The Buffalo Sabres just wrapped up their development camp in downtown Buffalo. Once again, there was a local flavor as the team’s prospects took the ice.

Back with the Sabres this summer are two players from the Buffalo suburbs, defensemen Gavin McCarthy out of Clarence and Patrick Geary from Hamburg. They are both playing in college currently, and both couldn’t pass up a chance to skate for their hometown team.

“It’s still super special,” Geary said. “This jersey and it has the last name on it. It’s kind of hard to look at. It’s hard to believe to be honest. So it’s still special every time I come in here.”

“It means something every time you come here and just show yourself,” McCarthy said. “So, it’s a great feeling to be back here. Never pass up on this opportunity for sure.”     

Both players have now spent multiple development camps with the team. The Sabres are helping them inch closer to what’s expected from them at the NHL level.

“Just a little bit of everything,” Geary said. “Keep getting bigger. Keep getting stronger. Focusing on my foot speed. Closing plays quicker, I think that’s one of the biggest things for me.”

“Got to be stronger as a defenseman,” McCarthy said. “I’m a bit undersized as a d a little bit. Just maturing on and off the ice. Taking care of your body and the day-to-day of the NHL.”

Now it’s time to take what they learned back to school. Both players are going into their junior seasons, McCarthy at Boston University and Geary at Michigan State.

“You see all these guys first round, second round, so just growing every day,” Geary said. “That’s all you can do from these camps is just learn, grow every day and take it wherever you go whether it’s next season or next development camp, whatever it is.”

“Anytime you are able to work with them, just picking their brain,” McCarthy said. “Seeing what they are thinking off the ice and on. They have so much to offer and taking that back with me to BU is a gift.”   

Next up for the Sabres is the team’s annual prospects challenge ahead of training camp this September.