WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Alexander Mogilny scored 76 goals in 1992-93. ©2025, Janet Schultz
Alexander Mogilny, a trailblazer who defected from the Soviet Union in 1989 to join the Buffalo Sabres and later developed into one of the most electrifying talents in NHL history, has been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his 17th year of eligibility.
Mogilny, 56, is one of eight members of the class of 2025 the Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. They will be inducted Nov. 10 in Toronto.
“I am happy ... Read the full article
Rene Robert (14) earned the respect of teammates like Mike Robitaille (clapping) during his career in Buffalo. ©2021, Janet Schultz
When Mike Robitaille caught up with Rene Robert last year, he was struck by how well his old friend and Buffalo Sabres teammate looked.
Robert, who was approaching his 72nd birthday, had a trim physique and a full head of hair. Robitaille saw the same man he had played with almost 50 years earlier.
“Looked like a young Rene to me, just kind of bouncing along and feeling good,” Robitaille told the Times Herald on ... Read the full article
Curtis Lazar relishes his physical role. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Curtis Lazar relishes playing a heavy style as the Sabres’ fourth-line center and utilizing his 6-foot frame to disrupt the opposition.
“I take a lot of pride in providing that sandpaper for our team up front and trying to create room for some of our skill guys, knowing that if guys are going to go out there, then you have to deal with me,” Lazar said on a Zoom call Wednesday.
But after ... Read the full article
Joe Daley played one maskless season with Buffalo before putting on protection later in his career. Photo courtesy of Joe Daley
Fifty years ago today, the Buffalo Sabres played their first game, beating the Penguins 2-1 on Oct. 10, 1970 at Pittsburgh Civic Arena.
Jim Watson and Gilbert Perreault scored for the Sabres that night. Roger Crozier, whose presence offered the expansion team instant credibility, made 35 saves.
Crozier’s goalie partner that inaugural season was a journeyman named Joe Daley, a 27-year-old who had spent most of his career in the minors.
Daley played just one ... Read the full article
Alexander Mogilny scored 76 goals in 1992-93. ©2020, Janet Schultz
Eleven players Pat LaFontaine called teammates over his 15-year career have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The former Buffalo Sabres superstar joined the New York Islanders at the end of their dynasty, so he played with Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier, who combined to score nearly 1,100 goals. In Buffalo, LaFontaine watched Dominik Hasek morph into perhaps the greatest goalie in history. In LaFontaine’s final NHL season with the New York ... Read the full article
Danny Gare scored a hat trick in the 1975-76 season finale to reach the 50-goal mark. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – More than 43 years later, Sabres legend Danny Gare still sounds surprised he hit the prestigious 50-goal mark in the grandest of fashions.
That night, after all, was supposed to be about Rick Martin’s pursuit of the milestone. The sniper needed to score just once to reach 50 goals for the third consecutive season.
Gare, meanwhile, had scored 47 times entering the season finale on April 4, 1976 against the Toronto Maple Leafs ... Read the full article
Jake McCabe joined the Sabres late in 2013-14. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – New Sabres coach Ralph Krueger announced today he has named center Marcus Johansson and defenseman Jake McCabe alternate captains for the 2019-20 season.
“We feel that that’s a strong group for the ice,” Krueger said following today’s practice inside KeyBank Center.
Johansson and McCabe replace defenseman Zach Bogosian and winger Kyle Okposo.... Read the full article
Jason Pominville wants to spend more time with his children. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Right now, it is business as usual for Jason Pominville. The popular winger is preparing for the upcoming season like he has a contract with the Sabres or another NHL team. Earlier this month, he and his family returned to Clarence from their summer home in Montreal.
Pominville, 36, said he feels he owes it to himself to stay ready in case an opportunity materializes he and his family can embrace.
“But ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville scored his 16th goal this season Thursday. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – The crowd kept roaring. For more than a minute late in Thursday’s 5-2 win, the fans saluted one of their favorites, winger Jason Pominville, after he capped off an emotional day by scoring perhaps his last goal for the Sabres.
The noise wouldn’t stop after Pominville, 36, was announced as the scorer, so after receiving a signal from his teammates, one of the greatest players in franchise history skated to center ice ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville has played 10 seasons with the Sabres. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – All season long, Jason Pominville has insisted he hasn’t thought much about his future. But this morning, as he drove to KeyBank Center, the Sabres winger couldn’t help but wonder what it holds.
It dawned on him after 10 seasons with the Sabres, tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators could be his final appearance here wearing Blue and Gold.
The thought of his Sabres career ending caused Pominville, 36, to break down.... Read the full article