The Buffalo Sabres will be honoring long-time play-by-play announcer, Rick Jeanneret. I honestly wasn’t planning to write anything until I started to think about my favorite RJ calls last night. There are countless, of course, but there are a few that stick out to me.

One of these calls was the first big moment I can recall from watching hockey. One call is from a playoff run that got me back into the sport. The last one is a moment, that to this day, gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it.

The Shot Heard Around the World

Game 1 of the 1999 Stanley Cup Final against the Dallas Stars is my first real memory of watching hockey. I don’t remember a lot but the game, but I can close my eyes and see Jason Woolley’s overtime winner clear as day.

RJ dubbed it the “shot heard around the world.” The quality of the YouTube video below is hilarious, but the call is what matters here.

Scary Good

Every Sabres fan remembers Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Ottawa Senators. Jason Pominville burns Daniel Alfredsson while shorthanded to beat Ray Emery to send the Sabres to the Conference Final.

I was watching this one in the living room of my parents’ house with my mom and brother. I specifically remember this because I took our 10 lb. dog Neeko and zipped him up in the hoodie I was wearing with just his head sticking out for luck on the penalty kill. A minute later Jason Pominville ended it. I was hooked once again.

Who Else?

I didn’t hear this one live because I was at the game with my girlfriend (now wife) and it’s probably the one true sports memory we have together. We were sitting in our season ticket seats in section 313 and I remember nearly tossing her over my head with excitement when Drury scored.

Now, whenever I see this video or hear the call it instantly gives me goosebumps. What a great moment for a club that looked poised to finish the job that they couldn’t complete the year before.

My First Game

I do have one personal memory with RJ that I’ll always carry with me. I was at my first game I was going to be in the press box covering the team. For those of you that don’t know, you have to go up the big freight elevator to get to the press level.

I walked into the elevator and nervously said hi to the security guard that ran the elevator. I was looking at my phone and I heard Rick’s voice say hello to the security guard. Of course, I’m standing there thinking about how I’m in the elevator with a legend. After a few awkward moments, Rick says to me: “is this your first game?” I replied that it was and I don’t remember the exact quote. However, his response was something along the lines of I figured because I’m not sure why anyone else would look so nervous for a regular-season game in October.

It broke the ice for me and it was nice of him to take the time to talk to some guy in the elevator, but that’s the kind of person that he is.

Unfortunately, the Sabres never won a Stanley Cup during his time and it’s a shame that they haven’t been in the postseason for the past 11 years. Over those last 11 years, we were robbed of what other great calls he could have provided us if given the opportunity.

I’m glad it’ll be a packed house tomorrow night because he deserves it.

Photo Credit: NHL.com