Adam Wilcox grew up in Minnesota, but his favorite team was always the Buffalo Sabres. His hockey fandom predated the existence of the Minnesota Wild, which joined the league as an expansion team for the 2000-01 season. Thus, he gravitated to the Sabres and their goaltender, Dominik Hasek.
Having those childhood memories made it that much more special when his coach in Rochester, Chris Taylor, called to inform him he was being recalled to Buffalo on Friday morning.
"I figured he was telling me if I was going to play the next day, so it was quite the pleasant surprise to get that," Wilcox said. "Anytime you get a call-up to the NHL, you're honored. Pretty cool experience. This is my third time and it still feels like the first time."