Hi everyone! Melissa Burgess here – the newest crew member at Die By The Blade. I’m happy to be onboard with the SB Nation and DBTB team, and can’t wait to get started.
I’ve been into hockey for as long as I can remember. I always joke that you can blame my mom, since she’s the one who really got me into it. My first hockey memories are of my family driving downtown to check out the progress on the “new” arena at the time – when I was about five years old.
Some of my other early memories include the old Buffalo Sabres carnivals and getting to meet guys like Dominik Hasek, Michael Peca, Brian Holzinger and Miroslav Satan. I remember the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and meeting then-prospect Vincent Lecavalier the day before. And of course, I remember being in the arena when Derek Plante scored the game-seven, overtime winning goal in the 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Twenty-odd years later, we’ve been through our ups (drafting Jack Eichel, the ’05-’06 playoff run) and downs (the 1998 Cup Final, losing Briere & Drury, etc.). Through it all, my love of the game hasn’t wavered, just changed.
I started writing about the Sabres in 2011 and did it passionately for several years. After taking some time off, I’m ready to get back into it, and I’m so happy Die By The Blade is going to be the venue.
Maybe you already know me; maybe not. Either way, I look forward to writing lots of great stuff and hearing your feedback. Stay tuned for what lies ahead!