Buffalo Jr. Sabres
| Buffalo Jr. Sabres | |
|---|---|
 |
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| City | Amherst, New York, United States |
| League | Ontario Junior Hockey League |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Home arena | Northtown Center at Amherst |
| Colors | Blue, Yellow, and White |
| General manager | Michael Peca |
| Head coach | Grant Ledyard |
| Franchise history | |
| 1975-1986 | Buffalo Jr. Sabres |
| 1987-1998 | Niagara Scenic |
| 1998-2005 | Buffalo Lightning |
| 2005-Present | Buffalo Jr. Sabres |
The Buffalo Jr. Sabres are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Amherst, New York. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League.
Contents |
[edit] History
This franchise was established in Buffalo, New York in 1975 when the Buffalo Jr. Sabres joined the New York/Pennsylvania Junior Hockey League. The forerunner of the Jr. Sabres seems to have been the West Seneca Cougars of the NY Penn League. The Team has been coached by three former Buffalo Sabres of the NHL> Larry Mickey coached from 1975 to the end of the 1977 season. The following year the Junior Sabres were led by Jim Lorentz. Lorentz coached the team from the 1978-79 season to the 1981-82. Former NHL 1st round draft choice Morris Titanic took over the team for the 1982-83 season and coached until 1985. The team continued in various leagues, including The Western New York Junior Hockey League, The North American Hockey League and the Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League, before suspending operations for one season after the 1985–1986 season. The 1985–86 season saw Buffalo balance a schedule between the Ontario Hockey Association's Golden Horseshoe league and a split season with the NAHL.
In the 1987–1988 season the team began operating again headed by Kris Hicks (Head Coach) and Chuck Giambra (General Manager). They were now known as the Niagara Scenic and were playing a full schedule in the North American Hockey League. The team moved to the Eastern Junior Hockey League for the 1994–1995 season and then joined the Metro Junior A Hockey League beginning in 1995–1996. After the Metro folded, the Scenics became the Buffalo Lightning and moved to the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League. In 2005, the Lightning made a deal with the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres to have them take up the name "Junior Sabres" again and wear the Sabres' old Blue and Gold jerseys.
In 2008 the Buffalo Jr. Sabres were bought out by the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association. Former Buffalo Sabre Larry Playfair took over as team president, while former Buffalo Sabre Grant Ledyard took the reins as head coach and general manager.
In 2011, former Buffalo Sabre Michael Peca was named General Manager in a move which would allow Ledyard greater time to focus on his role as Head Coach.
In January 2012 Ledyard stepped down from his role as head coach. It was announced at that time that Peca will assume the role of head coach for the 2012-13 season, with Russ Certo acting as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.
[edit] Season-by-season results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs | |
| 1983-84 | 50 | 29 | 13 | 8 | - | -- | -- | 66 | 1st NAHL | ||
| 1984-85 | 24 | 6 | 12 | 6 | - | 101 | 117 | 18 | 3rd NAHL | ||
| 1985-86 | 40 | 29 | 9 | 2 | - | 205 | 125 | 60 | 1st GHJHL | Did Not Participate | |
| 1985-86 | 24 | 6 | 14 | 4 | - | 110 | 238 | 16 | 4th NAHL | Split Season in NAHL | |
| 1986-87 | Did Not Participate | ||||||||||
| 1987-88 | 32 | 16 | 12 | 4 | - | 159 | 139 | 36 | 3rd NAHL | ||
| 1988-89 | 40 | 21 | 13 | 6 | - | 220 | 206 | 48 | 3rd NAHL | ||
| 1989-90 | 44 | 20 | 17 | 7 | - | 192 | 215 | 47 | 4th NAHL | ||
| 1990-91 | 40 | 12 | 21 | 7 | - | -- | -- | 31 | 6th NAHL | ||
| 1991-92 | 40 | 15 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 144 | 190 | 34 | 5th NAHL | ||
| 1992-93 | 40 | 14 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 158 | 197 | 36 | 4th NAHL | ||
| 1993-94 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 217 | 167 | 60 | 1st NAHL | ||
| 1994-95 | EJHL Standings Not Available | ||||||||||
| 1995-96 | 52 | 32 | 15 | 5 | - | 294 | 242 | 69 | 4th Metro A | Lost Semi-final | |
| 1996-97 | 50 | 17 | 26 | 7 | - | 230 | 262 | 41 | 9th Metro A | ||
| 1997-98 | 50 | 12 | 36 | 2 | - | 115 | 257 | 26 | 15th Metro A | ||
| 1998-99 | 51 | 11 | 34 | 4 | 2 | 148 | 249 | 28 | 10th OPJHL-W | ||
| 1999-00 | 49 | 13 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 170 | 236 | 30 | 9th OPJHL-W | ||
