Television & Broadcast 348 TELEVISION In June 2016, the Sabres and MSG Networks announced a new, long-term rights agreement for Buffalo Sabres games and the creation of “MSG Western New York,” a comprehensive programming partnership that will air new content relating to the Sabres and other Pegula Sports and Entertainment properties on MSG in Western New York. In the 2017-18 season, the Sabres and MSG will continue their partnership in which MSG will own the exclusive local rights to telecast the team’s games. MSG Networks, an industry leader in production and technology, is the nation’s longest-running regional sports network and part of Madison Square Garden L.P. All Sabres telecasts on MSG are produced and broadcast by the team’s in-house broadcasting team and feature the Sabres broadcasters and analysts exclusively. Calling the action on MSG telecasts and on WGR 550 AM are Foster Hewitt Award winner and Sabres Hall-of-Famer Rick Jeanneret, who embarks on his 46th year behind the microphone in 2017-18, and veteran broadcaster Dan Dunleavy, who returns for his fifth season with the Sabres’ broadcast team. In addition to his play-by-play duties, Dunleavy will contribute to the Sabres’ pre- and post- game shows and to Sabres.com. Rob Ray, a 14-year veteran of Sabres broadcasts, is in his sixth season as the full-time color analyst. After joining the broadcast team in 2003-04, Ray served as a second color analyst and the “between-the-glass” reporter for eight seasons before stepping into his current role. In his role as color analyst, Ray remains at ice level to provide a close-up perspective of the game’s action. Brian Duff, who joined the Sabres broadcast team in 2011-12, will again serve as the full-time in-game host for all Sabres broadcasts on MSG. In that role, Duff will host the pregame show the post-game report and the intermission reports between periods. Former Sabres goaltender Martin Biron will join the Sabres’ broadcast this season, providing in-depth analysis before, during and after games alongside Duff. Buffalo Sabres hockey on MSG is produced by Joe Pinter and directed by Eric Grossman. RICK JEANNERET PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER Currently the longest-tenured broadcaster in hockey, Rick Jeanneret will begin his 46th year behind the microphone calling the action for Buffalo Sabres games. Jeanneret was the 2012 recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award – the most prestigious award given to hockey broadcasters – and was formally recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2012. He was inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame in 2011 and was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in fall 2012. With his vast knowledge of the game and his unwavering enthusiasm for hockey, Jeanneret’s distinct voice has been synonymous with the Buffalo Sabres for over four decades. He began his prolific career with the Sabres in the 1971-72 season as the club’s radio play-by-play announcer and served primarily in that role until 1995, when he began calling the action for the team’s televised games as well. His memorable calls and player nicknames have become forever linked with Sabres history for generations of fans. Jeanneret’s career officially began in 1963, when the St. Catharines, Ontario native filled in for the regular announcer at a Niagara Falls Flyers (Junior A) game. He went on to become the color analyst for one season before moving to the play-by-play position in 1965. Jeanneret currently resides in Niagara Falls, Ontario with his wife, Sandra. Rick has two sons, Mark and Chris. Television & Broadcast 349 DAN DUNLEAVY PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER/REPORTER Prior to joining the Sabres broadcast team in 2013, Dunleavy spent 19 years at Sportsnet Radio and The Fan 590 Toronto. In addition to filling in as a play-by-play voice for the Sabres in the 2010-11 season, Dunleavy’s experience includes nine years of play-by-play for the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, the 2008 IIHF World Hockey Championship in Halifax and Quebec City, Men’s and Women’s Hockey at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the OHL’s Mississauga Majors, and Canadian Hockey League and American Hockey League games on Rogers Sportsnet. The Toronto native has also called soccer and lacrosse games, serving as the play-by-play voice for the National Lacrosse League’s Toronto Rock on The Fan 590 and the radio and television play-by-play voice for Toronto FC on Sportsnet TV/Radio and TSN 1050 Radio. ROB RAY COLOR ANALYST Rob Ray, who begins his 14th season on Buffalo Sabres broadcasts, will be entering his sixth season as the full-time color analyst for all Sabres games this