RALEIGH, N.C. -- Philadelphia Flyers center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was impacted greatly by the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday.
Bellemare was born and raised in the French capital and said Saturday his sister lives there. He said he reached her Friday and she was not in danger.
"She was home," Bellemare said from PNC Arena after the Flyers finished their morning skate. The Flyers play the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CSN-PH, FS-CR). "She had come back from work in the middle of Paris. When I called her she was as shocked as me."
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There were several attacks across the city Friday, including one at a concert hall and another at the national soccer stadium, where France was hosting Germany in an exhibition match. Bombs and guns were used in the attacks; more than 120 people were killed and more than 350 were injured, officials said.
"Most all of my friends in Paris responded they were present on Facebook. Obviously that makes you more relaxed," Bellemare said. "It's terrible. The biggest reaction is shock. You just try to give support to the people you know."
Bellemare said he had returned to Paris this offseason to visit his sister.
"At first you're shocked," he said. "You don't expect those things to happen. It's terrible. You get kind of sad about what's going on. You just try to give support to the people you know. Mostly you kind of worry about family and friends."
He said he will return to Paris to visit family and friends but he knows he will see a different city.
"I don't know if I will be worried," he said. "I know the people there will do everything they can to solve it. It's a beautiful town and it's sad when you see something like this happen. The only thing you can do is give your thoughts to the people who are affected by it."
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