Education
Vinz attended Clarkson University and attempted to make Clarkson"s ice hockey team as a walk-on but failed to make the cut. Spent most of his time as that team"s video coordinator. He graduated in 2007 with a degree in communications.
Vinz attended Clarkson University and attempted to make Clarkson"s ice hockey team as a walk-on but failed to make the cut. Spent most of his time as that team"s video coordinator. He graduated in 2007 with a degree in communications.
Originally from Lancaster, New York, Vinz last played hockey at a competitive level at Lancaster High School. He was eventually transferred to HARBORcenter (a building project managed by Sabres owner Terrence Pegula) as the project"s technology director On February 28, 2014, the Sabres traded starting goaltender Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott to the Saint Louis Blues in exchange for goaltender Jaroslav Halak and two other players.
The trade occurred less than two hours before Miller was to play that night"s game against the San Jose Sharks.
Although the team had backup Jhonas Enroth ready to play, the team by league rules needed a player on the roster to back up Enroth, and the team did not have time to call up third-string goalie Matt Hackett from the Rochester Americans. The Sabres, who had used two other backup goaltenders in practices a few days prior because of Miller and Enroth"s participation in the Olympics, were also unable to use either of them, since both were under 22 years old and would have had to enter the National Hockey League Draft (something that Vinz, age 28 at the time, was exempt from having to do).
He became the ninth player in Sabres history to dress for a regular-season game but never take the ice for the team (Halak would become the tenth a few days later). Vinz was one of nine goaltenders to dress for the Sabres during the 2013-2014 season, an National Hockey League record.
After graduation, the Sabres hired Vinz to serve as a member of the team"s scouting department.
