‘It’s such a special feeling’ | Sabres participate in 2nd-annual Community Day

At the start of the week, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Quinn, Colten Ellis and Conor Timmins might not have known one word of American Sign Language.

By Friday afternoon, the end of 2026 Deaf Awareness Week, they were communicating to each other, signing ‘thank you’ and ‘you’re welcome’ with ease.

“We’re trying,” Dahlin said. “We’ve learned a little bit … the easy stuff. It’s pretty cool.”

Thompson, whose wife Rachel is “almost fluent” in ASL, added: “I’m not good at it, but I know a little bit, so it’s cool to be able to interact with (the kids) a little bit.”

On Friday, the Buffalo Sabres participated in their 2026 Community Day, an initiative where the players disperse around Western New York to engage with various causes and community members. This was the second annual event of its kind.

One of the community areas visited was St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, where Thompson, Dahlin, Quinn, Ellis and Timmins were welcomed by dozens of excited children donning Sabres shirts and jerseys. The players scooped ice cream, signed autographs and posed for pictures with the students and staff.

 “It’s obviously not easy to be in a situation like they are, and I think it makes you grateful for what you have in life,” Thompson said. “Just seeing the joy on their faces, just the little things and how happy how happy they get – I think really puts things in perspective.”

The stop was one of many the Sabres made around the community – others included Tops Friendly Markets, Maryvale Elementary, B District Police Precinct, Seneca/Southside Fire Station and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Community Day not only provides local community members and fans an unforgettable experience, but offers the players an opportunity to take their minds off of hockey and give back to the greater Buffalo area.

“It's so easy for us to get so fixated on our little bubble at the rink and our day-to-day, sometimes you forget all the support you have outside the city,” Thompson said. “Especially this last year, we've seen that tremendously. I think it's important for us to give back and show everyone that we are thinking of (the community) and we do appreciate the support.”

“The people gave us such a great support throughout the years, and it's nice for us to be able to come out and spend time with the community,” Dahlin added. “It’s something we really enjoy.”

For Pamela Rohring, a teacher at St. Mary’s, seeing the smiles on her students’ faces while players signed ‘hello’ and scooped ice cream, was priceless.

“It was amazing for the staff and students. It was amazing for the teachers. We're super grateful that they were here,” Rohring signed to Sabres.com. “Just to see the look on the kids' faces – this is really the wrap-up of Deaf Awareness Week, which is a great way to wrap it up. We loved it.”

“It's not something that (the students) get to do on a daily basis,” added Kelly DeDario, executive assistant to the superintendent at St. Mary’s. “They don't get to go to a game on a daily basis. It probably makes them feel great to have the athletes come to them. … There’s just an excitement and energy in here.”

In the same way the students at St. Mary’s were meeting NHL players for the first time, the experience of visiting a school for the Deaf was new to the Sabres, too. Rohring was “really impressed” with the group of players who’d learned to sign in the short time they were there.

“They were so open to learning,” Rohring added. “It’s just a good way to raise awareness for the Deaf and hard of hearing community and for sign language itself.”

Whether it be learning ASL, bagging groceries, visiting elementary classrooms or anything else, the Sabres understand the importance of celebrating the same community that celebrates them when they’re on the ice.

“I think it’s the greatest part about being involved here in Buffalo, is getting the players out, getting them to see their fans and giving back,” said coach Lindy Ruff. “The community gives us a lot, they’re here for us night after night, and for us to pay it back by getting out there, I think it’s a great opportunity to just be involved – and a deeper dive into different areas of our community.”

And of course, the visit at St. Mary’s ended with a ‘Let’s Go Buffalo!’ shared between the players and students – one of the first things the Sabres were taught to sign.

“Being a father now, I think it's such a special feeling, because I see my kids and how excited they get. And as a parent, there's nothing (better) than seeing your kid happy,” Thompson said. “If I'm able to do that for someone else's child, it's a pretty good feeling. I really appreciate those moments and being able to do things like that.”