Summer weather, well organized, and polite crowd contributed to an enjoyable event.
Downtown Buffalo – The weather seemed more mid-July than mid-September which meant hydration was important, not only for the tournament players but spectators, event associates, and the Sheriff’s Department whose subtle presence/service was noticed and appreciated.
Entering the Fan Fest itself one of the first attractions was local artist Chad Tingly’s portable “mural” for everyone to paint on but most people just signed their name as did Buffalo Winter. And when the event is over Mr. Tingly will paint in the blank center and the mural will be moved into the arena lobby.
Hockey rinks as far as the eye could see began at Washington St. in front of the arena and continuing down Perry St. past Mississippi St, and with no changing area the sidewalk along the rinks were pretty crowded with players, parents, friends, and family.
One of the better equipped, well organized, brilliantly clad, and enthusiastic youth entries was, “The 1980s” under the guidance of Coach Cal, these players looked sharp and were ready to go.
Traveling from their Nation’s capital the Lumberjacks representing Ottawa in uniforms reminiscent of the 1920s NHL Cup Champion Senators, a couple of their players told me they enjoyed themselves, and that Buffalo was one of the best tournaments they play in.
And when I responded incredulously, “really?” the one player just waved his arm towards the street and said, “Look at how many rinks there are.”
There were many colorful hockey sweaters and games to watch that had dedicated referees, recorded game statistics, and some pretty talented hockey players and not just the men, the boys and girls were also entertaining.
Plenty of things to see and do besides watching street/ball hockey, a well-planned event that you could bring your whole family to enjoy with plenty of kid activities, beverages, hot dog and cheeseburger vendor, a beer garden, music, gaming and autographs, inside and out of the arena.
Buffalo Winter 
Thanks for an entertaining overview of the day.
The smiling faces of those boys in the team photo and the terrific answer you got to your question sums up everything very nicely, imho.
The portable mural is a cool idea, and what an interesting looking man with his streaming blond locks in the first photo.
Psst….Did you sign the mural as Buffalo Winter? 😉
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Good Morning P_g,
Your welcome, I had a nice time and most people responded to me positively, and the streaming blond dude reminded me of Sammy Hagar, a guitarist/rock n roll dude, and yes I did sign as Buffalo Winter!
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I can see why you say that about him. If his hair was black (instead of blond) I would have said he reminded me of ‘Tiny Troy’ in the Head and Shoulders commercials.
I can’t imagine anyone not responding to you positively!
Fyi – I made an announcement today on the island regarding your blog and how to link up to the articles and, if you like, I can do the same each time you write a new one.
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Too funny, I know that commercial.
Not everyone responds positively, I had one player grumble about how much it cost just to play three games, and another player just gave me that “look”, like “What are you talking about?” when I asked him if it was worth it. Only two Negative Nellys while everyone else were enjoying themselves.
Announcement, your funny…thank you, I truly appreciate your efforts but it might be a bit much to do it for each posting (some readers do not need to be relentlessly reminded, lol), how about a subtle nudge every week or so?
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Oy vey, some people need to lighten up and I mean the ones like you describe grumbling or gave a look (back in the day we used to call that giving the ‘evil eye’).
That reminds of another TV commercial, the one with Betty White and the snickers bar (“You’re not you when you’re Hungry” campaign “Better?” “Better”).
A subtle nudge, well said, will do after today, after I link up your most recent. 🙂
Negative Nellys. Debby Downer. Why isn’t there a male equivalent, or is there? LOL
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Some people you just can’t reach…as I am of Italian heritage the evil eye is referred to as “Malocchio”
The Betty White football snickers commercial was hysterical, when she quipped, “that’s not what your girlfriend said”, I almost lost it laughing so hard.
From what I remember there was a character skit on SNL where the young lady was Debby Downer.
So there are also Negative Nelly’s and Nancy’s, I apologize I believe it is only a slight on the fairer sex, although I have read Don Downer but that sort of sounds forced to me, I have also heard people being referred to as a “dark cloud” which is probably the masculine version I suspect.
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LOL
Yes SNL. That’s where I first heard/saw her.
Malocchio: I learn something new everyday! Any guesses which NHL head coach has the most wicked evil eye?
Paper_dude: The Late Pat Burns.
Me: In my time following hockey I’d say: Patrick Roy, or Torts?
Someone else’s take on the “scariest” haha
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1424778-the-20-scariest-coaches-in-nhl-history
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I have observed vicariously that most coaches have some sort of “stare” they use on the bench which might be different than the one they use at the podium while frustrated with the media.
But after boot camp, there are no coaches that could “scare” me, lol.
So I will give the nod to Lindy Ruff, because I have a nice photo of him doing it behind the bench in New Jersey, and even our color commentator Sabres Alumni Rob Ray commented on how he personally has had to endure that look.
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