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Buffalo Blizzard

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For snow storms that affected Buffalo, see Lake Storm "Aphid", Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977, and December 2022 North American winter storm.
Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
Operated 1992–2001
Arena The Aud & HSBC Arena
Based in Buffalo, New York
Colors blue, purple, black, and white
League NPSL II
Division Championships 1996–97 & 1997–98

The Buffalo Blizzard was a soccer club that existed from 1992 to 2001 in Buffalo, New York.

History

[edit]

The team was originally owned by the Knox brothers who owned the Buffalo Sabres at the time,[1] and additionally by the Riches who owned the minor league baseball Buffalo Bisons. During their last five years of existence, the team was owned by John Bellanti who had previously owned the Buffalo Stallions of the original Major Indoor Soccer League.[2]

The team's attendance was always in the top five of the league until its last season, and they had their record high attendance year in 1993–1994 season with an average attendance of 8,435 fans. The major stars of the team were the Pikuzinski brothers, Rudy and Randy, who rank sixth and ninth on the all-time points list.[3][4] The team colors were blue, purple, black, and white, and the team mascot was a dog Spyke who rode a four-wheeler. The team never won a playoff series.

The NPSL ceased operation in 2001 and several of its remaining teams formed the Major Indoor Soccer League, but the Blizzard declined to participate and folded at that time.

Year-by-year record

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Year GP W L PF PA PCT Finish Playoffs
1992–93 40 23 17 570 503 .575 3rd Amer Lost Quarterfinals
1993–94 40 19 21 499 515 .475 3rd Amer Lost 1st Round
1994–95 40 20 20 579 552 .500 4th Amer Lost 1st Round
1995–96 40 21 19 562 586 .525 4th Amer Lost Division Semifinals
1996–97 40 21 19 545 469 .525 1st North Lost Conference Semifinals
1997–98 40 21 19 495 504 .525 1st North Lost Conference Semifinals
1998–99 40 22 18 430 510 .550 2nd North Lost Conference Semifinals
1999-00 44 19 25 495 617 .432 3rd Cent Did not qualify
2000–01 40 22 18 513 464 .550 2nd Amer Lost Quarterfinals

Coaches

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1992–1994: England Trevor Dawkins
1994–1996: United States Jim May
1996–1997: United States George Fernandez
1997–1998: Argentina Carlos Salguero
1998–1999: United States Jim May
1999–2001: England Paul Kitson

Players

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Year by year average game attendance

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  • 1992/93: 7,068
  • 1993/94: 8,435
  • 1994/95: 7,283
  • 1995/96: 6,364
  • 1996/97: 7,974
  • 1997/98: 7,834
  • 1998/99: 7,068
  • 1999/00: 6,587
  • 2000/01: 4,635

References

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  1. ^ Gleason, Bucky (May 22, 1996). "Sabres Founder Seymour Knox Dead at 70". Associated Press. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "Blizzard Is Bought by Group Led by Bellanti". The Buffalo News. August 21, 1996. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Bailey, Budd (February 26, 1993). "Blizzard slides past Spirit in overtime Buffalo 2 1/2 behind after 17-14 win". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Brown, Doug (October 28, 1995). "Spirit's memories of Blizzard consist of embarrassing defeats". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 25, 2021.


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