By Eileen Buckley
Clarence, NY – The prestigious Stanley Cup was delivered to Western New York on Monday. But it was only here for a few hours,winning it is up to the Buffalo Sabres.
Western New York hockey fans formed a long line inside the Eastern Hills Mall about three hours before the Stanley Cup arrived. Judy Sirianni, general manager of the Mall, said fans didn't seem to mind the wait.
"We have people standing here for over three hours, but they are just so happy to be here and showing their enthusiasm, and cheering. It makes everyone else cheer. It is just a great time for our City," said Sirianni.
The keeper of the Stanley Cup,Mike Bolt is with the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He is traveling with the hockey trophy, visiting all the playoff markets in the United States. But Bolt says he was most impressed with Buffalo's turnout.
"We have a huge turnout here and everywhere we have been in town today you can feel the excitement. I have been to a few other play off markets, but there is nothing like Buffalo right now, it is pretty incredible," said Bolt.
Fans who came to the Mall to get a close up look at the Stanley Cup said it was worth the wait. They even believe it might lift what some consider a curse for Buffalo's sports teams. Fans are still having a tough time with the "no goal" controversy. One fan said, "I think it might actually be their year for once, because we got cheated several years ago when a player's skate was in the crease,"
Another fan said "historically the best teams to win the cup are the ones that have the best team action, and our team is actually playing together, they are firing on all cylinders. So we have just as much of a chance as anyone else to win the Cup."
Many fans say they hope the Stanley Cup's appearance was a sign of things to come for the Sabres