We first got to know Brian Wheeler back in 2003 when he came over to the Buffalo Sabres after an internship stint at One Bills Drive. Brian was then assigned as the Buffalo Bandits Media Relations guy (The National Lacrosse League Buffalo Bandits are owned by the Sabres). Of course, we were still in media diapers shlepping around for Sportsblast.
For Brian, this was his coming out party too, and handling the Bandits' media duties, did a very capable job. Most importantly, he accommodated us with anything we ever needed, and gave us the same level of respect as he would to national sportswriters for SI or ESPN. Our involvement with the Bandits back then gave us invaluable experience in gathering a sports story, interviewing players and coaches, and conducting ourselves in a media environment.
Gratefully, Brian survived the staffing cuts at the Sabres during the NHL lockout, and after the Sabres came back on the ice he was given broad new duties as Web Content Coordinator, where he also serves as sort of an "in house" reporter for the teams' websites. Check out the Sabres and the Bandits websites. They are polished and professional sites and Brian Wheeler's imprints are all over them.
We see Brian at the morning skates and the games all the time. For us, it is a friendship and a professional association which we hold highly.
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