The Sabres on Thursday held their inaugural practice at the $200M HarborCenter facility, completing the "second of two major goals" for the mixed-use development, according to John Vogl of the BUFFALO NEWS. Sabres Owner Terry Pegula envisioned HarborCenter "making Buffalo a hockey destination while giving his team a close place to practice when First Niagara Center is in use." The facility already has "hosted youth tournaments, college games and landed world championships." The Sabres moved their practice HarborCenter "after a concert bumped them across the street." Sabres RW Drew Stafford said, “This is phenomenal in here. Looking out some of those windows with a different view, it’s pretty cool.” RW Patrik Kaleta added, "This place is pretty unbelievable. To have that in our backyard is something special and an asset to us a team and us as a community.” Sabres VP/Hockey-Related Business Joe Battista: "You walk around here just with a gleam in your eye. You saw pictures of it years ago when it was just a concept. Now it's come to fruition." But Vogl notes there is "still work to be done." The walkway that will "connect First Niagara Center to HarborCenter ... needs to be completed." Sabres D Josh Gorges: "They did a great job with this facility." Vogl notes the Sabres "won't need HarborCenter often because First Niagra Center isn't as booked as arenas in bigger cities" (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/19).
