"Growing up in Quebec, my parents, friends, and relatives are all Montreal Canadiens fans. I really liked Ryan Miller when I was younger, and maybe I found the jerseys attractive, but I've been a super fan ever since," Alex said.
When it was announced that the Sabres would be playing in Hamilton for the franchise's third outdoor game, Alex knew that it was an opportunity he couldn't miss.
"I was always looking when the tickets were going up for sale and when the jerseys were coming out," he said. "I soon as I saw it, I told Gabrielle I don't care the price of tickets, we are going."
He sported the new Heritage Classic jersey while Gabrielle wore a 2018 Winter Classic jersey to the game.
Thomas and Kyle from St. Catharines, Ontario, were outnumbered by Maple Leafs fans in their friend group. They became diehard Sabres fans at an early age because of their hometown's proximity to Buffalo. Due to border restrictions, they haven't been able to attend any games at KeyBank Center since COVID struck.
The brothers have been to two outdoor events in the past. They attended the IIHF World Junior Championship game between the U.S. and Canada at what is now Highmark Stadium and a few days later, they attended the NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field in New York City on New Year's Day 2018.
"We saw this game come out in Hamilton, and we just knew that it was something we had to do go to," Thomas said. "It was closer for us anyway, and we didn't even have to cross the border, so it was the best scenario for sure."
Being able to attend a Sabres game in person and having it be a dominant performance in one of the NHL's marquee events made the weekend an unforgettable one.
"It's really nice being able to experience a home game in our country. It's something I'm very proud of and will never forget," Alex said.
