FORCED TO RETURN HOME, DAVIDSON HAPPILY FINDS HIS WAY BACK TO AMERKS
Nov 4, 2022By Suzie Cool
Heading into this season, defenseman Brandon Davidson was set to play with the Kunlun Red Stars of the Kontinental Hockey League. After a month in Russia, and the realization that things weren’t going exactly as planned, the veteran blueliner made his way back to North America and was in search of a job just as the 2022-23 season was getting underway for the Rochester Americans.
Coincidentally, the Amerks, so, too, were in search of a reliable defenseman.
Luckily for Davidson, injuries with big club up top led to a series of call-ups, leaving Rochester’s defensive core depleted after its first three games while also dealing with injuries of its own. And it wasn’t long before Davidson was able to return back to a city, and an organization, that he called home.
“I ended up going over to Russia for about a month and, for whatever reason, that didn't work out and I was able to come back here to North America and search for a job,” said Davidson when discussing how the opportunity with Rochester came about. “This is a place that I called home and I would have loved to have been here originally, and it just so happened with the injuries on the back-end that I was able to slide in.”
Call it fate or being available at the right place or right time, Davidson admittedly jumped on the opportunity to return to Rochester
Davidson was yet another veteran addition signed to a professional tryout last week and met the Amerks at Place Bell to take on the Laval Rocket. And yes, Davidson was immediately manning the blueline for Rochester upon his return.
However chaotic this may seem from the outside, Davidson had no issue with getting acclimated back with a team he’s familiar with.
“Nothing's changed drastically,” discussed Davidson when talking about the quick transition into the lineup. “There are obviously a few things that have (changed), but that was kind of the best part about coming back was that there's no gray areas. I think I understand the systems and the people and it just made that so much easier.”
Additionally, the love and respect Davidson has for Amerks head coach Seth Appert made this an easy and comforting decision.
“Seth (Appert) called me first, followed by Jason (Karmanos), but Seth was the first call,” continued Davidson when asked how he received the news that he was coming back to Rochester. “We have such a good relationship that we built last year, and it was very comforting speaking with him and coming back here. It was also comfortable coming in and knowing this team inside and out and I know the systems here and it was an easy transition.”
It just so happens that Appert feels the same way about Davidson returning to the team.
“I like coaching a team that he's (Davidson) a part of,” said Appert as he discussed his reunion with the veteran blueliner earlier this week. “He's such a winner of a hockey player. He's a winning hockey player. He is a winner of a person. He's a great teammate. Just getting to see him and give him a big hug was awesome.”
Davidson has already appeared in three games with Rochester since being re-acquired on Oct. 26. Upon returning to the team for his third season with the Amerks, Davidson has appeared in 26 games with Rochester since the start of the 2020-21 season. In addition to recording one goal and five assists in 2021-22, Davidson skated in six Calder Cup Playoff contests during the Amerks’ run to the North Division Finals.
We can expect Davidson to be in the lineup The Blue Cross Arena tonight for Rochester as they take on the Utica Comets for the first time of the 2022-23 campaign. Tonight marks the first of eight matchups between the Amerks and Comets this season, and the first of a home-and-home this weekend. Puck drop is slated for 7:05 p.m. and will be carried live on 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.