The long awaited moment Sabres fans have been waiting for has finally arrived. No, sadly it's not the Return of Dominik Hasek or that they decided to reawarded the 1999 Stanley Cup to the Sabres after the mistaken "No Goal." Rick Jeanneret is finally joining the hollowed sacred territory all NHL players, coaches, referees, and personal dream of making it to: The Hockey Hall of Fame. RJ has been along for all the great and sad times in Sabres history. He was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres this past season along with fellow HHOFer Dale Hawerchuk. Also very recently he was inducted into the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Even though RJ has stated making the Sabres Hall of Fame was the greatest honor, bigger then the HHOF would be, I'm sure this has to be a really huge honor for the long term legendary play-by-play.
"I never dreamed of this when I started", Jeanneret told Buffalo's Channel 7 Sports Director Jeff Russo on Friday. "All of the Halls are special, this one has been my business for over forty years, so it's very special as well. The fact that I will be going into a Hall, a second Hall, with the late Ted Darling means a lot." Darling received the Foster Hewitt Award in 1995 (Read full article from Channel 7 here). Jeanneret has been selected to receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award which honors excellence in hockey broadcasting.
"I'm excited, there's no doubt about that whatsoever," Rick Jeanneret said by phone. "You can try and act blase and try and say, 'Well, it's just another day in RJ's life,' but it's not. It really does mean something."It means a lot to me when the fans recognize me for what I do, but they do that on a regular basis. Organizations such as halls of fame don't do it on a regular basis, particularly the Hockey Hall of Fame. There's been a lot of broadcasters in the NHL who are not in the Hockey Hall of Fame, so it's impressive to me to be allowed within the doors."
RJ has been the play-by-play for the Sabres for years and has been found as one of the top announcers of all time. Some people think his career behind the mic is finally winding down. RJ had a cut schedule this past season where he called most of the home games and a limited number of away games. Rick has been a mastermind of calling the game. He's made many great calls over the years including the legendary "Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalafontaine," "May Day May Day May Day," "Top Shelf Where Mama Hides The Cookies," "Now Do You Believe!?," and many many more that Sabres and hockey fans will never forget.
RJ's career started by mistake when he was in an attendance at a junior game in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The normal Play-By-Play was sick so they came into the stands asking for someone to call the game. RJ stating that he never done it before agreed to give it a shot. At that time, a legend was born. RJ then went on to broadcast for the Sabres since their 2nd season in 1971-72 and has done it since. Brad May says that the "May Day" call is a major reason he was made famous around the league. Pat Lafontaine says that almost anywhere he goes, he commonally hears "Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalafontaine" even outside of Buffalo. Marty Biron said in the Sabres DVD "Top Shelf: The Rick Jenneret Story" that he remembers growing up watching the top plays and hearing Rick Jenneret making these famous calls that fans still talk about to this day.
Rick Jenneret will also be joined in the Hall of Fame by Roy MacGregor who writes hockey articles in the Toronto area. "I have much admiration for Roy MacGregor," Jeanneret said. "I've read him for years and years and years, and I think he's a huge authority on the game of hockey and on the game of life."
The ceremony in Toronto will bring the number of broadcasting and writing honorees in the Hockey Hall of Fame to 88."I'm looking forward to it," said Jeanneret, who will be accompanied by his biggest fan. "My mom, she'll be there again. You know that. She'll be pumped up to be there, for sure. She's gung-ho to go already. She's got her bag to go to Toronto."
As Rick Jenneret finally is gaining his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame, we leave you with some of the top Rick Jenneret moments of all time. Enjoy!
"I'm excited, there's no doubt about that whatsoever," Rick Jeanneret said by phone. "You can try and act blase and try and say, 'Well, it's just another day in RJ's life,' but it's not. It really does mean something."It means a lot to me when the fans recognize me for what I do, but they do that on a regular basis. Organizations such as halls of fame don't do it on a regular basis, particularly the Hockey Hall of Fame. There's been a lot of broadcasters in the NHL who are not in the Hockey Hall of Fame, so it's impressive to me to be allowed within the doors."
RJ has been the play-by-play for the Sabres for years and has been found as one of the top announcers of all time. Some people think his career behind the mic is finally winding down. RJ had a cut schedule this past season where he called most of the home games and a limited number of away games. Rick has been a mastermind of calling the game. He's made many great calls over the years including the legendary "Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalafontaine," "May Day May Day May Day," "Top Shelf Where Mama Hides The Cookies," "Now Do You Believe!?," and many many more that Sabres and hockey fans will never forget.
RJ's career started by mistake when he was in an attendance at a junior game in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The normal Play-By-Play was sick so they came into the stands asking for someone to call the game. RJ stating that he never done it before agreed to give it a shot. At that time, a legend was born. RJ then went on to broadcast for the Sabres since their 2nd season in 1971-72 and has done it since. Brad May says that the "May Day" call is a major reason he was made famous around the league. Pat Lafontaine says that almost anywhere he goes, he commonally hears "Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalafontaine" even outside of Buffalo. Marty Biron said in the Sabres DVD "Top Shelf: The Rick Jenneret Story" that he remembers growing up watching the top plays and hearing Rick Jenneret making these famous calls that fans still talk about to this day.
Rick Jenneret will also be joined in the Hall of Fame by Roy MacGregor who writes hockey articles in the Toronto area. "I have much admiration for Roy MacGregor," Jeanneret said. "I've read him for years and years and years, and I think he's a huge authority on the game of hockey and on the game of life."
The ceremony in Toronto will bring the number of broadcasting and writing honorees in the Hockey Hall of Fame to 88."I'm looking forward to it," said Jeanneret, who will be accompanied by his biggest fan. "My mom, she'll be there again. You know that. She'll be pumped up to be there, for sure. She's gung-ho to go already. She's got her bag to go to Toronto."
As Rick Jenneret finally is gaining his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame, we leave you with some of the top Rick Jenneret moments of all time. Enjoy!
