Buffalo Sabres prospect and Rochester Americans defenceman Brayden McNabb may not have been able to travel to Davidson to enjoy the Christmas holidays with his family, but that didn’t stop some of his family from travelling to Davos, Switzerland, to celebrate the season with him.
Brayden’s sister Cara brought the holiday spirit to Davos, located high in the Swiss Alps, to spend some time with her big brother while he took the ice for the Rochester Americans during the 87th annual Spengler Cup.
“I was his plus-one,” said Cara, noting her brother was allowed by the Sabres to bring one person along with him during the trip and she was the lucky traveller. “I kind of expected it. It wasn’t really a big surprise. I haven’t been to many of his games. We’ve been talking about it for a while that I should go up and watch one of his games, so this was a good time.”
Cara said she hasn’t managed to head down to Buffalo to watch any of Brayden’s 31 NHL games for the Sabres or his 126 matches as an AHL Amerk in Rochester since he moved up to the professional ranks in the 2011-2012 season, but she has been to a lot of his games when he played defence for the Kootenay Ice in the WHL earlier in his career. The Davidson School Grade 12 student said watching him play the game on the bigger international ice surface at Vaillant Arena in Davos was amazing, which was further improved by the high-spirited European hockey crowds.
“They’re really into the games,” she said. “They sing along. It’s much different than here. They’re all really excited about it.”
Brayden said playing before those European fans and in such a prestigious international tournament as the Spengler Cup was a “cool experience” and having his little sister along with him for the ride made the holiday trip extra special.
“When this opportunity came I kind of knew my parents would be a little busy with my little brother with his hockey and it would be a good opportunity for Cara to come along,” said Brayden about the Amerks second-ever trip to the Spengler Cup. “She likes to travel and see things, so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for her and I’m pretty sure she had a fun time.
“I enjoyed it a lot and I was really happy she came and we had some bonding time and it was good for Christmas to have some family (around).”
The young Rochester Americans team kicked off the Spengler Cup Dec. 26 with their opening game against a strong Geneve-Servette team before a large and boisterous crowd cheering loudly for the Swiss club. Nerves or the mountain terrain may have proved a detriment to the AHL team, who lost the opening Group Torriani match 5-0. In their next game a day later against the fabled Moscow club, CSKA Moskau, the Amerks put up a stronger showing, but eventually fell 4-3.
To read more please see the January 13 print edition of The Davidson Leader.