season. After joining the broadcast team in 2003-04, Ray has served as a color analyst and the “between-the-benches” reporter for the past 13 years. In his role as color analyst, Ray will remain at ice level to provide a close-up perspective of the game’s action. Ray’s hockey expertise stems from his 16-year NHL career as a right wing, 14 seasons of which were spent with the Sabres. Known for his toughness on the ice, Ray ranks sixth in NHL history for career penalty minutes (3,207) and holds the Sabres’ team record in the same category with 3,189 penalty minutes. Ray played in 900 total NHL games during his career and 889 games with the Sabres, the fourth-most in franchise history. Despite being one of the game’s toughest enforcers, Ray was also awarded the NHL’s King Clancy Memorial Award in 1999 for his leadership and humanitarianism. He remains as one of the Sabres’ most active alumni, currently serving as president of the Sabres Alumni Association. Ray and his wife, Julianne, live in Grand Island, N.Y. with their son, Rob Jr., and their daughter, Jordan. BRIAN DUFF STUDIO HOST A 26-year broadcasting veteran, Brian Duff begins his fifth full season as the studio host for all Buffalo Sabres broadcasts. He joined the broadcast team in 2011-12 on a part-time basis in the same role for many of the team’s road games. Duff came to the Sabres after spending five seasons with the NHL Network, most recently as host of NHL on the Fly and NHL Tonight. Prior to joining NHL Network, Duff spent six years as the pre- and post-game host for Toronto Maple Leafs hockey on Leafs TV. His extensive hockey broadcasting career also includes stints as the radio host for pre- and post-game coverage of the Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers and radio game analyst for the Senators and the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. In addition, Duff has provided play-by-play for the National Lacrosse League on Versus and TSN, including the 2010 and 2011 championship games. He worked at The Score as an anchor and reporter and provided play-by-play for Ottawa Rebel lacrosse and the Mann Cup. Duff has also freelanced for multiple media outlets including ESPN and the Associated Press. Duff, who grew up in Whitby, Ontario, holds a broadcasting diploma from Mount Royal College in Calgary and currently resides in Hamburg, New York with his wife, Leilon, and their children, Isabelle and Rhiannon. Television & Broadcast 350 RADIO BROADCAST Sabres coverage on the radio can be found exclusively on WGR 550, the team’s radio partner for more than 25 years. Game-day broadcasts include the action from Jeanneret and Ray, along with a post-game show hosted by Brian Koziol featuring a complete game recap, player interviews and scores from around the league. Paul Hamilton, who returns as the station’s Sabres beat reporter, will provide live updates from Sabres games and practices all season long. Returning for its sixth season is the team’s flagship radio program, The Instigators. The show is broadcast live, year-round from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday. The program is an additional outlet for Sabres fans to hear exclusive interviews, analysis, team updates, and recaps of Sabres games and practices. Serving as hosts of The Instigators are former Sabres Andrew Peters and Craig Rivet. Peters was a member of the Sabres for five seasons, from 2003-04 to 2008-09 before joining the show full-time in 2014-15. Rivet, who joined Peters as a co-host in 2016, captained the Sabres from 2008 to 2011. Media Information 351 MEDIA INFORMATION Requests for information should be directed to the Sabres’ Media Relations Department, Buffalo Sabres, KeyBank Center, One Seymour H. Knox, III Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14203. The main office phone number is (716) 855-4100. BUFFALO SABRES MEDIA RELATIONS STAFF Chris Bandura Vice President of Media Relations [email protected] 716.855.4515 (Office) 716.983.6735 (Cell) Ian Ott Chris Dierken Manager of Media Relations Coordinator of Media Relations [email protected] [email protected] 716.855.4484 (Office) 716.855.4417 (Office) 716.479.5481 (Cell) 716.207.5188 (Cell) MEDIA WEBSITE: SabresDigitalPressBox.com CREDENTIALS Season credentials are available only to those media members who cover the team on a regular basis. Those who need media credentials for an individual game should contact Ian Ott via email ([email protected]) by 5 p.m. the day before a game, and by 5 p.m. on Friday before a Sunday game. All requests for individual game seating should be submitted by the publication editor using a professional email account. Furthermore, freelance photographers will be admitted on an assignment-only basis, which must come from the photo editor.