Rick Jeanneret Headed to Hockey Hall of Fame

             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!

MIke Robitaille Interview

I just recently did an interview with former NHLer Mike Robitaille. Mike Robitaille spent his career with the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers and, Detroit Red Wings. Robitaille's career ended after multiple injuries in 1977. Robitalle joined the Sabres Broadcast crew in 1991 and has been a part ever since. Robitaille played in 382 regular season NHL games, scoring 23 goals and adding 105 assists. Mike still resides in the Buffalo area and is part of the Sabres Alumni Association. Mike and his wife also own Robitalle Real Estate . Though Mike's career has been long over, Mike still interacts with fans in the Buffalo area and has been a fan favorite. This interview is another interview done with the help of The Puck Stops Here Please enjoy! Questions are in Blue and answers are in Green!

1. What do you miss most about living in Canada?

    Nothing much---- I became a U.S. citizen 10 years ago

2. Who did you have the most fun playing with? Also who was your favorite line mate?

 Ab Demarco Jr. and my favorite defense partner was Tim Horton

3. During you career what goalie did you have a particularly hard Time scoring against?

Seemed like all of them but maybe Tony Esposito Chicago Blackhawkes

4. What is your Number 1 regret, what didn't you accomplish during your career?

 Took playing too serious and never had enough fun

 

5. What was the high point of your career?

 Being chosen to play in the NHL All Star game---broke my wrist a week before and couldn't play in the game ----also being chosen for the unsung hero award in the NHL

6. What is your greatest memory of hockey player?

 Being chosen the best defensmen in Jr A hockey ( Kitchener Rangers)

7. Now being a Intermission reporter, what do you miss most about the game? What has been the biggest change since your years in the NHL, compared to the NHL of today?

 Really nothing as the game didn't come easy to me. The biggest changes has been how scientific the game has become---the condition of the players---and the amount of money to be made in such as short amount of time 

8. When you were younger what NHL star did you look up to?

They were all heroes to me as I was growing up.

9. If you could meet any hockey player past or present, who would it be?

Eddie Shore

10. What former teammate/player are you closest to still today?

Larry Carriere my former defense partner with the Sabres

11. What do you like most about being an analyst for the Sabres?

Speaking and explaining the game in simple terms ----- also working for terrific owners who make decisions with morals over money

12. Growing up, what was your favorite team?

Detroit

13. Do you miss playing hockey? 

Not at all---toughest job I've ever had by far

14. Do you like being part of the Sabres Alumni? 

Proud of the Alumni and so many players that have made a difference in our community.

It was another great interview and we appreciate the interview from Mike Robitaille! Stay tuned for more! 

Buffalo Sabres Alumni Spotlight: Andrew Peters

        When Buffalo Sabres fans think about some of the great enforcers during the Franchises history, Original fans think of Jim Schoenfield, Larry Playfair, and Jerry Korab. Then fans during the 90s defiantly can't forget the line of Enforcers consisting of Rob Ray, Matthew Barnaby, and Brad May. Now fans look to guys like Cody McCormick and Patrick Kaleta to stand up for their team. However, Sabres fans can't forget who protected the Sabres after Rob Ray was traded to Ottawa in '03.

             Andrew Peters was selected 34th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1998 NHL draft. Peters wouldn't even have to leave the area for team relations as the Draft was held in Buffalo that year. However, "Prime Time" remained with his OHL Oshawa Generals and his final year with the Kitchener Rangers until 2000-01 when he joined the AHL Rochester Americans. While in Rochester, Andrew got into an on-ice fight with his brother Geoff Peters. Andrew stated in an interview after the game that he did not know it was his brother that he was fighting. Later on, for a short time, the two brothers played together for the Amerks. In Peters 2nd year with the Amerks, he lead the league with 388 penalty mins.

                In Peters' 1st season with the Sabres, Peters played 42 games, scored 2 goals, and had 151 Penalty mins. Peters had taken over right where Rob Ray left off. The two hard nose enforcers even were engaged in a fight during a Sabres VS Ottawa contest. Peters continued to harass players around the NHL. February 22, 2007 was no different.

                On February 22, 2007 Sabres Captain Chris Drury was hit by Sens Enforcer Chris Neil. Drury was taken out of the game with a concussion but the next play is when everything occurred. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff sent out his top fighters to send a message to the Sens that they weren't going to be messed with. As soon as the whistle blew, everyone was looking for a partner including the goaltenders. Marty Biron went after Ray Emery and the scrambled for awhile. After the referees attempted to break up the brawl, Peters skated over to Emery and had some unfinished business to accomplish. The two of them started to go at it for awhile before being split up by the refs. However as this was going on, the coaches also wanted a piece of each other. The coaches started a huge yelling match between the benches. Coincidentally, Rob Ray was once again in the middle of this as he was doing TV work for the Sabres. Peters and a few others were thrown out after the fight. Peters was not only trying to go after Emery, he really wanted a piece of Chris Neil who was sitting in the penalty box during the brawl from the previous hit.

                 Surprisingly enough, on January 6, 2009 Peters was once again involved in an incident with the Senators. Sens forward Jarkko Ruutu and Peters started to get into a scrum. Ruutu was unhappy with Peters and grabbed his hand and bit him. Ruutu denies he ever bit Peters but it was clear he really did. Ruutu even stated, "I had his fingers in my mouth but didn't bite." The next day Ruutu was suspend for 1 game by the NHL. Peters was very shocked by the incident and said he never saw anything like that before.

                 Following the 2009 season, Peters would not return to the Sabres. He was invited to the Devils training camp and later signed to a 2 year deal. However after a poor season, the Devils waived Peters and he was bought out of his 2nd year. He signed with the Panthers the following year and was sent to the Amerks. In October, he was traded to the Canucks and following being kicked off the Amerks, Peters announced his retirement 3 months later.

                 Peters now resides in the Buffalo area and is part of the Buffalo Sabres Alumni. He is frequently spotted attending Sabres games and still very involved with the team. Aside from hockey, in his free time, Peters helps numerous charities, and made several visits to Children's Hospitals in both Buffalo and Rochester during his career.He was also a featured member at Ryan Miller's "Catwalk for Charity" events. In 2008, Peters would tend bar at the Pearl St. Grill and Brewery during the summer with all tips going to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.Peters and his wife also did work to promote the Family Justice Center of Western New York, which works with women who have been victims of domestic violence.In 2010, Peters was a big part of two charity hockey games. In the first ever "Hockey Night in St. Catharines" he was able to gather some other NHL players from the area to play in the game which ended up raising over $100,000 for the United Way. Also, he participated in a game in Rochester for the late Craig Charron, who was a former teammate of Peters.

                  Andrew is always very kind with fans. Always willing to talk and chat. He will also willingly sign autographs for fans who ask. Peters has always been known as a piratical prankster. Peters is also now involved with the Time Warner Sports show Enforcers with Rob Ray.