Amerks update on Pysyk, McCabe, Nevins, new player
As doctors continue to search for the cause of Mark Pysyk's collapse on Saturday, the Rochester Americans are hopeful that he may be able to resume some sort of physical activity soon.
Pysyk was playing 3-on-3 pickup basketball with teammates when he collapsed on the court. Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray termed it a seizure during a news conference on Monday.
Pysyk was transported by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital. He underwent tests Saturday before being released late in the afternoon, and has had more testing this week, Amerks coach Chadd Cassidy said.
"They're checking on everything to make sure everything checks out and so far it has," Cassidy said. "It's a little scary not knowing."
Cassidy said the staff is hopeful that the third-year defenseman could take part in physical activity "after the weekend, maybe even some skating."
With no public history of this sort of incident, doctors have explored a wide range of possible causes during the testing.
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Amerks defenseman Jake McCabe suffered what is very likely a concussion during the first period of Wednesday's game at Utica and the team may want the perpetrator punished by the AHL.
McCabe didn't skate in practice today and Cassidy said he will be out for an undetermined period of time.
McCabe was skating into the neutral zone when Utica Comets winger Darren Archibald blasted him to the ice.
"He went down hard — compounded with the fact he hit the ice," Cassidy said. "It's pretty serious."
Cassidy said McCabe had "all his faculties" and "was feeling pretty good" when the bused back to Rochester Wednesday night. He was to undergo tests today with doctors.
The team, meanwhile, left for Hamilton at 1:30 p.m. The Amerks play the Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
Cassidy said he forwarded video of the hit to the Sabres hockey department, and they will determine whether to ask the league to review it.
"There was head contact for sure on an unsuspecting player," Cassidy said.
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Center Mikhail Grigorenko was recalled again by the Sabres on Thurday. Right winger Zac Dalpe has returned home because of a family matter, so the Sabres have only 12 forwards.
The loss of Grigorenko leaves the Amerks with 11 forwards (and six defensemen) so they have promoted center Michael Pelech from ECHL Utah.
Pelech, 25, has produced 25 goals, 34 assists and 59 points in 56 games. He also has 109 penalty minutes.
His brother, Matt, older by two years, joined the Amerks in December and has become a regular in the lineup. Matt Pelech has 2 assists and 48 penalty minutes in 30 games after his promotion from Utah.
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The Sabres are still working to clear up work visa issues with Jack Nevins, the tough-guy winger acquired Monday from the Montreal Canadiens (Hamilton) in the Torrey Mitchell trade.
Nevins quite likely will meet his new teammates tonight when the Amerks get into Hamilton but he won't play Friday.
He is recovered from an upper body injury and while he could be on schedule to return, he hasn't ever practiced with the Amerks, nor has he been in a practice since the trade.