The Buffalo Sabres made Community Day about more than just showing up. They spread out across the city on a day built around connection, visiting local police and fire stations, Roswell Park, Tops and several schools, including St. Mary’s School for the Deaf.
For Tage Thompson, the point was simple: step outside the rink and recognize the people backing the team all year long.
“It’s so easy for us to get so fixated on our little bubble at the rink and kind of our day-to-day, and what we’re doing, but sometimes you forget all the support you have outside the city,” forward Tage Thompson said. “Especially this last year, we’ve seen that tremendously; I think it’s important for us to give back and just show everyone that we are thinking of you guys, and we do appreciate the support.”
Rasmus Dahlin said the day is one the team enjoys because it gives players a chance to spend time with the community that has stood behind them.
“The people gave us such great support throughout the years, and it’s nice for us to be able to come out and, you know, hang out and just spend time with the community. It’s something we really enjoy,” Rasmus Dahlin, the team captain for the Buffalo Sabres, said.
At St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, the visit carried added meaning during deaf awareness week. Principal Scott Gentzke said the school has long had a connection to the Sabres, pointing to its role in singing the national anthem once a year.
“We’ve been fortunate enough that the Sabres organization has invited us to sign the national anthem once a year. So now it’s kind of nice that they are coming here,” Scott Gentzke, the Principal of St.
Mary’s School for the Deaf, said. “This is deaf awareness week.
So, it really ties into our deaf culture and the Buffalo community as a whole - so that hearing people can get a sense of the deaf community here, and for them to show up now during deaf awareness week is really great, and to educate them on who we are is great.”
Students, staff and faculty spent time with the players, and the Sabres got a lesson in sign language along the way. Dahlin said the experience was a good one.
“We’re having a lot of fun - it’s a cool experience,” Dahlin said.
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