| 2000-01 | 49 | 25 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 203 | 176 | 58 | 5th OPJHL-W | ||
| 2001-02 | 49 | 5 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 123 | 275 | 15 | 10th OPJHL-W | ||
| 2002-03 | 49 | 12 | 32 | 1 | 4 | 167 | 229 | 29 | 7th OPJHL-W | ||
| 2003-04 | 49 | 12 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 137 | 239 | 30 | 9th OPJHL-W | ||
| 2004-05 | 49 | 18 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 163 | 232 | 40 | 7th OPJHL-W | ||
| 2005-06 | 49 | 4 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 85 | 292 | 12 | 10th OPJHL-W | DNQ | |
| 2006-07 | 49 | 9 | 35 | 5 | 0 | 154 | 298 | 23 | 9th OPJHL-W | Lost Conf. QF | |
| 2007-08 | 49 | 15 | 30 | - | 4 | 151 | 223 | 34 | 8th OPJHL-W | ||
| 2008-09 | 49 | 25 | 17 | - | 7 | 207 | 176 | 57 | 5th OJHL-M | ||
| 2009-10 | 56 | 25 | 26 | - | 4 | 198 | 218 | 54 | 10th OJAHL | DNQ | |
| 2010-11 | 50 | 18 | 30 | - | 2 | 206 | 234 | 38 | 6th OJHL-W | DNQ | |
| 2011-12 | 49 | 23 | 21 | - | 5 | 189 | 189 | 51 | 3rd OJHL-W | ||
[edit] Playoffs
MetJHL Years
- 1996 Lost Semi-final
- Niagara Scenic defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-3
- Caledon Canadians defeated Niagara Scenic 4-games-to-none
- 1997 Lost Preliminary
- Wexford Raiders defeated Niagara Scenic 4-games-to-none
- 1998 DNQ
OJHL Years
- 1999 DNQ
- 2000 DNQ
- 2001 Lost Division Quarter-final
- Mississauga Chargers defeated Buffalo Lightning 4-games-to-2
- 2002 DNQ
- 2003 Lost Division Semi-final
- Buffalo Lightning defeated Hamilton Kiltys 4-games-to-2
- Milton Merchants defeated Buffalo Lightning 4-games-to-none
- 2004 Lost Division Quarter-final
- St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Buffalo Lightning 4-games-to-none
- 2005 Lost Division Quarter-final
- Oakville Blades defeated Buffalo Jr. Sabres 4-games-to-none
- 2006 DNQ
- 2007 Lost Division Quarter-final
- Aurora Tigers defeated Buffalo Jr. Sabres 4-games-to-none
- 2008 DNQ
- 2009 Lost Division Quarter-final
- Vaughan Vipers defeated Buffalo Jr. Sabres 3-games-to-2
- 2010 DNQ
- 2011 DNQ
[edit] Notable alumni
- Brian Gionta
- Todd Marchant
- Aaron Miller
- Ryan Callahan
- Morris Titanic - former head coach
- Frank Downing Jr. Former Captain Of Michigan
- Lee Stempniak
- Kevyn Adams
[edit] External links
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Ontario Junior Hockey League: Aurora Tigers · Brampton Capitals · Buffalo Jr. Sabres · Burlington Cougars · Cobourg Cougars · Georgetown Raiders · Hamilton Red Wings · Huntsville Otters · Kingston Voyageurs · Lindsay Muskies · Markham Waxers · Milton Icehawks · Mississauga Chargers · Newmarket Hurricanes · North York Rangers · Oakville Blades · Orangeville Flyers · Peterborough Stars · Pickering Panthers · St. Michael's Buzzers · Stouffville Spirit · Toronto Jr. Canadiens · Toronto Lakeshore Patriots · Trenton Golden Hawks · Vaughan Vipers · Wellington Dukes · Whitby Fury
Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League: Brantford Foresters • Brantford Majors • Buffalo-Glencoe Tondas • Chatham Maroons • Detroit Jr. Red Wings • Guelph CMC's • Guelph Imperials • Michigan Americans • Niagara Falls Flyers • St. Thomas Elgins • Sarnia Bees • Sarnia Legionnaires • Welland Sabres • Windsor Spitfires
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League: Ajax Merchants • Belleville Bulls • Brampton Warriors • Cambridge Winterhawks • Dixie Beehives • Guelph Platers • Hamilton Mountain A's • Kingston Frontenacs • North Bay Trappers • Owen Sound Greys • Royal York Royals • Toronto Nationals • Weston Dodgers • Whitby Lawmen
Metro Junior A Hockey League: Mimico Monarchs • Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins
Ontario Junior Hockey League: Ajax Attack • Barrie Colts • Bowmanville Eagles • Bramalea Blues • Caledon Canadians • Collingwood Blues • Couchiching Terriers • Dixie Beehives • Durham Huskies • Orangeville Crushers • Parry Sound Shamrocks • Seguin Bruins • Shelburne Wolves • Streetsville Derbys • Syracuse Jr. Crunch • Trenton Sting
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League: 1972–73 • 1973–74 • 1974–75 • 1975–76 • 1976–77 • 1977–78 • 1978–79 • 1979–80 • 1980–81 • 1981–82 • 1982–83 • 1983–84 • 1984–85 • 1985–86 • 1986–87
Metro Junior A Hockey League: 1991–92 • 1992–93 • 1993–94 • 1994–95 • 1995–96 • 1996–97 • 1997–98
Ontario Junior Hockey League: 1992–93 • 1993–94 • 1994–95 • 1995–96 • 1996–97 • 1997–98 • 1998–99 • 1999–00 • 2000–01 • 2001–02 • 2002–03 • 2003–04 • 2004–05 • 2005–06 • 2006–07 • 2007–08 • 2008–09 • 2009-10 CC/OJ • 2010–11 • 2011–12
