Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Thursday is a big night for longtime Sabres fans, as the team celebrates the 2005-2006 season with much of the players in town for the first time in a decade.
That team is remembered for an electrifying season that brought them just one game away from the Stanley Cup Final.
It was a team that had to build back the passion of Western New York hockey fans after some rough years that included bankruptcy, questions over who would own the team, and a season-long NHL lockout where no games were played.
"When we were in the bankruptcy years we knew that we just had to get back in the playoffs," said JP Dumont, a key member of that team who joined WBEN Thursday morning. "It was tough. We almost moved a few times, I would hear the rumors about bankruptcy and the team was going to move. We didn't know if we were going to finish a season. That was pretty scary."
Fans turned away, but when the team started winning the buzz started to come back.
"You could see it," Dumont said. "You felt it in the city. Going to the grocery store, around everywhere."
Dumont said he could see the parallels to the current Sabres team, which is trying to break a 14 year playoff drought and win back fans.
Tonight's reunion ceremony will begin at around 7:00 before the puck is dropped between the Sabres and Canadiens.
"It's always special coming back to Buffalo and seeing old teammates, but this one's going to be special. All at the same time for one event. That's pretty cool.