Dr. Amanda Edwards, the Buffalo Sabres’ team sports psychologist, has shared insights into her role supporting players both on and off the ice as the organization prepares for its first Mental Health Awareness Night at KeyBank Center. The event, presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, will take place during the Sabres’ game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
“A lot of people say athletes are people too. But, actually, athletes are people first,” said Dr. Edwards, who is in her fourth season with the Sabres and also works with Rochester Americans (AHL) players and Sabres prospects worldwide.
Dr. Edwards described her approach as rooted in building trust through informal interactions: “Trust is built over time, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m circling back to these casual interactions with guys. They see me around, I’m approachable, I’m nice.” She emphasized that she does not mandate sessions but makes herself available for a variety of contacts, including scheduled appointments and spontaneous conversations.
Her work includes monitoring players’ mental well-being during games and practices by observing body language and communication rather than focusing solely on performance statistics. “When that player makes a mistake, I want to see if they’re doing the routines, that reset after that mistake, that he and I have talked about,” she explained.
Dr. Edwards also assists players dealing with challenges such as injury recovery or sleep difficulties during road trips. She said consistent messaging from medical staff is important for player confidence: “You can’t have one medical person giving some timeline or some feedback, and it contrasts with an athletic trainer.”
Addressing the evolving conversation around mental health in hockey, Dr. Edwards noted progress but acknowledged remaining stigma: “I think it has gotten a lot less stigmatized. I still think we have some work to do in that area.”
She expressed enthusiasm for Mental Health Awareness Night: “I am so excited; I think it’s a privilege to be a part of it. It means a lot to me. I think mental health should be celebrated… We’re celebrating that mental health and mental skills, they’re something that everybody has.”
Dr. Edwards continues her private practice in Amherst while supporting athletes across New York State.
