AMHERST, N.Y. - Sabres players continuing to practice in Amherst as the team prepares to get ready for a short training camp and the season to begin. Among the notables showing up Friday, goalie Ryan Miller and defenseman Christian Ehrhoff.

Miller was excited to be back on the ice with his teammates. While Miller did not play competitively or overseas during the lockout, he says he has been on the ice since June trying to stay ready.

He expressed how unfortunate it was the NHL lockout had to go so long, and apologized to the fans of the sport.

"I appreciate their patience, I know it's a hard situation," Miller said. "I really still don't even know the right message, because it was just a stupid, useless waste of time. It's sad to see all the pro sports are kind of at that level where basketball went through it, football took it to the wire."

"I think just going out and playing hard hockey is what people appreciate so if we can do that across the league I think we'll be alright," he added.