SABRES SEND FAMILIAR FACES AND BLUE CHIP PROSPECTS TO PORTLAND

BUFFALO, NY – Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have assigned 14 players to the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League.

Assigned to Portland are: forwards Paul Byron, Tyler Ennis, Brad Larsen, Maxime Legault, Mark McCutcheon, Kyle Rank, Travis Turnbull and Derek Whitmore; defensemen T.J. Brennan, Matt Generous, Mike Kostka, Dennis Persson and Drew Schiestel; and goaltender J.P. Lamoureux.

The group includes Sabres first rounders Ennis (26th overall in 2008) and Persson (24th overall in 2006) as well as second round picks Brennan (31st overall in 2007) and Schiestel (59th overall in 2007). Six of the players re-assigned today suited up for the Pirates last season including Rank (44-1-7-8-16), Turnbull (3-0-0-0-5), Whitmore (77-11-11-22-17), Generous (4-1-0-1-13), Kostka (80-4-26-30-33) and Persson (8-0-2-2-6).

In addition, defenseman Ryan Stokes and goaltender Glenn Fisher have both been released from their training camp tryouts. The moves leave the Sabres with 33 players remaining in camp: 19 forwards, 11 defensemen and three goaltenders.

PIRATES 2009 TRAINING CAMP LIST (as of 9-22-09)

2009 Pirates Training Camp begins this Thursday when all players are scheduled arrive for an evening meeting at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. The Pirates first on-ice session will be held Friday (September 25th) at 10 a.m. at the Portland Ice Arena. All training camp practice sessions are open to the public free of charge.
 
The Pirates head into their first pre-season action this Saturday (September 26th) at 5 p.m. when the Lowell Devils visit the Portland Ice Arena. All ages, general admission tickets are only $7 and are available at the Pirates Office (located at 94 Free Street in Portland), by calling (207) 828-4665 ext. 350 or by visiting https://www.formspring.com/forms/Pirates-Exhibition_games.

On Sunday (September 27th) the Pirates travel to Berlin, NH for a matinee exhibition contest against the Manchester Monarchs. The 2 p.m. game will be played at the Notre Dame Arena.

Portland completes the pre-season on Wednesday, September 30th when the University of New Brunswick Reds visit the Portland Ice Arena for a 7 p.m. start. All ages, general admission tickets are only $7 and are available at the Pirates Office (located at 94 Free Street in Portland), by calling (207) 828-4665 ext. 350 or by visiting https://www.formspring.com/forms/Pirates-Exhibition_games.

Pirates 2009-10 Season Ticket Pick-up is now underway at the Pirates Office, located at 94 Free Street. Pirates Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-4:30 p.m. All Season Ticket Holders have until this Thursday (September 24th) to take advantage of a special opportunity to purchase additional game tickets prior to public sale. 2009-10 Pirates regular season tickets and 2010 Time Warner Cable All-Star Classic tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 25th by calling (207) 775-3458, visiting the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office or on-line at portlandpirates.com.

The Pirates open the 2009-2010 American Hockey League regular season with a pair of road games. Saturday, October 3rd the Pirates will be in Springfield to meet the Falcons followed by a Friday, October 9th game against the River Rats in Albany. Both games can be heard live on Atlantic Coast Radio's WLOB 95.5FM/1310AM beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

The Pirates 2009-2010 home opener will take place on Saturday, October 10th when the Providence Bruins visit the CCCC for a 7 p.m. start. Tickets for the home opener, as well as all other Pirates home games at the CCCC, go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 25th by calling (207) 775-3458, visiting the CCCC Box Office or on-line at portlandpirates.com.

Ticket plans for the 2009-2010 season are still available at the Pirates office, located at 94 Free Street in Portland. The Pirates office is open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information about the Pirates 2009-2010 ticket plans and 2010 Time Warner Cable AHL All-Star Classic, visit portlandpirates.com or call (207) 828-4665 Ext. 350 to speak with one of the Pirates account executives.

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