Buffalo Blizzard - Misplaced Pages

For snow storms that affected Buffalo, see Lake Storm "Aphid", Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977, and December 2022 North American winter storm.

Buffalo Blizzard

Operated	1992–2001
Arena	The Aud & HSBC Arena
Based in	Buffalo, New York
Colors	blue, purple, black, and white
League	NPSL II
Division Championships	1996–97 & 1997–98

The Buffalo Blizzard was a soccer club that existed from 1992 to 2001 in Buffalo, New York.

History

The team was originally owned by the Knox brothers who owned the Buffalo Sabres at the time, and additionally by the Riches who owned the minor league baseball Buffalo Bisons. During their last five years of existence, the team was owned by John Bellanti who had previously owned the Buffalo Stallions of the original Major Indoor Soccer League.

The team's attendance was always in the top five of the league until its last season, and they had their record high attendance year in 1993–1994 season with an average attendance of 8,435 fans. The major stars of the team were the Pikuzinski brothers, Rudy and Randy, who rank sixth and ninth on the all-time points list. The team colors were blue, purple, black, and white, and the team mascot was a dog Spyke who rode a four-wheeler. The team never won a playoff series.

The NPSL ceased operation in 2001 and several of its remaining teams formed the Major Indoor Soccer League, but the Blizzard declined to participate and folded at that time.

Year-by-year record

Year	GP	W	L	PF	PA	PCT	Finish	Playoffs
1992–93	40	23	17	570	503	.575	3rd Amer	Lost Quarterfinals
1993–94	40	19	21	499	515	.475	3rd Amer	Lost 1st Round
1994–95	40	20	20	579	552	.500	4th Amer	Lost 1st Round
1995–96	40	21	19	562	586	.525	4th Amer	Lost Division Semifinals
1996–97	40	21	19	545	469	.525	1st North	Lost Conference Semifinals
1997–98	40	21	19	495	504	.525	1st North	Lost Conference Semifinals
1998–99	40	22	18	430	510	.550	2nd North	Lost Conference Semifinals
1999-00	44	19	25	495	617	.432	3rd Cent	Did not qualify
2000–01	40	22	18	513	464	.550	2nd Amer	Lost Quarterfinals

Coaches

1992–1994: Trevor Dawkins
1994–1996: Jim May
1996–1997: George Fernandez
1997–1998: Carlos Salguero
1998–1999: Jim May
1999–2001: Paul Kitson

Players

Rudy Pikuzinski 1992-2000
Randy Pikuzinski 1992-2001

Year by year average game attendance

1992/93: 7,068
1993/94: 8,435
1994/95: 7,283
1995/96: 6,364
1996/97: 7,974
1997/98: 7,834
1998/99: 7,068
1999/00: 6,587
2000/01: 4,635

References

Gleason, Bucky (May 22, 1996). "Sabres Founder Seymour Knox Dead at 70". Associated Press. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
"Blizzard Is Bought by Group Led by Bellanti". The Buffalo News. August 21, 1996. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
Bailey, Budd (February 26, 1993). "Blizzard slides past Spirit in overtime Buffalo 2 1/2 behind after 17-14 win". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
Brown, Doug (October 28, 1995). "Spirit's memories of Blizzard consist of embarrassing defeats". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 25, 2021.

v t e National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001)
USSF CSA
Seasons	AISA 1984–85 AISA 1985–86 AISA 1986–87 AISA 1987–88 AISA 1988–89 AISA 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
Clubs	Atlanta Attack Baltimore Blast Baltimore Spirit Buffalo Blizzard Canton Invaders Chicago Power Chicago Shoccers Chicago Vultures Cincinnati Silverbacks Cleveland Crunch Columbus Capitals Columbus Invaders Dayton Dynamo Denver Thunder Detroit Rockers Edmonton Drillers Florida ThunderCats Fort Wayne Flames Harrisburg Heat Hershey Impact Illinois Thunder Indiana Kick Jacksonville Generals Kalamazoo Kangaroos Kansas City Attack Louisville Thunder Memphis Rogues Memphis Storm Milwaukee Wave Montreal Impact New York Kick Philadelphia KiXX St. Louis Ambush Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa Bay Terror Toledo Pride Toronto Shooting Stars Toronto ThunderHawks Tulsa Ambush Wichita Wings

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