Rick Jeanneret, a Corridor of Fame play-by-play announcer for the Buffalo Sabres, has died on the age of 81, the team announced on Thursday. Jeanneret spent 5 a long time because the voice of the Sabres, and he offered some iconic calls.
Jeanneret served because the Sabres’ play-by-play announcer from 1971-72 by means of 2021-22. Jeanneret’s excellence within the sales space earned him spots within the Sabres Corridor of Fame, the Better Buffalo Sports activities Corridor of Fame and the Hockey Corridor of Fame.
Sabres proprietor Terry Pegula launched an announcement on Jeanneret’s passing and mentioned everybody within the group was fortunate to have been round Jeanneret for some portion of his profession.
“Rick was certainly a really particular and really liked man, to and by all, who knew him and listened to him, his magic, and his command,” Pegula mentioned in an announcement. “How glad I’m to have identified him. How fortunate had been all of us to have been round him and to have listened to him.
“Rick Jeanneret’s mark on Sabres historical past extends far past the published sales space and we’ll miss him dearly. I prolong my deepest condolences to Sandra, Rick’s household, mates, and all that had been liked by him.”
Sabres ahead Alex Tuch, who was born in Syracuse, New York, grew up a fan of the group and listened to Jeanneret’s calls all through his childhood. Tuch was there on April 1, 2022, when the Sabres raised a banner for Jeanneret, making him simply the eleventh member of the group to obtain such an honor. Tuch mentioned it was superior to see Jeanneret getting the popularity he deserves.
“Being a Sabres fan since I used to be 3 years outdated, it meant loads to me to see somebody who actually propelled my love for the sport to be honored in that method,” Tuch mentioned. “It was only a phenomenal evening usually and it was nice that we obtained to win, however afterwards simply the applause and the gratitude that everybody confirmed him was phenomenal.”
Jeanneret offered the soundtrack for a few of the most enjoyable moments in franchise historical past. Jeanneret’s most iconic might be his “May Day” call of Brady May’s overtime goal towards the Boston Bruins within the 1993 Stanley Cup Playoffs that despatched the Sabres to the second spherical for the primary time in a decade.
Jeanneret ended his time as Buffalo’s play-by-play announcer following the 2021-22 season, however his impression on the sport of hockey shall be felt without end.
