Buffalo Sabres acquire Buffalo Regals Tier 1 organization

The Buffalo Sabres recently announced they have acquired the Buffalo Regals Tier I youth hockey organization effective for the 2014-15 season. The Sabres new youth hockey association will play under the highly successful Buffalo Jr. Sabres organization and be housed at the HARBORcenter complex scheduled to open on Sept. 1, 2014. The Sabres will operate teams from the Mite Major level (8 years old) through Midget 18 U and continue to be members of the South-Central (Ontario) Triple A Hockey League and the Tier I Elite League.

The Regals will continue to operate their Tier I organization for the 2013-14 season and their Tier II and House programs will continue to operate as they currently do in future years. The announcement only affects the Tier I portion of the Regals organization. The Regals organization received no payment from the Buffalo Sabres and the Sabres will be responsible for all financial aspects of the Tier I organization after it begins play in 2014.

As part of the arrangement between the two groups, the Buffalo Sabres will work with the Buffalo Regals Tier II and House programs in future years both on and off the ice through youth clinics, coaching clinics and fan development.