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Shortly after the trade was completed, Robyn Regehr called Sabres equipment
man Dave Williams and asked that he send along some new gear. The veteran
defenseman hoped to make a smooth transition from Calgary to Buffalo and figured
the first step was getting comfortable wearing blue and gold.
Naturally, it was a little strange at the beginning. Regehr had spent his
entire 11-year career playing for the Flames, wearing the blazing "C" sweater
and No. 28. He was waiting for a few items from Buffalo when he started working
out in Prince Albert, Sask., so he patched together a wardrobe that looked like
something out of a beer league.
"I had some Buffalo stuff on, some Calgary stuff on," Regehr said with a
laugh. "I looked like Frankenstein. The hardest thing is the change with the
numbers when I sign [autographs.] It just becomes automatic. It's almost like
breathing. You don't even think about it. Then, all of a sudden, you're screwing
up."
Last week, he was delivering Sabres season tickets with Ryan Miller when a
woman asked for his signature. He signed his name with "28," as he did for years
with Calgary. One problem: Paul Gaustad wears No. 28 for the Sabres. Regehr will
wear No. 24 when he plays his first game in a Buffalo uniform tonight against
Montreal.
"Sorry," he told the woman. "It's still preseason."
Good point. If it matters, Regehr is a nice guy. He was born in Brazil, where
his parents served as Mennonite missionaries before moving back to Saskatchewan.
He spent four years of his childhood on a church mission in Indonesia, where his
pets included a jungle cat and a monkey. He should be plenty prepared for a few
exotic animals he'll see in First Niagara Center this season.
He's also a good, tough defenseman who is certain to improve the Sabres' blue
line with aggression you should expect from his 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame. His
friendly, engaging personality away from the game contradicts what you see on
the ice. Let's just say he plays with a surliness and oomph that have been
lacking in these parts for several years.
