Buffalo Sabres Mourn The Passing of a Legend

A sad day for literally generations of Buffalo Sabres fans, as legendary play-by-play broadcaster Rick Jeanneret has passed away at the age of 81.

The Buffalo Sabres mourn the life of our legendary broadcaster and a member of our family, Rick Jeanneret, who passed away today.

We send all of our love to his family and friends, and the entire Sabres community.https://t.co/PWa0TK9DAp pic.twitter.com/aM1zwvUeMK

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) August 18, 2023

Jeanneret was the inimitable voice of the Sabres for an incredible 51 years. When he retired at the end of the 2020-21 season, he went down in history as the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer the National Hockey League has ever seen (or more accurately, heard).

He was a fixture on NHL highlights everywhere for his exciting high-powered, histrionic, and sometimes frenzied calls of goals and even fights. 

His most famous call is certainly his "May Day! May Day!" call of Brad May's 1993 overtime goal that ended Buffalo's 10-year series win drought. It will go down in Sabres lore forever.

Other phrases that Buffalo fans will be familiar with include:

• "Top shelf where Mama hides the cookies" 
• "We are not worthy." 
• "Call a cop! He robbed him!"
• "La-La-La-La-La-La-LaFontaine!" 
• "Wowie Housley." 

From 1972-72 to 2020-21, Jeannerete was a staple on Buffalo Sabres games.

He will be greatly missed by all. 

“Rick was indeed a very special and very loved man, to and by all, who knew him and listened to him, his magic, and his command,” Sabres owner Terry Pegula said in the team statement. “How glad I am to have known him. How lucky were we all to have been around him and to have listened to him. 

“Rick Jeanneret’s mark on Sabres history extends far beyond the broadcast booth and we will miss him dearly.”

NHLTR sends its deepest condolences to the Jeanneret family.