Team USA player knocks Buffalo on Twitter

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A hockey player on Team USA is getting a lot of attention, but not for his prowess on the ice.

Emerson Etem, an 18-year-old forward for Team USA, sent a message on Twitter late Monday afternoon saying he thinks Buffalo is "a ghost town" and called it, "the worst city ever." He compared the city to Medicine Hat, Alberta, a small city of just over 60,000 people, saying Medicine Hat was "paradise" compared to Buffalo.

Many Twitter users responded to Etem's message, some with understanding and good humor, but others with frank disgust.

ChillyBillys responded, "You just trashed your career. Keep your mouth shut."

SalSports said, "You stay classy there, kid. Way to show all those NHL GMs your true character."

Shmitzysays joked, "I can't help but think I'd faint from laughter if @emersonetem got traded to the Sabres. Somethin tells me he'd like learn to love it. Haha."

Spurbs explained, "where you are downtown sucks, best part of Buffalo a few miles away."

Bsbllrf concluded, "comon man. Ur 17, trust me, you can't do much anyways."

Etem plays for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, leading all WHL rookies in goals. He is a first round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks, getting picked 29th overall. Etem is originally from Long Beach, California. He has yet to add another message to Twitter or respond to the many messages he's received since his initial negative remarks about Buffalo. However, the original message has since been deleted from his account.

Below is the original Twitter message from Etem. He has since deleted his tweet but you can see a screenshot of the message in the upper left hand corner of this page:
@emersonetem : "much needed day off, buffalo is a ghost town!! the worst city ever, it makes medicine hat look like paradise, never thought ide say that."

Going from a hotel to the arena, Etem may not have gotten the chance to see much of Buffalo. Where do you think he should have gone? What in Buffalo does he need to see to really get a feel for the city? You can leave your comments below or send a message to us on Twitter: @news4buffalo