Rick Jeanneret became famous for announcing the games of the Buffalo Sabres.
Rick Jeanneret has been commentating Buffalo Sabers games since 1971. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
American narrator legend Rick Jeanneret is dead. This was announced by the NHL club Buffalo Sabres. Jeanneret passed away on Thursday at the age of 81.
Jeanneret started reporting for Sabers games in 1971 and did not retire until 2022. Jeanneret reported his first game on the radio, and his first TV coverage was in 1995.
– Rick was truly a special and very loved man. How happy I am to have known him, how lucky we all were to be around him and listen to him, Sabers owner Terry Pegula commented in the release.
Jeanneret’s influence on the entire Sabers organization was so great that a banner bearing his name was raised on the roof of the Sabres’ home arena, KeyBank Center. He also belongs to the Sabers Hall of Fame.
Jeanneret became known, among other things, for his phrases “scary good” and “straight to the top shelf, where mom keeps her cookies”.
Jeanneret grew up in Buffalo. After his final game with commentary, more than 19,000 Sabers fans and hockey followers rose in the KeyBank Center bleachers to give a standing ovation.
Jeanneret will be missed by his wife Sandrahis children Mark, Chris and Shelly as well as his grandchildren.
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