Oct 21, 2009: Sunrise, FL, USA: Buffalo Sabres left wing Thomas Vanek (26) and Florida Panthers defenseman Bryan McCabe (24) both battle for a lose puck at the...

Apr 11, 2009; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Thomas Vanek (26) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins in the first period at the...

Austrian sports stars

We salute Bruno's Austrian sporting compatriots

Thomas Vanek

BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 30: Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres skates during the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on October...

Thomas Vanek, Bruno, and Hermann Maier

Buffalo Sabres' Thomas Vanek,of Austria, holds a towel over his mouth as he leaves the ice after getting hit...

Buffalo Sabres' Thomas Vanek (26), of Austria, celebrates his hat trick with teammates Ales Kotalik (12), of the Czech Republic...

BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 17: Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his second period goal against the Vancouver Canucks on October...

BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 17: Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his second period goal against the Vancouver Canucks on October...

BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 30: Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres jumps into the pile to celebrate the overtime game-winning goal...

L)BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 20: Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his game tying goal late in the third period against...

Buffalo Sabres left winger Thomas Vanek, left, of Austria, re-directs a pass in front of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle...

30 January 2008: Buffalo Sabres forward Thomas Vanek (26) skates in the first period against the Florida Panthers in the Sabre's 1-0...

Thomas Vanek of the Buffalo Sabres chases a flying puck next to goaltender Ryan Milleras they prepare for...

BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 16: Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres squeezes between Patrice Brisebois #71 and goaltender Cristobal Huet #39 of...