Gathering with friends and strangers to watch a Buffalo Sabres’ opener is a rite of autumn around here. But doing so on a Friday afternoon?
That was cause for celebration and – maybe – playing hooky.
The Sabres got that, sharing on social media this week a suggested note that employers and teachers might receive from the absent on Friday.
“Please excuse _____ from work/school/other non-important obligations on Friday Oct. 4 at 1:00 pm EST so that they can tune in when the Sabres take on the Devils in the NHL Global Series,” the post said, concluding with: “Thank you for your understanding. We cannot promise your student/employee/other will fulfill their duties once the game is over.”
Indeed, as the puck dropped in Prague between Buffalo Sabres center Sam Lafferty and New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier, about 200 people – who maybe were supposed to be somewhere else – gathered in the lobby bar at Seneca One tower to take in the early afternoon game, the first of the NHL season. The Sabres lost to the Devils, 4-1.
“I wanted to be around with other people that were possibly interested in the event, seeing how everybody else’s reaction is to get ready for next week,” said Chris Williams, a financial planner and Sabres season ticket holder, already looking forward to the first game in Buffalo.
Patrons shot pucks at a plastic goalie, bought 50/50 raffle tickets and sipped on beer and seltzers as they awaited the beginning of a promising season, one that could end the team’s 13-season playoff drought, the longest in the league by six seasons.
Sean Heidinger is the director of business development at Douglas Development, the company that owns the building. He said the company decided to host the watch party as a way to continue connecting with nearby businesses and organizations, and the Sabres make perfect sense, with KeyBank Center a short distance from the lobby bar.
“We wanted to find a way to…
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