 30, 2001 - vs. Sudsuckers
The Sabres faced off against the first- place Sudsuckers in the first game of the Mid-Summer Championship Series with a nearly full healthy lineup (though team leader Rob Siegel is out for the series).  The Sudsuckers' top defenseman, Jason Maxwell (1-0-1) capitalized on an early turnover early in the game to put his team up 1-0 at 13:11 in the first period.  But Sabres' sniper Ashley Aragona (2-0-2) tied the score off a pass from captain Joel Bines (0-1-1) three minutes later.  On the very next shift, Sabres defenseman Jeff Hall (0-1-1) hit a wide open Dennis McMahon (1-0-1) with a perfect pass, and McMahon made several moves to deke the Sudsucker goalie and put the Sabres ahead by one.  A few minutes into the second period, Sudsucker defenseman Ed Rush (1-0-1) tied it back at two goals each, but at 8:07, Aragona scored the winning goal, assisted by Scott Robb, as the Sabres took the first game in the best of three series.  Both goalies were peppered with shots, as Sabres netminder Pete Griffith (94.4 Sv.%) stopped 34 of 36 shots and Stu Sedal (88.8 Sv.%) stopped 24 of 27 for the Sudsuckers.  
Result: Won 3-2

Championship Game 2 - July 31, 2001 - vs. Sudsuckers
After going ahead 1 game to none in the best-of-three championship series, the Sabres came out of the starting gate at a furious offensive pace, scoring 5 goals on 16 shots in the opening period.  The scoring line of Ashley Aragona (5-2-7), Greg Nordick (2-3-5) and Scott Robb (3-4-7) completely dominated the period, scoring all but one of the Sabres goals -- Dennis McMahon (1-0-1) tapped in a goal off a pass from Eric Dock (0-1-1) and Joel Bines (0-1-1).   The Sudsuckers managed only a single goal in 10 shots, putting them 4 goals down with two periods left to play, thanks to a strong defensive effort by Sabres blueliners, Mark Burack, Jeff Hall, Neil Reik and Doug Vender.  Robb added another goal early in the second period, but the Sudsuckers finally started finding the net with a blitz of 5 goals in the second period, three of which were powerplay goals.  The Sabres maintained the lead with three more goals in the period, which ended in an altercation and roughing penalties, with the Sabres leading 9-6.  Refusing to give up, the Sudsuckers turned up the offensive pressure scoring two goals within 10 seconds early in the final period to put them back within one goal.  But the Sabres defensive corps and goalie, Pete Griffith (28 Saves) clamped down on their attempts to get back into the game, while Robb added an insurance goal with 6 minutes remaining.  When the Sudsuckers pulled their goalie in the final minute, Nordick put the puck in to the empty net sealing the championship for the Sabres.  Total shots on goal were 36 for both teams.
Result: Won 11-8  (Won Series 2-0)

Game 11 - August 5, 2001 - vs. Sudsuckers
For the third consecutive game, and the fifth time this season, the Sabres jumped out early to put the Sudsuckers on their heals.  Despite the 'Suckers signing of premiere sniper Rob Lewis, the Sudsuckers were no match for the new and improved Sabres lineup.  Brian Sherry (1-0-1) opened up the scoring with a goal in his first game off a pass from defenseman Joel Bines (0-1-1) and the Sabres never lost the lead.  Bines teamed up with Mark Burack (0-2-2), Don Castaneda (0-1-1) and new blueliner Corey Candahl as the new Sabres defensive corps.   The Sabres' top offensive threat, Ashley Aragona (6-0-6), then scored twice, followed by goals from newly acquired Jim Christie (2-0-2) and Rob Siegel (2-2-4) to put the Sabres up 5-0 after the first period.  Aragona and Christie scored again in the early minutes of the second period to make it a 7-0 route.  But seconds later, Willy Richardson broke Sabres goalie Pete Griffith's (34 saves) shutout.  By the end of the second period, the Sabres held a commanding 8-2 lead.  Not content with his hattrick, Aragona scored three more for a six-goal night, as the Sabres found the net 11 times on 34 shots.  The Sudsuckers managed 5 goals on 39 shots.  
Result: Won 11-5 

