Rick Jeanneret | |
---|---|
Born | John Richard Jeanneret July 23, 1942 St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada |
Died | August 17, 2023 Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada | (aged 81)
Occupation | Announcer |
Years active | 1963–2022 |
Spouse | Sandra Dewberry |
Children | Mark Chris |
Sports commentary career | |
Team | Buffalo Sabres |
Genre | Play-by-play announcer |
Sport | Ice hockey |
John Richard Jeanneret[1] (July 23, 1942 – August 17, 2023) 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.[2] 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 was known as "RJ" within the Sabres organization and by close associates.[3]