Sabres ready to get the season started

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Sabres players were back in the arena on Sunday for the first time in 9 months.

Today's practice was just on-ice conditioning and physicals, but they were more ready than ever to get things moving along with the season.

Cody Hodgson who was recently called up from the AMERKS said, "I think we are all excited. For every one of us it's a fresh start, a new beginning to the year. I think everybody is ready for it. You look at the pace out there; it was pretty quick and the guys are looking sharp."

Opening day is on January 20th at the First Niagara Center against the Philadelphia Flyers.

While players are talking about how they would like to start the season, they are also thinking about how they would like to end it.

Steve Ott said, "We want to be ready to go, no one wants to be left in the press box of left behind. We have all kind of committed to each other to be a playoff team and it starts early."

Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff mentioned the excitement of the players at the press conference earlier Sunday. He said, "The guys were at their physicals early; they were supposed to be there at 7:15a.m., and were there at 6:45a.m. So, they were ready to get it done, get it out, and get up here. Everybody is upbeat and positive, and ready to go."

Monday night, training camp is open to the public free of charge.