Buffalo Jr. Sabres

History

This franchise was established in Buffalo, New York, in 1975 when the Buffalo Jr. Sabres joined the New York/Pennsylvania Junior Hockey League, taking the place of the departing franchise West Seneca Cougars. During its history, a half-dozen former Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League served as head coach or assistant coach. 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. Ric Seiling served during an assistant coach briefly, and former Sabre Michael Peca currently serves as general manager.

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 moved into the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League beginning with the 1998-99 season. Heading into the 1999–2000 season, the franchise renamed itself the Buffalo Lightning. In 2005, the Lightning made a deal with the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres to restore the name "Junior Sabres" and again wear the Sabres' classic 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 position of head coach/general manager.

In January 2012 Ledyard stepped down from his role as head coach. Russ Certo assumed the role of interim head coach for the remainder of the season, which included a first round playoff series victory over the Hamilton Red Wings before falling in the second round to the Oakville Blades. Peca officially added the role of head coach to his duties at the end of the 2011-12 season.

Under Peca's leadership, the Jr. Sabres finished the 2012-13 regular season as the OJHL's West Division champions and claimed the top seed in the South-West Conference for the 2013 playoffs. That regular season saw forward Tyler Gjurich score 53 goals and a total 97 points in 53 games, leading the entire league in points. Goaltender Parker Gahagen registered seven shutouts among his 29 wins. It was the first time since the 1993-94 season that the Jr. Sabres claimed first place in its division, while Gjurich became only the second player in franchise history to score 50 or more goals (the first was Brian Gionta during the 1996-97 season during the Niagara Scenic era). The 2012-13 roster also produced seven NCAA hockey-bound prospects as of March 1, 2013: Gjurich (Maine), Gahagen (Army), Josh Kielich (Canisius College), Darrin Trebes (Fredonia State), Derek Patterson (Plattsburgh State), Nathan Pelligra (Manhattanville College) and Nolan Sheeran (Canisius College, beginning 2014-15).

On October 22, 2013, it was announced the Jr. Sabres Junior A team will join six younger-level teams, also carrying the Jr. Sabres name, in an expanded program that would play at the HarborCenter, the multi-use facility being constructed by the Buffalo Sabres which opened in 2014. The team previously played at the Northtown Center.

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

2012 Lost Division Semi-final

Buffalo Jr. Sabres defeated Hamilton Red Wings 3-games-to-none Oakville Blades defeated Buffalo Jr. Sabres 4-games-to-1

Notable alumni

Brian Gionta

Todd Marchant

Aaron Miller

Ryan Callahan

Morris Titanic – former head coach

Frank Downing Jr. – former Michigan captain

Lee Stempniak

Kevyn Adams