Were he not in Buffalo right now living the NHL dream, rookie D Chad Ruhwedel most likely would have been at the Boston Marathon with friends and UMass-Lowell teammates on Monday afternoon.
Today, I asked him about the enormity of it all.
“I had a lot of friends and teammates that were at the (Boston) Marathon. it’s a huge day in Boston, they said it was pretty serious, but they weren’t anywhere near it.”
Ruhwedel said that he was worried about them.
“I called them all right away to make sure that they were ok”
“Rudy” told me that it will be great to see his Umass-Lowell teammates and friends o Wednesday when the Sabres play in Boston.
“Yeah, there’s going to be a lot of people there. A lot of teammates and a lot of friends from school. it’s a little added pressure but it should be fine”
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Thomas Vanek expressed his concern for the victims and the families of the Boston Marathon event.
“You always are affected by news like this, especially when you hear are kids involved. You have your own kids, we all have families. Its sad.”
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Nathan Gerbe knows the Boston region like the back of his hand, having played at Boston College. On this day, Gerbe reflected on the terror in Boston.
“You know exactly where it is, I’ve walked past there I can’t tell you how many times. At times, for yourself, you thank God for keeping safe when something like this happens. Its embarrassing for our world that to affect innocent people and innocent children. Its sad.”
Gerbe has been to the Boston Marathon several times over the years and he has vivid memories of the event.
“I did. For a few years. Its an awesome event. it’s a great atmosphere, and a great party to celebrate a great thing (Patriot’s Day) to watch the people run is a big goal for the people who participate in it its unbelievable feat to happen in your life and to accomplish it. Ots sad that something like that had to happen”.
Gerbe was asked to reflect on the enormity of the tragedy. What were his first thoughts?
“The first thing that went through my mind is that you hope no one dies, that’s the first thing. Then your prayers go out to all the families when you do hear news and then you think about the people you know there and the people they love and you hope their safe and you try to reach out to them to make sure that they are ok and their families are ok, Luckily for myself, everyone I know is ok.”
Gerbe says that he will not walk around Boston later tonight or tomorrow. He says that he will just stay at the hotel rather than to go outside.
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Updated 11:03am:
Sabres GM Darcy Regier just updated the media on the status of the team traveling to Boston, and, the future plans for rookie Mikhail Grigorenko.
The team is scheduled to leave Buffalo for Boston at 3pm, as first planned. Regier says that he is awaiting a call from the NHL anmd Boston Bruins to make certain that Wednesday night's game is still on. The Boston Marathon bombing event is the only thing that matters right now, and Regier says that he will await word on whether the game will be played. Regier expects increased security and the Boston airport.
More Regier to come...
Mikhail Grigorenko is in Buffalo for the time being. Grigo is skating now with the team and will make the trip to Boston with the team. Regier says that Grigo will not play in Boston, hwoever, he will play in the remaining five games for Buffalo. he will not be sent to AHL Rochester for the immediate future.
Regier says that he spoke with an excited Grigorenko on Monday and informed him directly of the team's plans to bring the rookie back to Buffalo. Its a full circle move for Grigo. Regier said that he told the kid when he was demoted to Quebec on 3/15/13, that if/when the Remparts were eliminated from the QMJHL playoffs, that the Sabres intended to bring him back to Buffalo to finish the development work here that he had started. Grigo played 22 games in Buffalo before he was sent back to juniors.
Regier said that he spoke with Remparts head coach Patrick Roy on Monday. The reports about Grigo's attitude and effort while back in QCity were very good, said the Sabres GM>
I'm at the arena now, and will speak with Grigo shortly.
Regier says" "I want to see where his game is".Regier spoke with Patrick Roy yesterday. Doubts Grigo will be in lineup tomorrow
Jason Pominville has scored four goals and added two assists for the Minnesota Wild.
After his two goal performance against Calgary on Monday night, Pommer told Minny media the following:
"Its nice coming into a group that is committed to winning"
Thanks, Wild TV.
I wonder how Mr. Pegula and his advisors feel about the statements of the former Sabres captain?
How does this comment sit with his former Sabres teammates?
How does this make you feel?
I'll be honest: these comments took me aback when I first heard them. Pominville was a Sabre for the past eight season. He a leader in the veteran core core for a majority of those years. he was team captain for the past two season. Is a team not a direct reflection of its head coach and captain?
With five games remaining, the Sabres (42 points) trail the eighth place Rangers (46 points) by only four points.
The play a huge game in Boston on Wednesday night.
Now that his locker has been cleaned out, and he's concluded his exit interview in with Patrick Roy in Quebec City, Mikhail Grigorenko is now en route to Buffalo.
LaPresse reported on Sunday that Grigo would rest and recover on Monday. He's now free to join the Sabres, or Amerks.
Grigorenko will learn today whether he will stay and play in Buffalo, or of he'll zoom down the I-90 to join the Amerks.
More to come...
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The Sabres will skate at FNC at 10:30, then will depart for Boston th
is afternoon,.
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