Game 12 - August 12, 2001 - vs. Bladerunners
The Sabres faced the Bladerunners with the season series tied at two games each -- the only team to whom the Sabres have lost more than one game.  It took Alternate Captain (and Star of the Game) Rob Siegel (4-3-7) all of 40 seconds to open up the scoring and start the offensive onslaught that the Bladerunners just couldn't handle.  Bladerunners winger Mark Olvera did manage to tie the game on a miscue by the Sabres powerplay unit at 12:11 in the first period, but two minutes later, new Sabres winger Derek Seal (2-2-4) scored the eventual winning goal as the offense kept the pressure on Bladerunners goalie, Carl Azbell (73.0 SvPct.) the rest of the night.  The Sabres defensive unit of Doug Vender, Mark Burack, Don Castaneda (2 assists, 3 blocked shots), Mike Huschle (1-0-1) and goaltender, Pete Griffith (96.3 SvPct.) clamped down for the fewest goals allowed all season.  Ashley Aragon (3-1-4) recorded his 3rd consecutive hattrick, and new Sabres forwards Sean Hastings (4 assists), Bill McMurtry (2 assists) and Jim Christie (1 goal) provided depth into 3 scoring lines.  Total shots were 37 for the Sabres and 27 for the Bladerunners.
Result: Won 11-1 

Game 13 - August 16, 2001 - vs. Red Bull
The Sabres faced Red Bull, the first of two meetings with this incoming AA team in fast-paced and exciting fashion.  Scott Robb (2-1-3) started the scoring on an unassisted goal 5 minutes into the game to give the Sabres an early one-goal lead.  Turning up the pressure, Red Bull's Richard Sleavir tied it up at one goal each.  Moments later, top Sabres defenseman, Mark Burack (1-0-1) took a a pass from Derek "Deker" Seal (0-2-2) and walked in to put the Sabres back up.  But in the closing minutes of the opening period, Red Bull managed two pucks past goaltender Pete Griffith (31 Saves) to take the 3-2 lead.  In the second period, Don Castaneda's (0-1-1)  breakout pass gave Robb another chance to beat Red Bull goalie, Scott Wheeler (25 Saves) and tied it up again at three goals each.  Red Bull responded with a pair of goals on Sabres turnovers, and Ashley Aragona (1-0-1) brought the Sabres back within one after two periods.  The third period saw 10 different penalties and numerous powerplays for both teams, but both penalty killing units did their job, not allowing a single goal with a man advantage.  Halfway through the final period, Red Bull capitalized on a 3-on-1 to go ahead by two goals, and a final fluke goal that barely trickled across the goal line sealed the fate, as the Sabres lost their first game of the second half season.  Shots were 29 for the Sabres and 38 for Red Bull.
Result: Lost 7-4

Game 13 - August 16, 2001 - vs. Zima
The Sabres had not lost back-to-back games all season going into their first meeting with Zima, after a disappointing loss to Red Bull days before.  Zima jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with some fortunate bounces on off-angled shots.  Midway through the first period, Sean Hastings (1-1-2) put the Sabres on the board on a rebound from shots by Darren Hastings (0-1-1) and Don Castaneda (0-1-1).  With two minutes to go, Sabres defenseman, Mike Huschle (1-0-1) tied it up at two goals each on a powerplay with passes from Rob Siegel (1-1-2) and Derek Seal (0-2-2).  A breakaway in the final 10 seconds of the period gave Zima the lead which they would not give up for the rest of the game.  The only other Sabres score was a late second period goal by Siegel (assisted by Hastings and Seal).  Zima followed that with four unanswered goals and kept the Sabres offense from getting through their tough defense.  Total shots on goal were 24 for the Sabres and 27 for Zima.  
Result: Lost 8-3 

Game 14 - August 23, 2001 - vs. Sudsuckers
The Sabres completed the season sweep of the Sudsuckers winning for the 6th time in a row over this highly touted team.  Unfortunately, they could not dress enough players by game time and had to forfeit.
Result: Won 1-0 (forfeit) 

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