Sabres longtime Canadian broadcaster Rick Jeanneret dies at 81

Iconic announcer, born in St. Catharines, Ont., retired at end of 2021-22 season

Rick Jeanneret, who will always be regarded as the voice of the Buffalo Sabres after a 51-year broadcasting career

The Hockey Hall of Fame's 2012 Foster Hewitt Award recipient. He was 81 died on Thursday.

According to a statement released by the Sabres, Jeanneret passed away with his loved ones by his side after a battle with multiorgan failure that lasted two years.

.“We will love him forever,” the statement read.

Jeanneret (RJ ) was a member of the Sabres broadcast team on both radio and television from 1971-72, the second season of the franchise, until his retirement in 2021-22.

He held the NHL record for the longest career of a play by play announcer.