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As you go through the streets of Elmira, one thing is obvious: The Elmira Horse and Buggies have the biggest following to date.

The streets are lined with Buggy jerseys and carriages, sporting hockey sticks, pairs of skates and a few more ice rinks than you might normally see. Why? They want to support their team.

"I think for a lot of us, we're just trying to give our team the motivation to make the playoffs this year," said Trevor Snider, 34. "We're all getting a little anxious watching the team just barely avoid being demoted."

Other fans agreed with that assessment, while others also expressed hope for the team.

"They keep getting some good players coming in," said Jessica Miller, 22. "They got (Clinton) Leach and (Bogusz) Pankiewicz at the end of season 6, they have some good coaches, they just need to get the right combo now and play the right strategy. Last year their strategy picks weren't that great for a lot of the games."

The Buggies are hoping to give teams like Fedidit, Schrodinger and the Prostitutes a run for their money.

"Too many times we've finished behind those guys," said Head Coach Isaac Ferraro. "I love the guys on those teams, we're all good friends, but seriously. We have got to show them who the real boss is in III.2, even if that's the 'Boss of Improvement.'"

All teams would like to surpass the 'Boss of Improvement' level and end up in the lead at the end of the regular season and playoffs, but the competition will be fierce.

Matthew LeClerc was at a meet-and-greet at the local 7-11 and had this to say:

"We are a good team. We just need to play like it now."

So season 7 starts tomorrow for all the teams, with Schrodinger the first team on the Buggies' radar. The two teams battled for most of last season for 10-11th until the Buggies finally gave in under pressure.

LeClerc is hoping it won't come to that this season.

"It shouldn't, we're gonna be ok."

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