In preparation for the 2012-13 hockey season, the Buffalo Junior Sabres and Jamestown Ironmen of the North American Hockey League will play a two-game home-and-home exhibition series with the first game taking place at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.
The Junior Sabres will host the first game of the series on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Northtown Center in Amherst.
As Junior A programs, these are the top two ranked junior teams in Western New York hockey. As members of different leagues, however, these games will be the only occasions they will face each other this season. The Junior Sabres compete as the only U.S.-based club in the Ontario Junior Hockey League while the Ironmen compete in the U.S.-based NAHL.
"I'm very excited as are our boys to get into game action," said Buffalo Junior Sabres head coach and general manager Michael Peca. "We have had a tremendous buzz around our team all summer and to be this close to the season you can feel that excitement. Getting the chance to play the Jamestown Ironmen will certainly test us and at the same time give our coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate our group in a true game setting. Jamestown always fields a tough group to compete against. It should make for some great hockey."
''The Jamestown Ironmen are very excited to have the opportunity to play a great organization like the Junior Sabres," said Jamestown Ironmen head coach and general manager Dan Daikawa. "We hope that we can build a great relationship and have many good rivalries to come."
The Ironmen open their NAHL regular season on Sept. 12 in Blaine, Minn., and host their home opener on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. against Port Huron, Mich.
Tickets for the exhibition game at the Jamestown Arena are $6 and can be purchased at the Arena Box Office or by calling 484-2624.