In less than three days after being cut by the Buffalo Sabres, Tim Conboy was finally on the ice for the first time as a Portland Pirate as they held their first official practice at Portland Ice Arena.

Of course, who knew the way to Portland from Buffalo, NY included a stop in Minnesota.

Conboy, who hails from Farmington, MN, flew from Buffalo to retrieve his belongings along with his car before making the nearly 1500 mile trek across two time zones to Portland.

“It’s was long drive,” he said of the virtually 30 hour drive, “but now that I’m here it nice that I can focus on hockey.”

He certainly won’t have to wait very long as the Pirates jump into game action with a preseason game on Tuesday in Nashua, NH before opening their regular season at the Civic Center on Saturday against the Manchester Monarchs.

“For me, it’s my seventh year (playing), so I’m used to it,” Conboy said. “This is part of playing in this league, adapting, so this is a good way to do it off the bat.”

Conboy, 28, was drafted by the San Jose Sharks, and spent two seasons with their former farm team in Cleveland before moving on to the Carolina Hurricanes organization where he spent four seasons, splitting time between the NHL and Albany of the American Hockey League.

During his time in Carolina and Albany, Conboy split time on a regular basis between his natural position as a defenseman and at right wing, although, he does have a preference.

“If it keeps me in the NHL I don’t mind playing forward, but if I’m going to play (in Portland) I’d prefer to play defense,” said Conboy. “I have no problem going up front, but if I could choose I’d rather play defense.”

Leaving Carolina was difficult decision for Conboy, but was one that he felt he need to make, if he wanted to have any chance of making an impact and sticking in the NHL. Watching what Cody McCormick did last season didn’t hurt either.

“Carolina was great for me and I owe everything I have to them,” Conboy said. “They gave me my chance to play in the NHL, at the same time it’s a business. It was just time to move on and try to make a name for myself somewhere else.”

Joining the Sabres organization meant cagey veteran would inundated with questions about his past rough ups with Sabres prospect and potentially former Pirate forward Nathan Gerbe.

In Feb. ’09, Conboy and Gerbe were involved in an on-ice altercation that led to Gerbe’s ejection from the game, and Conboy’s earning a four-game suspension for his action.

Despite the outcome, Conboy, who said he’s not changing the way he’s going to play the game, felt that both he and Gerbe were able to patch things out and move on with their careers.

“Now that I’ve been suspended a couple times, I kind of know that I need not cross over that line, but I’ve never changed the way I play and I never will,” he said. “During training camp, we had breakfast together and hashed things out sort to speak.”

“I mention how bad I felt about (the hit), and (Gerbe) was quick to say that I didn’t have to apologize,” Conboy said. “I think as far I’m concern and I think as far as he’s concerned its water under the bridge.”

Pirates’ head coach Kevin Dineen doesn’t necessarily want Conboy to lose that meat and potatoes style of play, either.

“To a man, everybody that I talk too (in Carolina), talks about what a strong individual he is, and how he brings his game face every time he steps on the ice,” said Dineen. “That’s a good quality to have and why he’s played a significant number of NHL games.”

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The Buffalo Sabres assigned seven players to Portland today, reducing their number down to 26 players in training camp, which includes 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders.

Assigned to Portland are forwards Luke Adam, Paul Byron and Mark Mancari, who first needs to clear waivers first, along with defensemen Drew Schiestel, TJ Brennan and Dennis Persson. Goaltender David Leggio was also assigned to Portland and could get the start in net for the Pirates on Tuesday.

Mark Parrish was released from his tryout, but Regier has said he expects to speak with his agent about signing as a depth player, playing with the Pirates.

Not sent down was goaltender Jhonas Enroth because of a slight groin pull to Patrick Lalime. Ruff said that the injury is improving, but no guarantee was made that Lalime would be ready for opening night, which means Portland could start the season with David Leggio and Alex Petizian, who is currently in Pirates camp on a tryout, as Portland goaltending tandem.

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The Pirates announced today officially that Jason Kilijanski was hired to replace the departure of Kevin Collins, who left for a similar job with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Kilijanski has been working for the last two seasons with the Sabres under current strength and conditioning coach Doug McKenney.

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Pirates’ assistant coach Eric Weinrich was honored today by North Yarmouth Academy as he was inducted into NYA’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Weinrich was the captain of the Boys’ State Championship team and played three years for the University of Maine before moving on to a lengthy career in the NHL.

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The Pirates will practice tomorrow at 10am at Portland Ice Arena. All practices are open to the public.