Who was Rick Jeanneret? Legendary Buffalo Sabres broadcaster dead at 81

John Jeanneret, who was a Canadian television and radio personality and died on August 17, 2023, was best known for his 51 years as the play-by-play announcer for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League and their broadcast network, the Sabres Hockey Network.

He was the NHL’s longest-serving play-by-play commentator, beginning his career with the team on radio during the team’s second season in 1971–72 and retiring after the 2021–22 campaign.

During the 1995–96 season, he switched to television, and in the 1997–98 campaign, he started splitting his time between radio and television play-by-play. Within the Sabres organization and among his close friends, he was referred to as “RJ”. He was reared in Terrace Bay, Ontario, and was born on July 23, 1942, in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Who was Rick Jeanneret? Legendary Buffalo Sabres broadcaster dead at 81

The Buffalo Sabres announced on Thursday that play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret, a member of the Hall of Fame, has passed away at the age of 81. As the Sabres’ announcer for five decades, Jeanneret made several memorable calls.

From 1971–72 to 2021–22, Jeanneret was the Sabres’ play-by-play announcer. Because of his prowess in the booth, Jeanneret was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, and Sabres Hall of Fame.