Sabres Factoid of the Day - Read and/or Submit Your Own!

[ScottyMCSS]

8-18-10

The First Trainer

We're goin' way back in time for today's factoid folks, but hang on for the ride. It's well worth the price of admission, which come to think of it, is free.

From the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame:

(Frank) Christie was a fixture in Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium for nearly forty years. As trainer for the Bisons until the team folded in 1970 to make way for the National Hockey League expansion club Buffalo Sabres, he watched a steady stream of players and coaches file through Buffalo on their way to greatness.

He was on hand to witness the first training camp of a youngster named Bobby Hull, and he helped ease the path to the NHL for a young, nervous goaltender named Jacques Plante. Frank saw the coaching genius of Billy Rea and Fred Shero. Later, with the Sabres, Frank bandaged the bruises of the French Connection, taped the sticks of Gare and Foligno, and imparted his wisdom to a host of players who wore the blue and gold during his tenure with the club.

No individual in Buffalo hockey history was more involved with more players on an everyday basis than Christie, and he grew to be a friend, counselor, and confidant to nearly every one of them. Players would seek out Christie for assistance in dealing not only with strained muscles, but also with strained relationships.

"It (hockey) is a hard life, and a lot of these kids are scared," Christie once remarked. "They've got to have someone they can talk to." Frank provided that sounding board for generations of players.

Punch Imlach, then the Sabres' coach and general manager, told The Buffalo News in 1970: "He has always been an asset to the sport, and his popularity with the players is well known. It would almost be unthinkable for a club representing Buffalo to take the ice without Frank Christie in attendance."

Frank toiled for the Sabres almost until his passing in 1986. His subtle, yet invaluable, contributions to Buffalo hockey were rewarded with his selection to the inaugural class of the Sabres Hall of Fame.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-18-10

The First Trainer

Sometimes, it's about more than just the coaches and players. From the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame:

(Frank) Christie's life in hockey began in 1933. A native of New York City, Christie's first hockey job was working as a stick boy for the New York Americans, then a club in the National Hockey League. Upon completing his service in the army during World War II, Christie accepted the job of trainer for the American Hockey League's Buffalo Bisons.

Christie was a fixture in Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium for nearly forty years. As trainer for the Bisons until the team folded in 1970 to make way for the National Hockey League expansion club Buffalo Sabres, he watched a steady stream of players and coaches file through Buffalo on their way to greatness.

He was on hand to witness the first training camp of a youngster named Bobby Hull, and he helped ease the path to the NHL for a young, nervous goaltender named Jacques Plante. Frank saw the coaching genius of Billy Rea and Fred Shero. Later, with the Sabres, Frank bandaged the bruises of the French Connection, taped the sticks of Gare and Foligno, and imparted his wisdom to a host of players who wore the blue and gold during his tenure with the club.

No individual in Buffalo hockey history was more involved with more players on an everyday basis than Christie, and he grew to be a friend, counselor, and confidant to nearly every one of them. Players would seek out Christie for assistance in dealing not only with strained muscles, but also with strained relationships.

"It (hockey) is a hard life, and a lot of these kids are scared," Christie once remarked. "They've got to have someone they can talk to." Frank provided that sounding board for generations of players.

Punch Imlach, then the Sabres' coach and general manager, told The Buffalo News in 1970: "He has always been an asset to the sport, and his popularity with the players is well known. It would almost be unthinkable for a club representing Buffalo to take the ice without Frank Christie in attendance."

Frank worked for the Sabres almost until his passing in 1986.

His subtle, yet invaluable, contributions to Buffalo hockey were rewarded with his selection to the inaugural class of the Sabres Hall of Fame, where he then joined Punch Imlach, Tim Horton, Fred Hunt, and Roger Crozier.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-19-10

Before There was Rayzor

Before Buffalo's obsession with Rob "Rayzor" Ray, there was "Scary Larry" Playfair.

Larry lead the Sabres in penalty minutes for six straight seasons (1979-85) He was the first Sabre to reach the 1000 penalty minute mark in a career as well as the first to break the 200 PIM plateau in one season, which he did twice.

He also set a club record for most PIM's in one season, racking up 258 in '81-'82. (Rayzor would later crush the record, putting up 354 PIM's in '91-'92.)

Playfair was also used up front when the Sabres needed some extra punch to their offense. A typical line? Lindy Ruff, Val James, and Larry Playfair. Crunchtime.

Here's a classic clip of Larry in action. Love the commentary.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-20-10

The Sabres hit Rock Bottom and Get "Sneaky"

In 1986-'87, the Sabres finished the season dead last in the league for the first time in franchise history.

Their 308 goals allowed during the season was the most ever in franchise history. Offensively, the team didn't fare much better, scoring only 280 goals, the lowest since the 1973-74 season.

At least they got Pierre "Sneaky Pete" Turgeon out of that mess, with the first overal pick in the 1987 NHL entry draft.

Here is a video of Turgeon's selection on that draft day. Vintage stuff. Very cool.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-22-10

Sabre Killers, Part III

Finally. "A Sabre Killer" list where we can't see Daniel Alfredsson's name. From the Sabres Media Guide:

CAREER GOALTENDER WINS vs. BUFFALO

Martin Brodeur 27
Patrick Roy 24
Mike Liut 22
Dan Bouchard 19
Bernie Parent 18

Parent, though at the bottom of the leader board, likely pains fans the most. In the '75 Cup FInals, Parent led the Flyers, allowing only 12 goals in the six games, capped with a shutout. (He became the first player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy for two consecutive years.)

"We're gonna' win that Cup?" Nice song. Wrong outcome.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-29-10

"Oops"-Pee-Chee

From the blog "Ya! The Habs Rule:"

I guess back in the early ‘70s, then London, ON based hockey card producer O-Pee-Chee got wind of an inaccurate trade rumor.

The company was led to believe that the Canadiens centre was about to be traded to the Buffalo Sabres.

The company did not verify it and airbrushed Lemaire’s photo and applied the Sabres logo to the card.

You’d think they would have wondered which Sabres to change to Canadiens players, no?

The card is now considered a UER (uncorrected error) in the card collector’s market, and would have raised the eyebrows of youngsters opening their packs of cards 25 years ago.

You can view the card here.

[ScottyMCSS]

1-26-11:

Byr On Ice

Paul Byron scored last night as the Sabres defeated the hated Senators 3-2 in overtime. Byron's goal, midway through the first period, came off his first shot ever in the NHL.

Thundering applause from 40-50 fans at Ottawa's Scotiabank arena broke out, cheering for the hometown kid grown and bred in Ottawa.

A sweet start to what hopefully turns into a sweet career for the latest small sparkplugger for the Blue and Gold.

[Temper]

Sounds like Rob Ray. He scored two goals in his debut, and two goals in his last game. How ironic is that?

Lol yeah that was weird as heck.