Bowman Cup set for Thursday at HSBC
Fourth annual hockey showcase pits Buffalo's best against Rochester's top players

The fourth annual Scotty Bowman Showcase, which pits the best high school junior and senior hockey players from Buffalo against their counterparts from Rochester, will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday at HSBC Arena.

The junior's game will take place at 6 p.m., with the senior's game slated to begin at 8 p.m. The winner of the senior game will be presented the Scotty Bowman Cup, which is from the namesake of the most successful coach in National Hockey League history. Bowman himself will be on hand to present the Cup to the victorious squad.

Players were nominated and rated by a group of area coaches from both cities, based on their play this past season. The final selection for each team was made by the Buffalo Sabres.

The senior team is coached by Grant Ledyard (Buffalo Jr. Sabres), Craig Muni (Buffalo Sabres alumni), Bob Rosen (Williamsville North) and Kyle Pray (Kenmore East). The junior team is coached by Larry Playfair (Buffalo Jr. Sabres), Steve Ferrentino (Cheektowaga) and Pat Fisher (Timon).

Admission for the games and parking will both be free. A High School Battle of the Bands, presented by the Music is Art Foundation, will be added to the festivities this year as well. Six bands, chosen from over 150 Western New York schools, will perform during intermission and in between games. The bands' performances will be broadcast on the videoboard and pumped through the arena's sound system.

The following is a list of Buffalo-area players participating, as of Monday, in each game:

Senior forwards

Jeff Amico (St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute), Eric Bogart (Williamsville East), Joe Karl (Lancaster), Ryan Marko (Sweet Home), Cole Schneider (St. Joe's), Michael Cassidy (Timon), Peter Creighton (Canisius), Kevin English (Jr. Sabres), Nick Melligan (Niagara Wheatfield), Kevin Ogiba (Niagara Wheatfield) and Patrick Sullivan (St. Francis).

Senior defensemen Kyle Agius (Williamsville North), Adam Bobeck (Cheektowaga), Ken Wojnowski (Lancaster), Brandon Broad (Nichols), Kevin Ryan (St. Francis) and J.P. Whitkop (Wheatfield Jr. B).

Senior goalies

Paul Dudish (Lancaster), Mark Goulding (St. Joe's) and Derek Mohney (Jr. Sabres).

Junior forwards

Nick Angelo (Williamsville North), P.J. Brown (Lancaster), Ryan Jaracz (Buffalo Stars Jr. B; Depew resident), Matt Owczarczak (West Seneca West), Brett Rogers (Kenmore East), Ryan White (St. Joe's), Mike Benedict (St. Francis), Anthony Day (St. Francis), Zaid Hussein (Wheatfield Jr. B), Mike Sage (Hamburg), Ryan Stouffer (Jr. Sabres) and Ryan Wagner (Canisius).

Junior defensemen

Marc Benzino (St. Joe's), Steve Cook (Lancaster), Nick Fronczak (Williamsville North), Marcus Grazen (Clarence), Ian Chapman (Wheatfield Jr. B) and Tyler Matecki (St. Francis).

Junior goalies Branden Komm (Williamsville North), John Cullen (Rochester Jr. B) and Eric Terapacki (Canisius).