The Buffalo Sabres recently lost one of their legendary voices

If you are a Buffalo Sabres fan, yesterday was a very, very bad day. As the longtime voice Rick Jenrette passed away, it's time to talk with a friend of Rick Jenrette. Amid all the fun and excitement of hockey and all the developing, all the developing that's going to go around, go on around PNC Arena and a 20-year lease agreement, there was sadness in hockey last night as Rick Jenrette, 81 years old, a 51-year career. The voice of the Buffalo Sabres passed away yesterday.

And I hate to bring in Chuck Caton in a sad time. We like to talk about happy things. But I know you knew Rick very well. He is one of those legends, as you are, sir, in the Hall of Fame, one of those legends of hockey broadcasting. So I'm sorry for your loss because I know you guys were very good friends.

Just your thoughts on the passing. Well, first of all, I appreciate, Adam, you giving me this opportunity. Thank you for asking me to be on the show today because Rick was a very special person. And I, of course, met him when I joined the Whalers in 1979.

And from 81 to basically 92 or 93, we were in what was the old Adams division with the Sabres and the Whalers. So I got to see a lot of Rick. And I'm very, very sad for his wife, Sandra, his three kids. And basically, I expressed those condolences in a tweet on behalf of the NHL Broadcasters Association, of which I'm still president.

So, yeah, it really hit home with me. But, you know, I like to think about the good times. And one of those good times came last November. I believe it was the third when the Sabres actually had the, quote, audacity to have one of their watch parties.

Buffalo brothers on Lake Boon Trail. And they had saber dignitaries there. And Rick Jenner was one of them. And I admire him because I surprised him by being there. And they had over 800 people there.

They closed the restaurant and they had Rick there signing autographs for three straight hours. And he was so gracious to all the fans that were like little kids in a candy store to meet him. And that's the kind of impact he had on Buffalo Saber fans.

And it was really heartwarming to see. Look, I know that there are a lot of Buffalo natives and natives of western New York who live here. They had 800 people at a Buffalo brothers?

Oh, my God. You couldn't believe this. They pre-sold tickets, Adam, for this event. And I got there. I got the word that Rick was going to be there around five thirty. So I got there about five. I knew this was going to be a madhouse. So I tried to get a good parking spot.

As you know, parking is very scarce at that location. You can't even imagine what it was like. But I got in there, I snuck in the front and I was sitting there and the PR lady who preceded Rick and the entourage. Now, Rick came along with Marty Bierau. Rob Ray was there.

So they had a whole contingent of not only broadcasters, but several retired Saber players that people could meet. So it was it was quite an affair. And then when Rick came through the door and saw me, I will not use the expletive that he used. He said, what the bleep are you doing here? And I said, Rick, I came to see you.

And because obviously I haven't been around for a while. So it was just so good to see him and the other guys and to sit with him. He says, well, will you sit with me at the autograph table?

I said, I'd be happy to. And we were talking in between signing. And he was so gracious to everybody that came.

You know, signing pictures, signing jerseys, signing hats and all these Saber fans, you know, said the same thing to him. I grew up listening to you. I you know, the wonderful moments, the May Day, the you know, the put it upstairs where Mama hides the cookies and all the other great phrases.

And of course, he called coined the phrase they're going to all over time. I mean, but I've got a great story for you. Early days, Hartford Civic Center, we used to broadcast in the stands. So you had the lower level come up, then you had the broadcast tables. And I was two sections away from Rick one night. And in those days, a certain broadcasters used to like to have alcoholic beverages during the game.

And Rick was one of them. And I know he would not. He's looking down on us right now. He would not mind me telling the story.

So get this one. He's there. Somebody brings him a beer. He puts it on the table and he's doing the game.

And lo and behold, a fan who was sitting just under him reached up and grabbed that beer and stole it from him during the play by play. And here's Rick Jenner. This is typical. And I'm going to try to do my best impression of him. OK, OK. Here's Andrew Schock over to Danny Gair.

Gair hands it over. And somebody just stole my beer. It was hilarious. And somebody taped it and and played it.

And it was the most hilarious thing. And he comes to me at the end of the game. He says, your fans are brutal. I said, what are you talking about? Somebody stole my beer during the middle of the game. But he didn't miss a beat on the air. He's talking about the game.

And somebody stole my beer. It was hilarious. I mean, that's one of the he's painting the picture.

He was painting the picture. He always did. And that's what I loved about Rick.

I mean, he was just a delightful person to be around. Another thing we had was, you know, the Wailers weren't a really a good team in the early 80s. I mean, they made the playoffs in 80 my first year, but then they had a drought until the 85 86 season.

So I was in the Memorial Auditorium one night and Rick would come over as broadcasters do. We compare notes and he wanted to know about my lineup of the Wailers and the Wailers. You know, we're a good team. They're the first place in the Adams division and doing a great job in 86 87. So I happen to make a snide comment to him. I said, well, we have our set lineup.

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Okay. Well, he took that phrase from me and threw it in my face 15, 20 years later when we didn't have such a satellite, especially the early days with the hurricanes before we made the playoffs. And he said, wow, how's your set lineup tonight? He was just, he was just a fantastic, I mean, that's, there's so many things that, uh, I remember about Rick and then, and then there was the, uh, famous old six playoffs where obviously the Buffalo Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes played in the Eastern conference finals.

So now who's outside, we were going to a game, we're playing the game in the, uh, while it was Marine Midland arena, HSBC arena, Holy smokes, Buffalo's cold arena. I used to call it, but, but so Rick generates outside leading a pep rally before the game. And, uh, that's how much he was admired and loved.

I mean, he can't get a picture. He was, and then Martin Kerber got into the act and played that fantastic game. You'll remember that particular night. And, uh, we kind of burst Ricky's bubble, but this is how popular he was to the saber fans. It's, it's incredible. Well, I appreciate you sharing some stories of the late Rick Jenrette, 51 year career passed away yesterday at the age of 81.

And I mean, they don't make them like they used to. We say that about you. We say that about Rick.

We say that about a bunch of voices of particular teams in the NHL. I thank you very much for your time. Uh, condolences because I know you feel like part of his family as well.

Uh, and under happier circumstances, we will talk again, sir. Boy, I'm, I'm, uh, very much appreciative, Adam. Uh, I was so happy when you contacted me about this because, uh, Rick meant a lot to the game of hockey and, uh, you know, going into the, uh, uh, broadcasters wing of the hall of fame as he did, uh, 11 years ago was very well worth it to him. And it was just great to see him, uh, uh, be lauded that way.

And thank you for those comments because anytime you can put me in the same breath as Rick Jenrette, it is completely an honor. And, um, just like to close by saying that I'm very happy with what happened the other day. I listened to every minute of your show, uh, about what's going on with the hurricanes and the development around PNC arena.

And I'm extremely ecstatic to hear that and, uh, happy for all hurricane fans as well. Thank you very much, Chuck. I appreciate it.

We will talk very soon. Thank you, Adam. Chuck Caton hall of fame voice formerly of the Carolina hurricanes. Now, just a voice that just brings hockey to the mind. Uh, look, there's a lot, there is a lot of cool stuff going on, not only on the ice with the hurricanes, but around the arena as well.