Penny Rodden of Niagara Falls took first-place honors recently at the RPS Spring Supremacy Powerlifting Championship held in Rochester.

The Lewiston Event Center (formerly Frontier Lanes) is a perfect example of before and after construction work.

An inspiring message runs across the Buffarun Distance Club's website which reads, "I run for others. I run for my family. I run for a challenge. I run for a cure. I run because I can."

HARBORCENTER President John R. Koelmel and Erie Community College President Jack Quinn Jr. have announced a partnership that will make HARBORCENTER the home of ECC Kats hockey, beginning with the 2014-15 season.

Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Club was honored with two national customer service awards at the recent KemperSports national leadership conference.

As more moderate weather arrives across the state, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation welcomes boaters and anglers to take advantage of New York State's abundance of recreational waterways, while encouraging them to take common-sense precautions to stay safe.

For a safe and enjoyable boating season, State Parks recommends the following:

Through Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "NY's Open for Fishing & Hunting" initiative, hunters are invited to submit recommendations to regional waterfowl hunter task forces for the dates of the fall 2014 duck hunting seasons by April 4, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens announced Tuesday. DEC will evaluate the task force recommendations in setting waterfowl seasons, which must comply with federal rules.

Auto Collision and Glass Team Redhawks defeated Anzalone Electric Team Hornets 3-2 at Dwyer Arena on March 2.

The N-W Falcons hockey team won the WNY Section VI championship for the third year in a row on Feb. 24. The team is shown at the First Niagara Center after its 3-2 win against Williamsville North.

As part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "NY Open for Fishing and Hunting" initiative, the Angler Achievement Awards Program established a new state record for brook trout, New York State Department of Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens announced.

"Almost 200 entries were submitted into the program in 2013 with more than 75 percent of those qualified under the Catch and Release Category, indicating the sound stewardship ethic of New York's anglers," Martens said. "Not only does the Angler Achievement Awards Program provide deserved recognition to those anglers catching trophy fish, it also provides a useful snapshot of the quality of the state's freshwater fishery."

Niagara Powerlifting Club members Dan Zahno and Nick Figura, both of Ransomville, and Penny Rodden, of Niagara Falls, all did well at the USPA Red Brick Bench Press Championship XI.

The Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame selection committee today announced the induction of Dominik Hasek into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame. Hasek, one of the most prolific goaltenders in NHL history, will be officially inducted as the 42nd member of the Sabres Hall of Fame in a ceremony on March 29, prior to the team's home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at First Niagara Center.

Hasek, who was originally acquired by the Sabres from the Chicago Blackhawks on Aug. 7, 1992, remains one of the most decorated goaltenders in team and league history.

VP and Director of Hockey Nik Fattey has announced the HARBORCENTER 2014-15 youth hockey tournament schedule, which will include 20 new events for boys and girls, mite through midget, at the AAA and AA levels.

"Our tournaments will create a unique and differentiating experience for hockey families from Western New York and beyond," Fattey said. "At the AAA level, we will host some of the best youth teams from around the country and provide a competitive level of hockey that places our events among the best tournaments currently available. For AA teams, we will similarly provide a special high-end opportunity. Our best-in-class facilities, geographic location, amenities and affiliation with the Buffalo Sabres are a major attraction for top teams, providing the region with tens of thousands of visitors each year."

The Buffalo Sabres have announced the 10th annual Scotty Bowman Showcase will take place on Wednesday, April 9, at First Niagara Center. The 2014 Scotty Bowman Showcase consists of three all-star hockey games between players from Buffalo and their rivals from Rochester.

Admission for the games is $5.

The first game will begin at 6 p.m., with high school juniors from the two cities facing off against one another for the Tim Horton Memorial Cup.

Gleason's Gymnastics will host the 33rd annual Niagara Cup Gymnastics Meet beginning Friday, March 7, through Sunday, March 9, at the Koessler Athletic Center at Canisius College. More than 700 gymnasts from across the U.S. and Canada will compete.

The Elite Finals will be Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m., featuring the top 10 finishers in levels 9 and 10 from Friday's competition.

The Grand Island Dance Center's Dance Ensemble had a very full performance season. The last performance of the season was at Niagara University for the halftime show.

HARBORCENTER VP and Director of the Academy of Hockey Kevyn Adams have announced 11 Academy of Hockey development clinics will be offered to travel players at the AAA and AA levels from March 25 through April 12. Included are two sessions dedicated to goaltenders on April 10, and a girl's-only clinic on April 12. All sessions will be at the First Niagara Center.

"We are excited to have this opportunity to jumpstart our programming to support youth hockey development," Adams said.

Can you name the 11 Finger Lakes? How about the six Great Lakes?

