paragraph_text: Richard Šmehlík (born January 23, 1970) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the fifth round, 97th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

paragraph_text: Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Millar was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 9th round, 225th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft while playing for the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL. After being drafted Millar returned to the Broncos and played another 2 seasons with the team, scoring 77 points in 72 games his final season with the team.

paragraph_text: Jiří Šejba (born July 22, 1962 in Pardubice, Czechoslovakia) is a retired Professional Hockey forward who played 1 season in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres. He is current GKS Tychy coach.

paragraph_text: Timothy L. Connolly (born May 7, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

paragraph_text: In 2006 -- 07, the Senators reached the Stanley Cup Finals after qualifying for the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons. The Senators had a high turn - over of personnel and the disappointment of 2006 to overcome and started the season poorly. Trade rumours swirled around Daniel Alfredsson for most of the last months of 2006. The team lifted itself out of last place in the division to nearly catch the Buffalo Sabres by season's end, placing fourth in the Eastern Conference. The team finished with 105 points, their fourth straight 100 - point season and sixth in the last eight. In the playoffs, Ottawa continued its good play. Led by the 'CASH' line, goaltender Ray Emery, and the strong defence of Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov, the club defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, the second - ranked New Jersey Devils and the top - ranked Buffalo Sabres to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

paragraph_text: Mark McCutcheon (born May 21, 1984, in Ithaca, New York) is an American former professional ice hockey player. Mark is the son of former Buffalo Sabres Associate Coach and former NHL player Brian McCutcheon.

paragraph_text: Matthew B. Davidson (born August 9, 1977 in Flin Flon, Manitoba) is a former National Hockey League right wing. He was drafted in the fourth round, 94th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He currently plays with Frederikshavn Whitehawks of Denmark's Oddset Ligaen.

paragraph_text: Adam Mair (born February 15, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils. He is currently a player development coach for the Buffalo Sabres.

paragraph_text: The 1977–78 AHL season was the 42nd season of the American Hockey League. The season was in jeopardy when the last of the original eight franchises of the "International-American Hockey League", the Rhode Island Reds (previously Providence Reds) folded in the offseason, and the AHL was left with five teams. The league increased its member teams by four, when the North American Hockey League and Southern Hockey Leagues both folded before the 1977–78 season. Two teams joined from the NAHL, and another from the SHL, along with one expansion team.

paragraph_text: Keith Galen Ballard (born November 26, 1982) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who previously played in the National Hockey League with the Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild. He played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) for three seasons. After his freshman year, he was selected 11th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Before he made his NHL debut, he was traded twice – initially to the Colorado Avalanche, then to the Phoenix Coyotes. He played his professional rookie season in 2004–05 with the Coyotes' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies, then debuted with Phoenix the following season. After three years, he was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he spent two seasons before being dealt to Vancouver at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

paragraph_text: Robert George Hess (born May 19, 1955 in Middleton, Nova Scotia) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, and Hartford Whalers. Between 1982 and 1984 Hess played in Switzerland's Nationalliga A for HC Lugano and EHC Kloten.

paragraph_text: The 2018 -- 19 NHL season will be the 102nd season of operation (101st season of play) of the National Hockey League. 31 teams will be competing in an 82 - game regular season. The regular season is scheduled to begin on October 3, 2018, and will end on April 6, 2019. The 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs will then begin a few days afterwards, with the Stanley Cup Finals held in early June.

paragraph_text: Nathan David Gerbe (born July 24, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played with Genève - Servette HC of the National League (NL) and for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League (NHL). At only 5 feet and 4 inches, he is the shortest player in the NHL.

paragraph_text: Paul McIntosh (born March 13, 1953) is a former professional ice hockey player who played 48 games for the Buffalo Sabres in the mid-1970s. After his retirement he coached the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League in the early 1980s, and also served as the team's General Manager for much of the 1990s. He won CHL Executive of the Year in 1998. He is currently the Head Professional scout for the Dallas Stars.

paragraph_text: The 1942–43 AHL season was the seventh season of the American Hockey League. Seven teams played 56 games each in the schedule, while an eighth team, the New Haven Eagles ceased operations 32 games into the season, in January 1943. The Buffalo Bisons won the F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy as the Western Division champions, and their first Calder Cup as league champions.

paragraph_text: The Flying Fathers, a Canadian group of Catholic priests, regularly toured North America playing exhibition hockey games for charity. One of the organization's founders, Les Costello, was a onetime NHL player who was ordained as a priest after retiring from professional hockey. Another prominent exhibition hockey team is the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team, which is composed almost entirely of retired NHL players, the majority of whom (as the name suggests) played at least a portion of their career for the Buffalo Sabres.

paragraph_text: The 1969–70 AHL season was the 34th season of the American Hockey League. Nine teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Montreal Voyageurs became the second Canada-based team in the league, and finished first overall in the regular season. This would be the last season for the Buffalo Bisons in the AHL as the National Hockey League added the Buffalo Sabres who would begin play the next season, the Bisons would go out on top by winning fifth Calder Cup championship.

paragraph_text: Nicholas Baptiste (born August 4, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Baptiste was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round (69th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

paragraph_text: Christopher Ellis Drury (born August 20, 1976) is an American former professional ice hockey player who most recently played with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He currently serves as the assistant general manager for the New York Rangers and as the general manager of their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. Drury is a Hobey Baker Award-winner with Boston University, a Calder Memorial Trophy winner with the Colorado Avalanche, a Stanley Cup champion with the Avalanche, a two-time Olympic silver medalist with the United States and a former captain of the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers. As a child, he also won the Little League Baseball World Series Championship with his hometown team from Trumbull, Connecticut.

paragraph_text: Jake McCabe (born October 12, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Sabres in the 2nd round (44th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Question: When does the new season of the league where most members of the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team are from start?
Answer: October 3, 2018