Buffalo's Captain Clutch: Corinne Buie
February 27, 2018 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)
Buffalo Beauts News Release
As a kid who grew up in Minnesota, the 2018 NWHL All-Star Game was extra special for Buffalo Beauts captain and two-time Isobel Cup champion Corinne Buie. "Oh my gosh it was amazing," Buie said, unable to contain her smile. "Having it be in Minnesota, the Wild partnering with us, I had like 20 people from my family there, my team won, I scored a couple of goals, I won the Shooting Accuracy contest. So really for me, it couldn't have gone any better. It was so nice to be home for the weekend."
Since leaving her home state to attend Providence College and then to play professional hockey in Boston, and now Buffalo, the trips back home usually mean it's some sort of holiday or family gathering. This was a homecoming that had a different feel though, as Buie and the other stars of the NWHL were on display on the ice in the State of Hockey.
"Mainly just for holidays, flights are expensive. I'll go in the spring, or in the summer for my week at the cabin," Buie said. "They're kind of few and far between so when I do get to go there it is pretty special. To be able to play hockey in front of my family, which I don't do often, was amazing."
As mentioned earlier Buie is the captain of the Beauts this season, taking over the C from Emily Pfalzer who stepped away from the NWHL to pursue a gold medal with the USWNT (mission accomplished!). It was an honor that the soon-to-be 26-year-old was most definitely humbled by.
"It's a huge honor," said the only current player to have her name on the Isobel Cup two times. "To be a captain in any professional league is...it kind of blows me away. There are so many leaders on this team as is. It's something that I never really thought about too much, but when it happened I was ready for the opportunity."
"I lead by example, I'm not the loudest one in the room. But I work hard and I'm really committed to the team, and to this league. It's something I was excited about when was announced," Buie added while noting she hadn't been a captain since high school.
Before she hit double digits in age Buie didn't follow much NHL hockey while growing up in Minnesota - falling into that void between the departure of the North Stars to Dallas in 1993 and the arrival of the expansion Wild in 2000. "Marian Gaborik was an electric player, a great skater too," Buie said of her favorite player growing up.
"I have to tell you I wasn't the biggest NHL fan growing up, but when I got to college that's when I really started watching it. Over the years I've become a big fan of the Wild. It was so special that the franchise reached their hand out to the NWHL to host our All-Star Game in their brand new practice facility."
After a slow start to the season, the Beauts are now the hottest team in the league - ripping off eight consecutive wins, which coincides with the team being bought by the Pegula family - and added to their family of sports teams in Buffalo.
"It's been huge for us since they bought the team we've been undefeated," Buie said, unable to conceal her grin. "We have been able to be a little bit more successful because of the support they've given us. We have better pregame meals, meals before we lift, meals after lifts to help us recover. It's those little things that help make life just that much easier for us being professional athletes with having other jobs and traveling from so far away."
Buie works as a barista in a small coffee shop in Buffalo when she's not practicing, playing, or traveling with the Beauts and she's noticed other changes too outside of the confines of the team. "We have some extra marketing, more fans have been in our building (for games), our win streak - more people are hearing about us. It makes our league that much more credible with the support of the Pegulas. Hopefully, other buyers come in and pick up the other teams," she added.
"We have so many different offensive weapons. If somebody doesn't have their best game, we have a few other girls that are going to put some points up," said the Beauts captain proudly. "We don't have to rely on that one player to have a good game, any game. We have so much depth and it's definitely the key to our success; a good offense, good defense, and a top goalie."
Buie came into this season on the heels of scoring one of the most memorable goals in NWHL history at the 2017 Isobel Cup Final, a goal that turned out to be the game-winner. She doesn't lead her team in points or goals but with eight points in 13 games and her team on an eight-game winning streak, she doesn't have to be the go-to player every night, as we touched on earlier.
"I'm growing as a player always. Obviously, you want to score, it's nice to pick up stats and everything. But I'm getting chances and I feel like I have more in me and I'd like to put the puck in the back of the net more," Buie admitted. "I'm not getting down on myself or thinking about it too much - that doesn't help, and our team is winning. That's the most important thing."
If there's one thing we've learned over the course of the NWHL's existence: never count out the Buffalo Beauts. With Buie leading their charge in pursuit of a second consecutive championship it's clear they have one of the most selfless leaders and now the team appears to have been buoyed by the support of the new ownership and city of Buffalo. Also if you're in the city getting coffee and think your barista resembles that All-Star from Minnesota who's a two-time champ, you should probably ask for her autograph
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from February 27, 2018
- Buffalo's Captain Clutch: Corinne Buie - Buffalo Beauts
- Sam Donovan, Brown's Leading Scorer, Joins the Whale - Connecticut Whale
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