The Niagara-Wheatfield boys swim team collected a Niagara Frontier League first place with its 200 medley relay team scoring a time of 1:45.25 at last weekend's NFL meet at Lockport High School.

HARBORCENTER President John R. Koelmel has announced IMPACT Sports Performance will operate HARBORCENTER's 5,000-square-foot, high-performance off-ice training facility.

With the colder, winter temperatures settling into the Western New York atmosphere, Ransomville Speedway continues to prepare for the 2014 season. The Niagara County-based half-mile speed plant will be releasing a monster 2014 schedule within the next few weeks and continues to sign valuable marketing partners that will only enhance Ransomville Speedway's popular Friday racing program.

Tim Hortons, Johnston's Restaurant, Pepsi and Gippster's Collision are officially back in the fold for the upcoming season.

AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram - the world's premier professional snowmobile racing circuit - returns to Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel for two days/nights of high-octane racing action Feb. 7 and 8, with the running of the Seneca Allegany Casino Air Force Snocross.

Ransomville Speedway has announced the return of several sponsors for the 2014 season. With the 14th annual Hangover 150 in the books, Big R has set its sights on preparing for Friday, April 25, and the annual test, tune and time night. The 57th season opener is slated for Friday, May 2.

Mike Greenawalt and Investors Service Company will return for the upcoming season in several capacities.

The Buffalo Stars hockey organization will expand its footprint in the 2014-15 hockey season with the formation of the "Buffalo Stars North" or Niagara Falls Stars.

The Stars will form multiple organization house league teams in the squirt, peewee, bantam and midget levels. In addition, the Stars will offer a beginner/learn to skate hockey program.

Start 'em young and they will never forget. I have several grandsons and only two granddaughters. Of the grandsons, all are hunters or aspiring hunters, some are too young yet, and some just getting into learning.

The Purple Eagles are heading to battle breast cancer in their first "Pink Out" game.

Niagara University's Division I women's lacrosse team will raise money at its game against Detroit Mercy.

The Buffalo Sabres have announced the roster for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 12U hockey team that will compete at the 55th Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament from Feb. 12-23, 2014, at Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec.

The team, created specifically to participate in the annual 11-day tournament held each February in Quebec City, is comprised of players who reside in the Western New York and Central New York regions.

The tournament, commonly referred to as the "Pee-Wee World Championship," is the oldest and most prestigious youth hockey tournament in the world.

The thrills, twists, turns and high speeds in the snow return to Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel Feb. 7 and 8, 2014, with AMSOIL Championship Snocross powered by Ram Truck. The region's newest winter tradition promises to provide fun for the whole family during a two-day, nationally televised event that, last year, saw tens of thousands of fans descend upon the foot of the Allegheny Mountains for nonstop, heart-pumping, action-packed races with the world's best snowmobile athletes.

Niagara-Wheatfield High School's soccer team has one Niagara Frontier League game left before heading into the sectionals.

Dominique Wilkins provided guests at the Niagara Falls Culinary Center with diabetes education and prevention tips.

Into every life a little rain must fall, but for more than 1,400 runners who turned out for the Mighty Niagara Half Marathon and Hospice Dash 5K, that is an understatement.

The Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Club hosted a special event Monday as the Hanes Supply Putting Contest played out on the Creek Road course. The event featured alumni from both the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, including Rene Robert of the Sabres' famed French Connection, plus Bills greats Booker Edgerson, Andre Reed and Lou Piccone.

Last spring, I wrote a story in the Sentinel about the Canadian geese invading our area, coming from the south. Also mentioned was about how loads of these migrating birds have taken up permanent residence in some northern climes and there seems to be more and more each year.

There is a magnificent bird of prey that lives among us, one that's rarely identified by anyone who truly knows what it is. Last June, I received an email from John Eddy, an outdoorsman friend of mine who sent me a link to a video showing an osprey "fishing" for its next meal.

Penalties and poor ball control cost the Bills in the fourth quarter, as New England went on to take the season opener.

In the cool morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 24, a crowd of men and women in military uniforms, hockey fans in jerseys and media with cameras gathered excitedly in one of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station's hangars.

The Niagara Wheatfield Football Booster Club (Niagara Wheatfield Football Families Association) is presently having a fundraiser to raise approximately $10,000 to cover the cost of helmets and uniforms for the high school varsity and junior varsity football teams.

Bass. You can catch them from shore; you can catch them by boat; catch them on live bait; catch them on artificial bait; you can troll for them or still-fish for them and it makes no difference. This summer in Western New York, we have enjoyed some of the best smallmouth bass fishing available anywhere.

The Miracle League of Grand Island and Western New York held another feature game with celebrity buddies.

HARBORcenter President John Koelmel today announced HARBORcenter will be the new home of Canisius College's Division I men's ice hockey program, beginning when the $172 million hockey and entertainment complex is completed in September 2014.