My introduction to the world of hockey did not begin until the late 1990s. After watching a few NHL games on TV, I found that I was finally impressed with a sport! I spent a few months following various teams, and eventually settled on the Buffalo Sabres as "my team." The televised games and relatively close proximity played important roles, but it was the actual players who drew me in. Besides, what other professional sports team has a better named head coach than Lindy Ruff?!

As any Sabres fan knows, the seasons between 2000 and 2004 were pretty rough. I was never happy to see the team lose, yet I genuinely enjoyed watching and learning about the game. There are many subtle parts of hockey that make it such an interesting sport to watch, even when your team is losing. I think that my choice to become a Sabres fan when the team was struggling made me an even more dedicated fan. Wins were incredibly meaningful when they came around once in a while, yet I still found ways to look on the bright side.

Being a fan of the Buffalo Sabres is not just a half-hearted attempt to join the bandwagon. From the few games I have been able to attend, it has been obvious how dedicated each and every fan is to the team. I have not only been impressed with the way the team has transformed over the years, but I also admire how one hockey team can bring so many people together. I have watched the Sabres suffer through painful and hopeless seasons, all the while knowing that they are THE team. Perhaps the Stanley Cup has not found its way to the city of Buffalo, yet the greatest prize is to stand behind a team filled with determination, strength, and passion.