It is a beautiful day on the western end of New York State.

And hockey is on the minds of over 200 people at the Adams Mark Hotel, as the 37th Annual National Hockey League Booster Club convention is being hosted by the Buffalo Sabres Booster Club.

For nearly four decades, fans from across the United States, Canada, and some from Europe, have gotten together to celebrate the game of hockey, the friendship of fans representing dozens of NHL teams, and the social enjoyment of all that attend.

I, for the past seventeen years, have attended this annual event.  I have had the privilege of meeting thousands of great people, and learning a lot about the game I love from them.  The convention has been a way for fans to know that there are friendly faces when someone makes a road trip to see their team play.  In many cases, in my personal history, it has made a sojurn to see our team play, a little more easier to handle.

Claire and I checked into the Adams Mark today, after a few days visiting friends.  As soon as you get into the hotel, it is like a family reunion.  In many cases, you may not see people any other time in the year except now, it is always such a joy.  There are many people that I know from this, that I absolutely enjoy spending time with.  We can talk about our teams, joke, and engage in friendly banter; the kind that you would have with a mate at a pub or bar.

Tomorrow - we have a trip planned to visit the Erie Canal.  Will talk about that, and some other interesting things tomorrow. 

Gary