Cazenovia Park Hockey Association
Encyclopedia
The Cazenovia Park Youth Hockey Association is a youth hockey organization in South Buffalo, NY. Its teams are named the Cazenovia Chiefs. It offers youth hockey for players ages 4–18. It houses its own "house league" at the mite level, made up of 5 or 6 teams that exclusively play each other and are named after NHL teams (ie the Sabres, Blackhawks, etc). A player is eligible for novice his or her first year at age 4. Mites is for ages 5–8, Squirts is for ages 9–10, Peewees for 11-12, Bantam for 13-14, and Midget for ages 15–18. Each level after mites offers MOHL team(s), which play in different rinks but are not considered "travel teams". Each level other than novice also offers travel teams on a "major, minor" system.
player to sign autographs and skate with fans. These appearances have included Steve Shields
and Brian Holzinger
, among others. In addition, Sabres alumni events have been held at the rink, as well as Sabres practices. The rink is closed following the youth hockey season, and the ice surface is melted down. This is usually around the beginning of April. The rink usually reopens in late August-early September.
currently used at TJB ice rink was formerly used at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
during Buffalo Sabres
games.
Building
The CPYHA is housed in Timothy J. Burvid Ice Rink in South Buffalo, New York. It was previously an outdoor rink, but the current building was constructed around the rink in the 1970s. In the past, the rink has hosted State Championships at various age levels, as well as the occasional appearance by a current Buffalo SabresBuffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
player to sign autographs and skate with fans. These appearances have included Steve Shields
Steve Shields (hockey player)
Steven Charles Shields is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:Shields grew up in North Bay, Ontario playing minor hockey until Bantam with the local Athletics AA program of the NOHA. At age 16, Shields moved to southern Ontario to play for the St. Marys Lincolns...
and Brian Holzinger
Brian Holzinger
Brian Alan Holzinger is a retired American professional ice hockey center. He played in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets.-Playing career:...
, among others. In addition, Sabres alumni events have been held at the rink, as well as Sabres practices. The rink is closed following the youth hockey season, and the ice surface is melted down. This is usually around the beginning of April. The rink usually reopens in late August-early September.
Uniforms
All Cazenovia uniforms other than those of Mite House teams are a Chicago Blackhawks template with Cazenovia's unique logo on the front.Notable alumni
- Patrick KanePatrick KanePatrick Timothy Kane, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . The Blackhawks selected him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Minor and junior:Kane attended the St...
- #1 overall draft pick in the 2007 NHL draft to the Chicago BlackhawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
.Won the Calder Trophy as the leagues top rookie for the 2007-2008 season. Scored the game winnning goal in game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals2010 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 2010 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League season. As the culmination of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia Flyers faced the Western Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks...
to clinch the Cup for the Blackhawks. - Peter RatchukPeter RatchukPeter Ratchuk is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing with Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the National League A in Switzerland...
- Former NHL defenseman for the Florida PanthersFlorida PanthersThe Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
, originally drafted by the Colorado AvalancheColorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
. - Tim Kennedy- NHL draft pick of the Washington CapitalsWashington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
, former player for Michigan State and the Buffalo SabresBuffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
. Currently playing for the Florida PanthersFlorida PanthersThe Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
He made his NHL debut with the Sabres on December 27, 2008. - Michael Ratchuk- younger brother of Peter Ratchuk, NHL draft pick of the Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, former player on Michigan State, and current player on the Syracuse CrunchSyracuse CrunchThe Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
, AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate of the Columbus Blue JacketsColumbus Blue JacketsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Trivia
The ZamboniIce resurfacer
An ice resurfacer is a truck-like vehicle or smaller device used to clean and smooth the surface of an ice rink. The first ice resurfacer was developed by Frank J. Zamboni in 1949 in the city of Paramount, California...
currently used at TJB ice rink was formerly used at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium was an indoor arena in downtown Buffalo, New York. It hosted the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL, the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL, the Buffalo Braves of the NBA, the Buffalo Stallions of MSL, the Buffalo Bandits of MILL, the Buffalo Blizzard of the second NPSL and the Buffalo...
during Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
games.