The year was 2006. It was my sophomore year of college, and for the first time in my life, I had access to Sabres games. Not growing up with cable TV, my hockey access was limited, and thus I was relegated to following Newspaper box scores. I remember vaguely watching the 99 Finals with my dad, but no specific moments from the series.

Then 06 came. I had high speed internet (and the ability to easily find schedules, etc.) for the second year in my life and had watched a handful of games. I settled into Game 1 of the Sabres-Flyers series. I remember vividly Campbell's hit and Briere's overtime goal. I was relegated to watching it in a friends room because my roommate was hogging the TV.

From then on, I was hooked. I've rarely missed a game since then. In 07-08 I missed 9 games. In 08-09, I missed four. This year I have missed zero.


When did you first become a diehard?

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Two things: I went to Pilot Field to watch Game Six on the big screen, and Dave Andreychuk's return to Buffalo. Andreychuk is still my all-time favorite player.

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mechaphil

i was always a fan of buffalo because of my uncle but i never really followed the team. i knew some of the players and watched the 99 finals and all but wasnt really into it. the 05-06 playoffs is when i got into it and bit more and after the lock out is when i came into my own of actually following the team.

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Check out my website: http://www.artistzero.com

"That wasn't very nice...I do believe you killed my hat."

Driver of the FIRE LINDY RUFF Bandwagon since 2008.

1981 or so....orange section...the aud.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

I would stay up late at age six, watching the black and white tv with the sound off so I wouldn't get caught watching the Sabres game in my bedroom. That was 1980. I've watched every game possible, reg season...playoffs. I used to go to about 5-10 games a year in the Aud, mostly with my dad. I went one time to HSBC, just a few months before I moved away. Despite never winning anything through the '80s, I loved watching Mike Ramsey (my favorite Sabre) and Mike Foligno.

I had to go a few years without having access to all games after I moved. Otherwise I don't know of any time that I've been home and not watched the Sabres if they were on/available. Now, with Center Ice and DVR, almost nothing escapes my grasp aside from the DTV/Cablevision bs.

I know there are people on these boards that have been Sabres fans since 1970, so it's strange to me to think about and imagine that there are also people here that have only been fans for a few seasons. It's not a fair thought, but it doesn't seem right that some people can enjoy possibly great things from this team without first having suffered through 10+ seasons of no playoffs or pitiful 1st round losses. I hope that Buffalo could win the Cup before too many old time fans from the '70s die off. They truly deserve some satisfaction for 40 years of loyalty.

born in 1990 into a hockey loving Buffalo suburb family and have been a fan since as long as I can possibly remember.

my ties to the sabres are longer then phils and alexs???????

96-97, they won the division, and i liked their weird goalie. also, the logo. i became hardcore during the 97-98 playoff run. never looked back.

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Well, my family were Bills fans first and Sabres fans never...I, honest to god, got myself into hockey.

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mechaphil

i got myself into hockey, and then got my dad into it.

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Same here. My dad was at the first ever game at Rich Stadium in 1973. My dad and uncle used to go to games at the Aud all the time. I always followed box scores and watched them when my dad did, so you could say I was a fan long before 05-06, but that's the first time I had access to all the games on TV so that's when I really started watching.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I've been going to Sabres games as long as I can remember. I think I just took a liking to hockey right away. It was fun and exciting and I think I've grown as a fan year after year.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

Now, regarding Joshua's fandom, when he's in his 20's recalling how he became a fan, he can say he turned four year old and his birthday present was attending a shutout over the Caps

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mechaphil

When I was living in Hawaii, we visited our family here in Buffalo for Christmas one year. Think it was during the '98-'99 season. My brother and I found ourselves watching several Sabres games while here, despite the fact that no one else in the family was. We managed to get our grandfather watching with us before we left, and got him hooked on the game. Went back to Hawaii, moved to North Carolina after that, and I was unable to catchy any Sabres games for a while.

Moved back up here right before the '05-'06 season, and, well, the rest should be self explanatory.

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Wow, I am fuckin old, this sucks.

Watching the 74-75 and 75-76 seasons in Black and white, I never looked back, the only seasons I've missed actually going to or watching games....90-91 and 03, 04(missed half), 05 and 06.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

honestly, mine is shoot very short

i started as a lukewarm penguins fan for my prelockout days

went to a handful of games, watched others on TV
loved the game
then, i missed it during the lockout

05-06, still penguins for the most part
then, bastille came(06-07)

he got me into hockey, by threatening to remove the team
became a big pens fan, then i went to Montréal, as a replacement team once the pens moved
then, on a very fateful day, 1 July 2007, i decided to be a sabres fan, and have stayed ever since

LETS GO BUFFALO!

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PSA: I am an overly sarcastic person. If you take me at my word, then i will most likely anger and offend you.

For me, I was a Hawks fan when I was a kid. One thing my uncle always said was if I cheer for them, I need a 2nd favorit team, one in the east. I always loved the Sabres games when they'd be shown on TSN, the odd time on CBC. Hearing RJ during TSN sports center the morning after games, the goal horn, the energy of the fans at the aud, Brad May and Patty Lala from 93 against the Bruins.

Today, what used to be my #2, is my #1 and I wouldn't have it any other way. Following this team, there's no need for a #2! Also, I've invested that much time, effort and money into being a Sabres fan over the years, it would cost too much to switch now

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

1997, first season in the arena. I was 6 years old and my dad took me to a game. Have watched/listened to every one since.

Well my dad was a Buffalo sports fan but never huge into hockey, but we followed the Bills and the Sabres through the news casts basically and grandma's paper. I only ever went to one game at HSBC and I never really followed it during the financial days.

Then we move to NC, and during the playoffs of 05-06 they were playing Carolina so me and my dad watched them. After that I started to listen to every game and really follow them. After 7-1-2007 I joined the Message board and found stream sites and watch most every game I can. Now I check the scores on my phone and get the texts from the games.

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This, but not until 1993 for me. The year LaFontaine lost out on the scoring title to some dude named Mario, and Alex Mogilny potted 76.

5 games in the oranges that year, and many more on a 13" black and white TV in my room with 4 miles of tin foil so I could get reception.