Rick Jeanneret, a Hall of Fame broadcaster and longtime voice of the Buffalo Sabres, passed away on Thursday night.
Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play broadcaster Rick Jeanneret died at 81 after an extended health battle, the Sabres announced.
Who was Rick Jeanneret?
John Richard Jeanneret was a Canadian television and radio personality best known as the play-by-play announcer for the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres and its broadcast network, the Sabres Hockey Network for 51 years.
Having started with the team on radio during the team’s second season in 1971–72, and ending his career after the 2021–22 season, he was the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer with a single team in NHL history.
He moved to television during the 1995–96 season and began doubling both television and radio play-by-play duties during the 1997–98 season. He is known as “RJ” within the Sabres organization and by close associates.
Rick Jeanneret was a Canadian citizen of Swiss descent. He was born on July 23, 1942, in St. Catharines, Ontario, and raised in Terrace Bay, Ontario.
He was known for his energetic delivery (especially during big plays and fights), colorful player nicknames, passionate goal calls, and his trademark suspenders worn on air and uncanny resemblance to late comedian Rodney Dangerfield.
Rick Jeanneret announced every Sabres season from 1971–72 through 2021–22. The inaugural season was announced in its entirety on radio by Ted Darling, and for seven games on television by then-unknown Dave Hodge, who the next year left to become the host of Hockey Night in Canada.
Jeanneret worked alongside Jim Lorentz for over 20 years before Lorentz retired. Harry Neale, former color commentator for the Toronto Maple Leafs regional broadcasts and was a commentator on Hockey Night in Canada until the end of the 2006–07 season, was Jeanneret’s partner through the 2011–12 season.
Former Sabres enforcer Rob Ray was the ice-level reporter with him and Neale for five years and was Jeanneret’s partner for the MSG Network and WGR, occasionally alternating with Martin Biron.
Rick Jeanneret cause of death
Rick Jeanneret died on August 17, 2023, from multiple organ failure, which his family stated had begun in 2021 during his final season with the team. He was 81
The Sabres released a statement from Jeanneret’s family saying, “It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, Rick Jeanneret, Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Buffalo Sabres,” the Jeanneret family said in a statement released by the Sabres.
“Rick died on August 17, 2023 with his family by his side after a two-year battle with multi-organ failures. He will be loved forever.”
Rick Jeanneret is survived by his wife, Sandra, his children Mark, Chris and Shelly, and numerous grandchildren.
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