Buffalo Jr. Sabres

Buffalo Jr. Sabres
City	Buffalo, 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.

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 Buffalo Tondas of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League. 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.

Season-by-season results

Old Lightning Logo

Old Scenic Logo

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

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

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

External links

• Buffalo Junior Sabres Website

v · d · eOntario Hockey Association Junior A Hockey

Current Leagues & Teams

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

Former Leagues & Teams

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

Seasons

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

CJHL: Dudley Hewitt Cup  · Royal Bank Cup