(Amherst, NY) – As one of the Junior Sabres staffers quipped shortly after, “Hallelujah, it’s raining teddy bears.”
Ryan Schmelzer’s goal at the 3:21 of the first period not only got the hosts on the scoreboard first, it also triggered “Teddy Bear Toss” night at the Northtown Center at Amherst. As the Jr. Sabres and Brampton Capitals resumed action, more than 100 bears and other stuffed toys were collected for donation to the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association. More on that below…
The Jr. Sabres came into this game reeling from a four-game losing streak but took advantage of pwoer play opportunities to build their lead. David Seward scored for Buffalo later in the first. Brampton responded with its own power play goal by Troy Crema.
Heading into the second period, Josh Kielich and Chris Luker added two more power play goals to build Buffalo’s lead to 4-1. Shane Bennett added an even strength tally to make it 5-1 before Matt Schwehr responded for Brampton late in the period to make the score 5-2.
The third period was all Jr. Sabres. Kielich and Bennett recorded their second goals of the game while Derek Patterson added a power play tally. The final score, Jr. Sabres 8, Brampton Capitals 2.
Parker Gahagen made 27 saves while Brampton’s Stormer Santana turned aside 49 of 56 shots.
The Jr. Sabres will not return to home ice until after the New Year but they’re not done just yet for Christmas. On Friday, December 23, they travel to Milton to face the Icehawks.
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The teddy bears and other toys collected will be distributed by the Buffalo Sabres Alumni to local needy families just before Christmas.
According to Jr. Sabres and Alumni officials, the toys will be distributed as part of former player and current Buffalo Sabres broadcaster Rob Ray’s annual Christmas Eve morning visit to local families. Working along with members of the Buffalo Police Department, Ray and other Alumni will hand out care packages to local families who would otherwise go without this Holiday Season.
The Jr. Sabres and Alumni Association are grateful to the fans who came out with toys to toss for charity.
