Sabres Hockey Network Information & Sabres Hockey Network Links at HealthHaven.com

The Sabres Hockey Network is the official radio and television broadcast network of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. The network is currently operated jointly by the Sabres and by Entercom Communications.

Rick Jeanneret is the network's play-by-play voice and has served in that capacity since 1971, with Harry Neale currently serving as color commentator. Mike Robitaille fills in as commentator when Neale has other duties or is ill.

The radio network's postgame show is hosted by WGR personality Brian Koziol. Mike Schopp and Chris "Bulldog" Parker host the pre-game show, which airs only on WGR. On television, there is no pregame, and the postgame show, entitled The Shootout, is hosted by Kevin Sylvester, Rob Ray and Mike Robitaille. (Prior to 2005, the television pregame-postgame shows were simulcast on radio. The postgame was known as Hockey Hotline and hosted by Robitaille, first with host Brian Blessing and then Josh Mora.)

[edit] Current Radio Network

WGR 550 AM Buffalo, New York (flagship station)
WCMF 96.5 FM Rochester, New York
WROC 950 AM Rochester, New York (regular season games only)
WKSN 1340 AM Jamestown, New York
WMXO 101.5 FM Olean, New York
WBTA 1490 AM Batavia, New York
WDOE 1410 AM Dunkirk, New York

[edit] Television

MSG Network throughout Upstate New York; the team and network are contracted for 70 games, with the play-by-play and commentary simulcasted over video. The other 12 air only on the radio half of the network, including all games broadcast on the league's national outlets.
- Games against the New York Rangers, New York Islanders or New Jersey Devils (other hockey teams to which MSG owns TV rights) will carry the Sabres Hockey Network feed on the SAP of MSG or MSG Plus in New York City and the surrounding areas.
On DirecTV, channel 638 (and 638-1 for HD games) is used exclusively for Sabres games.
In the past, single games were sold to one of the Buffalo broadcast stations (WGRZ-TV, WIVB-TV and WKBW-TV), usually games played on Saturdays. This has not happened since MSG took over the broadcast contract.

Games carried by Versus, NBC, and CBC Television are not produced by the Sabres, and these television broadcasts are not considered to be part of the Sabres Hockey Network. The network produces "radio only" broadcasts for its terrestrial affiliates when these games air.

[edit] Former flagships

late 1990s: WHTT-FM
2000-2004: WNSA-FM (co-owned, along with the Sabres, by John Rigas)

[edit] Personalities, past and present

Current:
Rick Jeanneret, TV and radio play-by-play
Harry Neale, TV and radio color commentator
Rob Ray, studio analyst and bench reporter
Kevin Sylvester, studio host
Mike Robitaille, studio analyst

Past:
Ted Darling, TV play-by-play (1970-1991)
Dave Hodge, radio play-by-play (1970-1971)
Jim Lorentz, color commentator (1981-2007)
Danny Gare, bench reporter (?-2004)
Brian Blessing, studio analyst (1995-2004)
John Gurtler, TV play-by-play (1991-1995)
Josh Mora, studio host

[edit] Miscellaneous notes

The Sabres radio network also simulcasts Schopp and the Bulldog to WROC in Rochester.

The Rochester situation is unique in that a different station carries regular season games than in the postseason. This is because WROC has a much weaker AM signal, and the network switched to FM station WBZA to maximize coverage during the postseason. In 2008, with Entercom's purchase of WCMF, Sabres games moved to that channel instead.

Since 1995, the radio play-by-play has been simulcast on the station's cable partner (Empire Sports Network from 1995 to 2004, and MSG Network from 2005 to the present). Prior to this, Ted Darling was the team's television play-by-play voice, though he was forced to retire due to Pick's disease in 1991. John Gurtler did TV play-by-play from 1991 to 1995. Unlike most shows on MSG Network, the Sabres control all television broadcasts of their games.

[edit] External links

Buffalo Sabres Official Site - Sabres Hockey Network