“It’s really special” | Buffalo Jr. Sabres program continues to grow hockey in Buffalo

As the Junior Sabres continue to produce NHL draft picks, Kaleta said the program’s primary goal is to teach kids how to play the game the right way while instilling the importance of building relationships, hard work and adopting a growth mindset to succeed in hockey and in life. The organization recently created a Mites program and two girls’ teams to continue growing the game in Buffalo, where the former Sabres forward was born and raised.

He’s seen the Western New York area continue to flourish with more and more players while watching the number of Buffalo Jr. Sabres players move on to the next levels of hockey increase.

“It’s something really special and I think it’s only going to get better,” Kaleta said. “And on top of that, I think people don’t really understand how good a job the staff, the people that coach and help and lead the Jr. Sabres, do. For us, it’s not just about creating an elite place to play, an elite place to develop with the resources that we have with Harborcenter, Impact and the Hockey Academy, it’s also about creating fans. … For me, I think back to when I was growing up and some of the cool moments in my life, I kind of want to create that for more kids in our area as well.”

“The group that we have, the staff, the coaches, etc., is a pretty special group that makes this possible.”

When Geary, Costantini, McCarthy, Smith, Vaarwerk and McKenna all took part in the Sabres development camp, Kaleta was extremely proud to see six players who came through the program achieve their dreams. Sabres director of player development Adam Mair commended Kaleta and his staff for helping create these opportunities for young players through the Sabres junior development program.

“It’s incredible. I think it’s a testament to the vision of the Pegula family and the work they’ve done to grow hockey in Buffalo at the grassroots level,” Mair said. “You know, a lot of us have worked with these players. Matt Ellis on the Sabres staff, Tim Kennedy, myself, even Kevyn. So it’s exciting.”