Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN/WGR 550) - Hearts are heavy this weekend, as the local sports community remembers Buffalo Sabres broadcasting legend Rick Jeanneret, who passed at the age of 81 on Thursday due to multi-organ system failure.
Related
Sabres head coach Don Granato and star forward Alex Tuch both joined "The Jeremy White Show" on Friday to share some fond memories of a man who spent the majority of his long and accomplished career being the voice of the Sabres.
"I want to just say thank you to Rick," said Tuch on Friday with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "My earliest memories of hockey are of him calling the Sabres games. He has a couple of the most iconic calls in sports history and hockey. I really enjoy just thinking back, and was doing a little reminiscing last night of his go-to overtime call where he holds the long 'O'. Every time I remember just being so excited when the Sabres won in overtime. That is something that I'll always remember."
LISTEN LIVE TO WGR:
When Tuch became a member of the Sabres following the Jack Eichel trade to the Vegas Golden Knights, the first person he wanted to meet was the Jeanneret himself.
"I came to one of the games and I was injured, I was up in the press box and I immediately went to our PR people and I go, 'Can I meet Rick Jeanneret?' They were like, 'Oh, really?', and I was like, 'Yeah, I want to meet Rick. I know he's here. I know he's calling the game. I really want to meet RJ,'" Tuch said. "That is something that's gonna be really special for my Dad and I to talk about. I grew up watching the games with him and my little brother, too, the whole family. His voice is something that I'll always remember."
As for Granato, he says Jeanneret was not only the best at broadcasting Buffalo, but he was "magic" at making memories that will live with him, the team and the community forever. He adds when Jeanneret walked into a room, one could feel his presence and feel the connection with him and the team he has loved for decades.
"He could walk in our coach's room and in our locker room, and make people feel good about themselves and where they were going in a heartbeat," Granato said during his appearance on WGR. "That's magic. That's an amazing guy for me to have had in my life, and we will miss him dearly because of that."
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams also shared his thoughts and memories of Jeanneret following his passing. Hear more available in the player below:
Related
