Shots From Germany at the O2 World

The O₂ World indoor arena in Berlin Germany might be one of the coolest hockey facilities out there. Completed in 2008, the arena ties together a modern, futuristic feel with the professionalism of the sports and entertainment featured inside. The excitement of events at the arena begins before one even steps foot inside the doors to the atrium. The main plaza out front (pictured below) clashes playfulness and fun with the remnants of the Berlin Wall that still stand adjacent to the arena.

The O₂ World indoor arena in the Friedrichshain neighborhood of Berlin, Germany.
(Photo: Phil Lucsok)

The photo above shows the more than 300,000 LED clusters the O₂ World arena is equipped with.  They are mounted on a 12 meter (39 foot) high and approximately 120 meter (390 foot) wide section of the semicircular glass facade surrounding the front 105° of the building.  The LED's allow for letters to scroll across forming words that can be seen from a distance.  This is something along the same concept of the ribbon board that Terry Pegula added to the front of the First Niagara Center that can be seen as you walk down Washington Street.  But this might be an area of the renovation where Mr. Pegula did not go "all out."  The First Niagara Center's ribbon board doesn't even compare to the sheer magnitude of the O₂ World's ribbon board boards.  C'mon Terry... what were you thinking?

The ice is resurfaced in preparation for the teams to warm-up.
(Photo: Phil Lucsok)

This hot and cold lighting scheme gets me pumped and relaxed for the sliding of the rubber disc, aka hockey, that is about to take place.

The teams carry out their warm-up routines prior to the start of the game.
(Photo: Phil Lucsok)

Here is your broadcast view taken from the team bench side in the aisle between sections 403 & 404.  The arena seats roughly 17,000 people.  The ice was fitted out with the 2011 NHL Premiere Series logo in the center as well as the NHL Face-off logos just inside the blue lines.  Although the players were unsure about the goaltender's trapezoid for their pre-season game in Mannheim, it was indeed in place for their regular season contests.  This rink is actually the real NHL dimensions, unlike the international rink the Sabres played on in Mannheim.

Opening face-off between the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings.
(Photo: Phil Lucsok)

There is our favorite rookie Luke Adam leaning into the opening face-off getting game two overseas underway for the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings.  It would be the second and final game for each team in the 2011 NHL Premiere Series.  If anyone has a Sabres jersey in need of a name on the back who hasn't already dedicated the space to Christian Ehrhoff, I would say this Luke kid should be a solid candidate worthy of your jersey's naming rights. 

The jumbo-tron shows Buffalo's two-goal lead with 11:50 left in the second period.
(Photo: Phil Lucsok)

The Sabres jumped out to a two-goal lead when Luke Adam scored twice in just over two minutes.  Luke has played strong in his first two games this season tallying four points (2G, 2A) while playing on Buffalo's top line alongside Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville.  Although Jochen Hecht is close to returning to the ice from his concussion, Lindy Ruff said it won't be Adam who sits when Hecht is ready to play.  "I’d say right now it’s pretty tough to take Luke out of the lineup," Ruff said.  "He’s played well.  We’ve played him there the last few games, and we got a good response.  It’s given us a good offensive line.  There’s no reason to change that."

Phil Lucsok enjoying an adult beverage for all of us Sabres supporters back here in Buffalo.
(Who gets this photo credit?)

There is our buddy Phil who I would like to thank for taking the time to forward these remarkable pictures my way.  Phil is lucky enough to have known me since I was small enough for him to wrestle me to the floor with little to no effort.  Cheers man.  Go Sabres.  Keep up the relentless Sabres pride over there in Germany.

The Buffalo Sabres will return to the ice this Friday for their home opener.  The Carolina Hurricanes will be in town for a 7:30pm EST puck-drop.  See you there Sabres fans.