The 2nd annual Buffalo Sabres Prospects Challenge starts today with practices

Although the 2016 World Cup of Hockey is garnering most of the attention of these days, including those of us Buffalo Sabres fans with a keen eye on participants Rasmus Ristolainen, Jake Eichel and Ryan O'Reilly, the NHL hockey season is just around the corner. Training camps around the league begin next week while in Buffalo, the warm-up act begins with the 2nd annual Buffalo Sabres Prospect Challenge as three teams--Buffalo, the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey--ready themselves for an extended weekend of round-robin play to crown this year's champion.

Buffalo won the inaugural tournament last year.

The Prospects Challenge is an event in which youngins from the participating teams have the opportunity to face off against their peers In a live game setting. The Sabres had previously participated in the eight-team Traverse City Tournament hosted by the Detroit Red Wings, but last year they decided to strike out on their own by hosting their own tournament. All Games will be played on HARBORCENTER ice with the cost of admission at $10.

Today teams will hold practice sessions with games beginning tomorrow. The schedule, courtesy of Sabres PR:

Friday, Sept. 16

• Buffalo practice: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• New Jersey practice: 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Boston practice: 3 – 5 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 17

• Buffalo morning skate: 10 – 11 a.m.
• Boston practice: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• New Jersey morning skate: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Buffalo vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 18

• Buffalo practice: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Boston morning skate: 10 – 11 a.m.
• New Jersey morning skate: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Boston vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 19

• Buffalo morning skate: 10 – 11 a.m.
• Boston morning skate: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Buffalo vs. Boston, 7 p.m.

On the 2nd annual Prospects Challenge, Cody Franson and Jack Eichel

With Labor Day weekend close at hand bid adieu to a rather uneventful summer of 2016 and gear up for the beginning of hockey season. The National Hockey League is staging their World Cup of Hockey slated for September 17th to October 1st as two divisions comprised of four teams each will battle it out for "world" supremacy in the game of hockey.

While the biggest and brightest stars will be on display at the WCOH, including a North American team featuring Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews anchoring a 23-and-under squad, various prospect tournaments will be taking place to highlight younger talent not quite at the WCOH-level. Among them is the Traverse City Tournament celebrating its 17th year, a tournament in Coral Springs, Florida and the 2nd annual Buffalo Sabres Prospect Challenge.

The Sabres attended Traverse City from 2011, the off season after Terry Pegula bought the team until 2014. They won the tournament in 2011 and after the NHL lockout scrapped the 2012 tourney, the Sabres found themselves back in the finals dropping the championship game to the host Detroit Red Wings. The 2014 tournament was a disaster for the Sabres featuring this quote from former Buffalo d-man Nikita Zadorov, "Maybe it wasn't our tournament." after the team finished 0-3-1, were outscored a combined 17-6 and scored more than one goal only one time.