Mannheim Steamroller

[captainsblog]

It might just be too little too late, but damn was it nice to see. The Sabres, playing before a sold-out home audience, totally pwned the Boston Goons Bruins, the team of bullies who started our early-season slide by running their goalie, Ryan Miller. Not only did the home team beat the Chowds decisively, 6-0, but they stood up for themselves and let the division leaders know they're in for it from here on out.

Yet none of that's the best part of the evening's story. This is:




A group of 65 or so hockey crazed fans from Mannheim, Germany, were headed to see the Sabres play right here in town. This tour all came about as a result of the Sabres’ exhibition game played in Mannheim back on October 4. The Adler Mannheim supporters are especially proud of their own favorite son Jochen Hecht, who found fame and fortune in the NHL with the Sabres, and many locals in Mannheim follow and cheer for the Sabres from afar.

Sadly, Hecht has been out of the lineup with persistent concussion systems. But did that dampen the enthusiasm in der Haus? Read on:

So what was the evening like? A smash hit, judging by the smiles and excitement and reaction of many of the Germans as they left the First Niagara Center after last night’s game.

It's surprisingly common for me to see European tourists checking out our downtown during the workday. Often carrying full packs (likely surprised to find that Amtrak lets them off in the middle of nowhere with noplace to stow their stuff), and always loaded with camerage, they've been drawn to our places in history, architecture and art- and, on the occasional cold Wednesday night, there'll be sport.

This particular bonding experience was completely ground-up and grassroot; nobody from the team or the league engineered it, the way the Bills did a few years back when a secretly sponsored flash mob showed up to "welcome" T.O. at the airport.  Our local tourism people could learn a lot from how this group of true fans came to share their Liebesabre.

I hope I didn't just call them a cabbage.