Ryan Callahan Pride of Hometown
Kevin Oklobzija – DemocratandChronicle.com January 1, 2012
The sign sits alongside Route 390, just beneath Ridgeway Avenue: “Welcome to Greece,” it boasts.
What it could also say: “Where leaders are born.”
With just under 100,000 residents, Rochester’s largest suburb is home to the captains of two National Hockey League teams. Original Six teams, at that.
Brian Gionta, a veteran of 10 NHL seasons, is in his second season as captain of the Montreal Canadiens. He grew up near Lake Ontario.
Ryan Callahan, in his fifth NHL season, wears the “C” for the New York Rangers. Up until two years ago, he was still shooting pucks during the summertime in his parents’ garage in the northeast quadrant of the town.
“Brian and I joke; I call him Captain Canada and he’s referring to me as Captain America,” Callahan said.
And to think the two quick, talented right wingers grew up barely two miles from each other. “Can you believe that? And not only one captain but two,” Greece Town Supervisor John Auberger said. “It’s really amazing when you think of one community having two NHL captains. We’re very proud of them.”
So is it the water from Lake Ontario? The view at Braddock Bay? The never-ending string of signal lights on Ridge Road West?
Maybe it’s none of the above. Or all of the above.
“The community we have here is pretty close knit and it’s a good environment,” said Sam Gionta, Brian’s father. “The kids learn certain values they take on in life, and it doesn’t just have to be in sports. It’s just a good area.”
