PowerPlay Episode Recap #5

January 29th, 2007

Jessica Kindron – West Seneca, NY

The first show back form the All Star break still had high attendance for Sabres’ 2002 1st round draft pick, Daniel Paille. Paille, who’s been playing up from the Rochester Americans for Jochen Hecht and Jiri Novotny, scored his first two goals of the season in January 17th’s game against Boston. The fourth show this season was held at BSG Sports Bar at 2945 Southwestern Boulevard in Orchard Park, NY for the second time this year.

It was a real treat this week getting a dual perspective from Daniel Paille, finding out what the game is like both in Buffalo and in Rochester. One of the first things that Jeremy mentioned was that Dan was the last player cut and sent back down to Rochester for Opening Day. Paille explained that “it’s just something that a player in [his] position at that time has to accept and move on.” He also pointed out that both teams are first place teams, but when asked what the difference between the two teams, Dan stated, “speed is definitely a factor, it is a lot faster being in the NHL.” Jeremy found in an OHL Coaches Poll that Daniel Paille was voted the Hardest Worker, Best Body Checker, and the Best Defensive Forward. These are great assets to a good work ethic but Paille says he doesn’t have the best skill, and he would like to improve his shot.

This week, moving into the Gauntlet, Daniel Paille didn’t know what he was in for. Starting off with easy questions about his favorite television show, Dan said he liked The Simpsons and admitted to watching some soap operas. Growing up in Welland, Ontario, he mentioned that he also grew up a Buffalo Bills fan. Jeremy then gave him the tough question: “Spell Afinogenov,” to which Paille replied “A-F-I-N-O-G-A-N-O-V,” off by one letter. If he were a flavor of pie, he said he would be apple, to which Jeremy asked if there were ever any jokes in Canada along the lines of “Would you like some pie, eh?” Dan amusingly responded, “I’ve never heard any pie jokes; I mean you’ve got a lot of people that are Paille’s in my area.” After going through some very intriguing questions, Jeremy concluded the Gauntlet asking Dan of any future plans for a big trip, and he said he’d like to go to Greece this summer.

The young fans had some brutal questions to ask Daniel Paille. They started off lightly asking questions about his dream car, which happens to be a Dodge Viper, and he explained the different sports he played growing up. But Sabres fans don’t joke around, a young man stepped up to the mike and boldly asked “I want to know why you can’t hold it in the third period?” After the laughter died down from the crowd, Paille responded, “I don’t know why, sometimes the breaks go the other way, and lately it hasn’t been helping us.” He then caught a few breaks and told us that the Vintage logo has always been his favorite Sabres logo. Things got really harsh at the end when a fan asked, “What were you thinking on the penalty shot, how come you didn’t deek,” referring to his missed penalty shot in the January 26th game in Columbus, OH. He simply said “I was gonna deek but I was going in and sometimes I like to shoot. So I saw an opening and I hit the cross bar, so it’s not like I didn’t hit the net.”

Daniel Paille did a great job standing up to the pressures he had to face at BSG Sports Bar this Monday night. He maintained a very comfortable and light-hearted attitude through the entire show. This show will air on Saturday February 10, 2007 at 6pm on myTV 49 or Cable 8. Please join us for the next taping of PowerPlay at Z’s Pizzeria on 4348 Seneca St. on February 8th at 7pm.