The Buffalo Shamrocks Hockey Club was founded in 2001 by a group of passionate local hockey leaders who wanted to create a positive, development-focused program for youth in Western New York. The original founding group — Rick Zacher, Mark McDonnell, Tom Harvey, Rob Sanders, and Tom Barnett — established the club with a clear set of guiding principles: sportsmanship, team play, and personal responsibility.

On October 2, 2001, the Shamrocks took the ice for the first time at the Amherst Pepsi Center with just 30 players, marking the beginning of a new hockey home where fun, growth, and respect for the game came first.

Over the years the club has grown significantly, expanding its player base, programs, and coaching resources while maintaining its original mission of nurturing young athletes. Today, the Shamrocks serve hundreds of players with a complete development pathway from Learn to Skate through Bantam and Midget levels, including our growing Lady Rocks girls program and a vibrant in-house Shamrocks Hockey League™.

The club’s founder Tom Barnett continues to be recognized for his commitment to grassroots hockey, receiving USA Hockey’s Wm. Thayer Tutt Award in recognition of his many years of service and dedication to youth hockey development.  Additionally, Tom and the Shamrocks were recognized as the first recipient of the inaugural Mark Messier Youth Leadership Award in 2009, recognizing leadership and contributions to youth hockey development