WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
December Edition
The Sabres celebrated Ryan Miller by winning Thursday’s game. ©2023
BUFFALO – It was only fitting, right? On a night the Sabres honored Ryan Miller by retiring his No. 30 and inducting him into their Hall of Fame, the goalies stole the show in the home team’s thrilling 3-2 overtime victory.
At one end, rookie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the Sabres’ best young netminder since Miller in the early 2000s, made several game-saving stops. Meanwhile, New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin made 19 of his 42 saves ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller is Buffalo’s all-time wins leader. ©2022, Dan Hickling
Decorated former goalie Ryan Miller will have his No. 30 retired and be inducted into the Buffalo Sabres’ Hall of Fame prior to their Jan. 19 game against the New York Islanders, the team announced Thursday.
Miller, 42, learned of the honors in early June during a visit to KeyBank Center when the Sabres played a video message from legendary former play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret.
The American will become the seventh player and second goalie ... Read the full article
Ex-Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller fends of Pittsburgh’s Brandon Sutter during the 2013-14 season. ©2022, Dan Hickling
Decorated ex-Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, the franchise’s all-time leader in wins and games played, will have his No. 30 retired and be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame during the 2022-23 season, the team announced Friday.
Miller, 41, will become the seventh player and second goalie to have his number hang from the KeyBank Center rafters, joining Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, Rene Robert, Tim Horton, Danny Gare, Pat LaFontaine and Dominik Hasek, the ... Read the full article
Rick Jeanneret has called Sabres games for 51 seasons. ©2022, Dan Hickling
Legendary play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret will become the 10th member of the Buffalo Sabres organization to be honored with a banner in the KeyBank Center rafters.
The Sabres this afternoon announced Jeanneret, who’s in his 51st and final season calling games, will have a banner bearing his name raised before the April 1 game against the Nashville Predators.
As part of what the team has named “RJ Night,” tributes will also be given and the ... Read the full article
Arttu Ruotsalainen was regular late last season in Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – For Thursday’s season opener, the Sabres had three extras, scratching forwards Arttu Ruotsalainen and John Hayden and defenseman Will Butcher.
In Ruotsalainen, they sat out one their most intriguing young forwards. The Finn, 23, enjoyed regular duty over the final month last season, compiling five goals and six points in 17 games.
In Butcher, they sat out one their higher-profile offseason acquisitions. The American, 26, compiled 74 points over his first two ... Read the full article
Fred Stanfield skates in a Sabres Alumni game in 2004. ©2021, Janet Schultz
When Fred Stanfield joined the Buffalo Sabres midway through the 1974-75 season, Rick Dudley figured the accomplished veteran and two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Boston Bruins deserved to have the No. 17 he had worn throughout most of his NHL career.
So Dudley, who was in his third season, offered Stanfield the number. He graciously accepted and never forgot about the special gesture.
“He was so appreciative that I would give him that number,” ... 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
Rene Robert holds his plaque at the Sabres’ Alumni Plaza outside KeyBank Center.
Rene Robert, a member of the Buffalo Sabres’ legendary “French Connection” line and one of the most popular players in franchise history, passed away Tuesday, the team announced. He was 72.
Robert had been hospitalized in Florida since suffering a heart attack last week.
Throughout much of the 1970s, Robert, center Gilbert Perreault and left wing Rick Martin formed hockey’s most dynamic trio.
In 2012, the Sabres immortalized the line by erecting a statue ... Read the full article
Rene Robert is one of the most popular players in Sabres history. ©2021, Janet Schultz
Rene Robert, a member of the Buffalo Sabres’ legendary “French Connection” line and one of the most popular players in franchise history, is hospitalized in Florida after suffering a heart attack, according to multiple reports.
Robert, 72, is in critical but stable condition and on life support systems as he awaits more heart procedures, according to The Buffalo News.
Throughout much of the 1970s, Robert, center Gilbert Perreault and left wing Rick Martin ... Read the full article
Henri Jokiharju won two gold medals last season. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres general manager Jason Botterill knew of Henri Jokiharju’s talents before he watched the defenseman up close during Team Finland’s run to a gold medal at the World Championship in the spring.
So even if Botterill hadn’t run Team Canada’s entry in Slovakia, the Sabres still might’ve dished winger Alexander Nylander to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jokiharju on July 9.
“It certainly helps things out to see a player play on ... Read the full article