Sabres farmhand Pysyk taken to hospital after collapsing

Rochester Americans defenseman Mark Pysyk collapsed Saturday morning during a game of pick-up basketball with his teammates and was taken to hospital in an ambulance, as Kevin Oklobzija from the Democrat and Chronicle first reported.

Oklobzija wrote:

Pysyk was fairly alert and his vital signs were close to normal when he was transported by paramedics, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was at court side at Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial.

The Buffalo Sabres' AHL affiliate didn't practice Saturday, but several players met at Blue Cross Arena for a workout, a meal and a game of basketball.

The cause of his collapse is unknown.

Sabres head coach Ted Nolan confirmed the incident and said the team is waiting for an update on Pysyk's condition.

"We just heard probably about a half-hour ago that he fainted down in Rochester during something they were doing down there, so we're just waiting to hear," the coach told reporters Saturday morning.

Nolan said Pysyk doesn't have a public history of related health issues.

"No history I'm aware of. You just hope and pray that everything is going to be okay and it's just maybe something less serious than it could be."

Pysyk was reassigned by the Sabres on Friday following a three-game stint with the NHL club. He's played seven games for the Sabres in his third season with the organization.