Thomas Vanek's time is in his homeland is up.
The Sabres' forward has bid farewell to Austria and is returning to Buffalo after spending a month playing for Graz. Vanek recorded five goals and 15 points in 11 games.
"Goodbye Austria!" Vanek wrote on Twitter. "Looking forward to get back to the US and see my Wife and boys!
"Thank you/Danke to all the fans in Austria especially GRAZ 99ers Fans! You guys are great and I will never forget!! Also, thanks to the 99ers team, made many new friends!"
A new blog was also posted on Vanek's Website today, with the forward saying he made the right decision to head to Austria rather than stay in Buffalo during the lockout.
"There’s good, fast hockey played here in Austria," Vanek wrote. "My decision to come to play here was the right one.
"I really don’t know how things are going to unfold in the next weeks. First of all, I’m on my way back home to Buffalo and my family now. I missed Ashley and the kids a lot. I get asked if I’ll return after the international break all the time. That may well be, but certainly not right after the break. I want to wait how the negotiations between league and PA are going. It seems as if things are going forward a bit.
"So, once again: thank you very much for your support. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I will never forget this month. Now it’s cross your fingers so we have NHL hockey back soon!"
---John Vogl
