Moment #2 – R.J. Night, April 1st, 2022
You might be surprised that, as bad as the Buffalo Sabres were in the 2010s and at least during the first half of the 2020s, that there would never be a top five moment in franchise history that took place during their infamous drought. Unless someone who served as the franchise’s voice for a half-century is calling the final few games of his career.
Yes, Rick Jeanneret was the glue that held the first few generations of Sabres fans, coaches, owners, players, personnel, and everyone connected with them together. Since his voice stood the test of time and his presence remained the only constant through good and bad times, I nearly placed this moment at number one. And perhaps in hindsight, RJ deserves to be at the top.
But I’m sure we can all agree that, perhaps over the last 20 seasons, that there were few moments that came close to this one. And if they did come close, well, RJ was calling the game and was, therefore, part of the action.
We might follow different professional sports beyond the NHL. And oftentimes, when you think of the NFL, for example, a broadcaster’s voice may pop into your mind. For me, it’s Pat Summerall. And it shows you just how much value and influence an announcer can have. Rick Jeanneret had that influence for Buffalo fans, and this is a moment in Sabres history that will never be forgotten.