Pro Sports
Related Photos
-
DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Tools
SABRES: Foligno making a name for himself
LEWISTON — Talk about old times.
During Tuesday’s session of Sabres development camp at Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena, a No. 17 jersey with the name Foligno pasted on the back fired a pair of pucks — the first high, the second along the ice — past a befuddled goalie.
If Marcus Foligno can fill the net like that, like his well-known father was known to do, chances are he’ll be in Buffalo sooner than many are predicting.
Truth be told, Foligno is not yet known for lighting the lamp like dad was. When Mike Foligno played for the Sudbury Wolves in the 1970s, he scored 22 goals in his rookie season and 31 the next year. In his final season of major juniors, the elder Foligno led the Ontario Hockey Association in points, edging out Tom McCarthy, Jody Gage, Paul Coffey and teammate Dale Hunter for the league’s top tally.
In two seasons with the same Wolves, Marcus has just 17 goals in 131 games.
Still, between the lineage and size — with his 18th birthday still over a month away, Marcus stands 6-foot-2 and weighs in at 200 pounds — it’s easy to see why the Sabres took a shot at Foligno, who could develop into a powerful force in the future.
“I like to bet on character. I like to bet on genes,” Kevin Devine, the team’s director of the scouting, said earlier this month. “Everything just pointed to him. And then the fact that the name is Foligno was a bonus.”
For now, though, Marcus is simply happy to be learning at the Sabres development camp, making a name for himself in the organization that helped his dad do the same.
“When I first heard my name, the first thing I did was hug all of my family,” the younger Foligno said. “Then I started thinking to myself, wow, to go somewhere I’m so familiar, that’s great. I think my dad was even more excited than I was.”
Foligno is big, and his 96 penalty minutes last season in Sudbury were a significant jump from the 38 he had a year prior, showing Foligno isn’t afraid to mix it up, just like his dad.
But for now, as a fourth-round pick still expected to see plenty of time first in juniors, then in the minors, Foligno has to work on all facets of his game. Camp is the perfect place to do it.
“Getting bigger, stronger and faster is important,” he said. “But it’s things like figuring out how to take an angle on a guy at the blueline that will help me become a better player.”
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
- Pro Sports
-
-
Sabres jolt Lightning, 6-2
The population of Pominville went up a lot Thursday as Jason Pominville scored a hat trick in the Buffalo Sabres' 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
-
BILLS: Gailey not ready to choose starting QB
Don’t expect Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey to choose a starting quarterback anytime soon. Having evaluated the three quarterbacks on his roster, Gailey said Tuesday he anticipates holding an open competition to determine who will win the job.
-
BILLS: Free agent LB Davis signs 2-year deal
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, Andra Davis is an eight-year NFL veteran who was credited with 90 tackles in each of his last two seasons. He also had a career-best 3 1/2 sacks last year.
- SABRES: Harding shines for Wild in 3-2 win Josh Harding didn’t have to wait long for a second chance. A day after giving up five goals in a loss at Detroit, Harding made 43 saves to give the Minnesota Wild a rare road victory, 3-2 over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
-
LACROSSE: Grand opportunity for Kilgour, Bandits
The Buffalo Bandits begin what could be a make or break weekend tonight when they visit first-place rival Toronto Rock at the Air Canada Centre.
-
SABRES: Myers’ 4-point game leads Buffalo over Stars
Rookie defenseman Tyler Myers had a goal and three assists and the Buffalo Sabres reclaimed the top spot in the Northeast Division with a 5-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.
-
BILLS: Schobel still undecided on retirement
Aaron Schobel is in no rush to collect his $2 million roster bonus because the Buffalo Bills defensive end still hasn’t decided on whether he’ll come back for a 10th NFL season.
-
NFL: Bills sign veteran tackle Cornell Green
An expensive steak dinner he couldn't finish and an offer he couldn't refuse were enough to convince veteran offensive tackle Cornell Green to sign with the Buffalo Bills.
-
NHL: Unlikely hero lifts Sabres over Rangers
Patrick Kaleta banked in a rebound off goalie Henrik Lundqvist 2:22 into overtime and the Buffalo Sabres beat the New York Rangers 2-1 on Sunday night to snap an eight-game losing streak on the road.
- SABRES: Connolly scores in OT to end losing streak
- More Pro Sports Headlines
-
