Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – Craig Anderson is in his 20th season of professional hockey, and he’s seen quite a few things in his career.
The Buffalo Sabres netminder was part of a locker room on Tuesday morning that was quite shaken with what happened to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Monday night in Cincinnati.
The Sabres players practiced on Thursday and were quite happy to hear the good news from Cincinnati that Hamlin is much improved, awake and even writing messages to his doctors and family.
I had an opportunity to speak with Anderson after practice, and I appreciated the time he spent with me. He said so much went through his mind as events transpired.
“First-and-foremost, you think about the individual as a person, not as an athlete," said Anderson. "You think about the families that are helpless, and all they can do is sit there and watch.
“These occasions happen so few-and-far-between that you don’t see them. You don’t get to comprehend them until it happens. I’ve been a part of a couple situations that were life or death on the ice, and it’s no different. The sports part is second nature, and you think of the family and the kids that are sitting there watching it, because they don’t understand.”
I’ll leave you with the full 1-on-1 interview available in the player below:
