BUFFALO — Matt Ellis won’t take no for an answer.

The 32-year-old Welland, Ontario native has carved out a career in the National Hockey League by simply refusing to let go of his dream.

Ellis said he can trace that determination back to his childhood.

“It was something that came from the first time I put on my skates and told my mom and dad I want to be an NHL hockey player,” Ellis said recently from the inside the Buffalo Sabres luxurious dressing room. “For me, it’s one of the ingredients that’s got me here and helped me stay.

“I have a true passion and true love for the game. I’ve learned to take things one day at a time and be thankful for each and every day and make the most of each and every day.”

Ellis, who made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings in 2006-07, has also seen NHL action with the Los Angeles Kings before being claimed on waivers by the Sabres in 2008.

He’s also seen more than his share of action in the American Hockey League along the way, mostly in Rochester, Grand Rapids and Portland, but continues to make himself an indispensable player thanks to his tenacious work ethic, team-first attitude, and leadership abilities.

“I’m 32 and 800-something games into a pro career, those things haven’t changed from Day 1,” said Ellis, who has 19 career goals and 46 points in close to 300 NHL career games. “I still love coming to the rink and competing and doing what I do each and every day and being surrounded by great people.”

Ellis played just six games with Buffalo last season and began this year in Rochester where he was the Amerks’ captain and a role model for the younger players in Buffalo’s farm system. After 25 games games in the AHL, he was called up to Buffalo just before Christmas and has been so impressive as a fouth-line forward and penalty killer, he has stuck around.

Ellis admitted it’s hard to go down, but that the right attitude is the key.

“You just play hockey, whether it’s being here in a Sabres jersey or whatever,” said Ellis. “I have been up and down quite a bit. When I was sent to Rochester last year, (I told myself) my role has changed, my team has changed, focus on the day, where I’m at, focus on the present.

“You never lose hope and as a professional athlete you always want to play at the highest level. Until the day I hang them up that’s always what I’m going to be yearning for. For me, that’s what it’s been about. It’s about the love for the game and taking everything as a learning experience at the same time.”

The Sabres valued Ellis’ contributions so much they signed him to a two-way deal paying him $300,000 in the AHL, which is significantly more than most players at that level.

“You’re not overly happy when you get sent down, but at the same time, you try and take positives out of the journey and try and find building blocks to help you build as a person and as a player and help you get back,” Ellis added.

Ellis grew up playing AAA in Welland and also played a season of AAA in Niagara Falls with current Sabres teammate and Niagara-on-the-Lake native Zenon Konopka. He began his junior career in 1997-98 with the Welland Cougars under coach Ricky Corriveau, before moving on to the St. Michael’s Majors of the OHL.

“I think it was a great building block for me,” Ellis said. “I look back at that year in Welland and I was surrounded by great teammates, some great line mates, Ryan Kraliz and Joe Forte. I was 16 playing with some marquee junior players at the time which was huge for my development. It was huge for me to realize hockey may take me somewhere. It put me on the map for major junior and that helped me dial in my focus a little more.