Who Wore It: Sabres History – #6
Jim Schoenfeld has a couple of things that most hockey players aren’t exactly known for: two music albums, recorded during his first stint with the Buffalo Sabres. The former NHLer spent most of his playing career with the Sabres before he dove into the coaching world.
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JIM SCHOENFELD
Defense, b. 1952
Drafted by the Sabres, 1972
Schoenfeld spent a few years before the NHL playing in the OHA with a trio of teams: the London Knights, Hamilton Red Wings and Niagara Falls Flyers. After being drafted by the Sabres 5th overall in 1972, the Galt, Ontario native joined the NHL team soon after – and that’s where he’s spend most of the next 10 seasons.
During his tenure with the Sabres, Schoenfeld recorded and released two albums. His first, Schony, released in 1972, consisted mostly of covers of various songs. His second album, The Key Is Love, was released in 1974 and was composed entirely of original songs.
Schoenfeld’s departure from the Sabres came on December 2, 1981, when he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in a blockbuster trade. Schoenfeld, along with Danny Gare and Derek R. Smith, went to Detroit in exchange for Mike Foligno, Dale McCourt and Brent R. Peterson.
He spent two seasons with Detroit, then one with Boston, before signing for one more year with the Sabres in 1984-85.
Overall, he played 584 regular season games with the Sabres and scored 45 goals and 183 assists in that time. He also racked up 1,025 penalty minutes as a member of the blue and gold.
After hanging up his skates, he finished off the 1984-85 season as head coach of the AHL’s Rochester Americans. Schoenfeld then spent one year as coach of the Sabres, notching a 19-19-5-0 record.
He went on to coach the New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals and Phoenix Coyotes. In 2002, he was named an assistant coach with the New York Rangers. Schoenfeld also coached the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL from 2005 until 2007.
Currently, Schoenfeld is assistant general manager of the Rangers. He also acts as general manager of the Wolf Pack.
Other Sabres players to wear #6: Mike Weber, Jaroslav Spacek, Cory Sarich, Bob Boughner, Doug Houda, Keith Carney, Phil Housley, Ron Fischer, Al Hamilton.