Buffalo, NY (WBEN) After a pause to deal with COVID19 protocols, the Buffalo Sabres return to the ice this evening for a game against the New York Islanders. Tobias Rieder and Taylor Hall told reporters they tested positive for COVID19.
Hall says he tested positive and was quarantined for ten days. "I was able to complete a rehab skate with no issues and rejoin the team, so I'm happy to be back," says Hall. "I had no symptoms, so I wasn't too afraid. I wasn't around people who was at risk during the time I was exposed. I know some people can be anxious about it, but I was comfortable with it and did my isolation and came out of it fine."
Hall says while there were some frustrations, but he's trying to move forward and do the best they can given the circumstances. "Sometimes, situations like this happen for a reason. I think you've seen the protocols put in place so they don't happen again and we don't have more cancellations," says Hall. "With the league's protocols, you can't work out at home. For me, I'm working back into it. But during the summer I take seven to ten days off to rest. I don't feel great the first day, but overall it comes back pretty quick and I'm not worried about that one bit."
Tobias Rieder also tested positive for COVID19. "When I got the news, I was shocked. I was thinking that can't be right, I'm not feeling anything. Sure enough, a couple of hours later, I started to feel symptoms and I was sick for a day or two," says Rieder. He says he's feeling better after a rough couple of days.
Rieder says the first day coming back after quarantine was hard, but every day he's felt better.
Coach Ralph Krueger will be back behind the bench after he tested positive for COVID19. "Obviously with the strong support around me, it makes it easier where they've done an excellent job," says Krueger. He plans to take it a step at a time.
Krueger says the team may not have the stamina or be as synchronized as it was 14 days ago, but there has to be a physical and mental freshness after the league-imposed break. "Even for people like me coming off the COVID experience, there is an extreme pleasure to being part of the Sabres and being able to play hockey games, and we're all appreciating that," says Krueger.
