???After years of petitioning by students and community members, the Amherst Pepsi Center will finally be stampeded by a group of Bulls.
???On Tuesday, Athletic Director Warde Manuel announced that Buffalo will be adding Division I men's and women's hockey programs beginning in the fall of 2010.
???"I'm happy to say that Buffalo, which has always been a hockey town, now will have another team on the ice," Manuel said. "It's a great day for this athletics program and this community."
???The two teams will be joining the Hockey East conference, joining the likes of Boston University, Northeastern, New Hampshire and Vermont.
???The announcement came as a surprise to students such as Dick Winters, a junior occupational therapy major. Winters felt that he'd never see a Division I hockey program implemented by Buffalo's athletic department.
???"This is unbelievable," Winters said. "I've been a member of the club team here for three years now and I'm in utter shock."
???The club program, which was created in 1998, has been the only source of collegiate hockey for students on Buffalo's campus thus far.
???Alumni Arena, one of Buffalo's primary sports venues, was not built to support a hockey rink, so Manuel has already arranged a four-year deal with the Amherst Pepsi Center so the teams have a venue close by to play in.
???"The Pepsi Center is literally across the street, so I think it'll be very easy for students to attend games," Manuel said. "It's a win-win situation for everyone."
???Manuel looks at teams like Michigan for insight as to how to run a hockey program. The Wolverines' men's team has won nine NCAA national championships, and reached the "Frozen Four" national semifinals 23 times.
???Due to his previous work with Michigan's athletics department, Manuel believes that the new program will be successful very quickly.
???"I think I'm fortunate to have been able to experience the success of one of the best programs in the nation back at Michigan," Manuel said. "There are definitely a few things I want to implement here as we get the program underway."
???Manuel has also announced that Michigan has accepted an offer to play Buffalo's men's team in two non-conference matchups-one at the Pepsi Center and one in Yost Ice Arena on Michigan's campus.
???"I think that this will definitely bring some attention to our program," Manuel said. "It will definitely get fans in the seats, that's for sure."
???In addition to the announcement of the program, Manuel also announced that former Buffalo Sabres player and current ESPN sportscaster Matthew Barnaby will head the men's team.
???"I cannot wait to lace up my skates and get on the ice with these great young athletes here at UB," Barnaby said. "Hockey is my passion and I think that we can start this program off with a bang, thanks to the hard work of everyone involved."
???In addition, Manuel revealed that another familiar face to the area would coach the women's team. Donald Audette, who played for the Buffalo Sabres from 1990 to 1998, has accepted the job offer.
???"Now people in Buffalo can remember me again," Audette said. "Just because I'm short doesn't mean I can't help youngsters."
???President John B. Simpson explained that he could not be happier for the athletics program and the university community.
???"We have a championship football program, a basketball team that nearly won its respective championship, a women's tennis program that started it all, a rowing team that is one of the best, and now this," Simpson said. "Buffalo fans and people everywhere need to get their popcorn ready."
???Simpson has also offered funds to Manuel so Alumni Arena can accommodate a hockey rink by the 2014 season. While the exact figures are not known, Simpson and Manuel believe the cost will not exceed $8.67 million.
???Since the announcement, students and local high school seniors have come forth, interested in being members of the team.
???"We will begin recruiting this summer and we hope to have a group of great young men and women ready to lace up for our first game," Manuel said.
???As the team begins to form, there are plans to scrimmage against a team of likely talent, the New York Islanders.
???Open tryouts will be announced at a later date.
Additional reporting by Staff Writer Kevin Carney.
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Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
