BUFFALO, N.Y. — Patrick Geary was sitting on his couch with family in Hamburg on Saturday afternoon when he got drafted to his hometown team.
"I saw Buffalo only had one pick in the sixth round, and so I was kind of hoping for it," Geary said. "I kind of looked down before a name went up just so I wasn't looking at it directly, and then picked my head up and saw my name, so I was very happy."
The 6-foot-1 defenseman is a product of the Buffalo Junior Sabres and went on to play in the USHL before attending Michigan State University.
"Great story there," Sabres assistant general manager Jerry Forton said. "Another high compete player. A couple more years at least at Michigan State and being a Buffalo kid is a bonus, and we obviously know his character inside and out."
As Geary heads into his sophomore year on the Spartans hockey team, he now also joins the Sabres 2023 second-round selection Max Strbak.
"I lived next to him all year so I got to know him pretty well," Geary said. "He's a young kid but mature for his age. He sees the ice a little bit different, and he's a little more offensive than I am. He helps me with that."
"I just texted him congrats and I'm very pumped," Strbak said. "Of course he's from Buffalo so I guess for him it's a pretty big deal for him and his family."
As Geary continues to soak in the reality of Development camp this week at the LECOM Harborcenter, he has already taken the time to reflect on his favorite memories in Buffalo where he will now get the opportunity to start his professional career.
"Just going to the games," Geary said. "I mean sold out barn, what's a better place to be. Play hockey in Buffalo there's where else I'd rather be."
The Sabres Development Camp wraps up Thursday morning with a 3v3 tournament starting at 9:15 a.m.