Sabres Hockey Network

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. Jim Lorentz was the Sabres commentator until 2007, when he abruptly retired.

The network's postgame show is hosted by WGR personality Brian Koziol. Mike Schopp and Chris "Bulldog" Parker host the pre-game show.

Current affiliate list

*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)
*WBZA 98.9 FM Rochester, New York (playoff 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
*MSG Network throughout Upstate New York

Former flagships

*late 1990s: WHTT-FM
*2000-2004: WNSA-FM (co-owned, along with the Sabres, by John Rigas)
*2005-present: WGR

Personalities, past and present

Current:
Rick Jeanneret TV and radio Play-by-Play
Harry Neale TV and radio Color Commentator
Rob Ray Studio Analyst 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)

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 switches to FM station WBZA to maximize coverage during the postseason.

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.

External links

* [http://sabres.nhl.com/multimedia/radio.htm]