John Richard Jeanneret (July 23, 1942 – August 17, 2023) was a Canadian television and radio personality best known as the play-by-play announcer for the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres and its broadcast network, the Sabres Hockey Network for 51 years. Having started with the team on radio during the team's second season in 1971–72, and ending his career after the 2021–22 season, he was the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer with a single team in NHL history. He moved to television during the 1995–96 season and began doubling both television and radio play-by-play duties during the 1997–98 season. He was known as "RJ" within the Sabres organization and by close associates.
Career
Jeanneret's career began off air at CHUM in Toronto. To get on the air, Jeanneret took classes from the Midwest Broadcasting School, a Chicago-based institution that Jeanneret described as a "crash course" in broadcasting. Upon graduation, he was hired as a disc jockey at CKLY in Lindsay, Ontario. He was then hired by CHVC, later CJRN in Niagara Falls.
In 1963, Jeanneret took over the play-by-play of a Niagara Falls Flyers Junior A hockey game for the regular announcer, Edd Felstead, who had become sick. Jeanneret became the color analyst the following season before assuming full-time play by play radio duties in 1965. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Rick did several radio advertisements for local Niagara Falls hardware store Buildall. Jeanneret also called Buffalo Bisons (AHL) road games in 1969–70.
In 1971, Jeanneret began working for the Sabres after Dave Hodge, the play-by-play man for the team's first season, had unexpectedly won Hockey Night in Canada duties over the frontrunner for the position, future Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. In an era before regional sports networks when most hockey games were untelevised, Jeanneret and Ted Darling often worked as a tandem and became very close personal friends. Over the years, he was partnered with a series of color commentators, including Jim Lorentz (his longest-running partner), personal friend Harry Neale, and Rob Ray.
From 1984 until 1992, he did the Sabres' play-by-play in addition to being a popular early-morning disc jockey at the now-defunct CJRN-AM in Niagara Falls, Ontario. In 1992, he chose to retire from CJRN and concentrate solely on the Sabres. "I had enough of two jobs. I finished the game, came home and had to be up by 4 a.m.," he said.
Jeanneret helped close the Aud on the final night of the regular season in 1996 with an emotional tribute to his colleague Ted Darling, who was the voice of the Sabres from 1970 until the worsening effects from Pick's Disease forced him to retire in the midst of the 1991–92 season. "I wish that standing next to me right now would be Ted Darling," said Jeanneret from the ice surface in a postgame ceremony. He closed out with, "See you in September, one block in that direction," pointing toward the new arena, then dubbed the Crossroads Arena and now called KeyBank Center. Jeanneret consistently declined to accept the title of "voice of the Buffalo Sabres" out of deference to Darling.
In 2005, Jeanneret and the Sabres released a CD that collected some of his most memorable calls. Proceeds from the CD, which was titled Roll the Highlight Film, went to charity. It was followed up in 2006 with Top Shelf (named after his signature call, "Top Shelf, where momma hides the cookies!"), a similarly themed DVD.
Later years
Each year from the 2004–05 NHL lockout onward, Jeanneret reupped with the Sabres on short-term deals out of concern for his age and health. Jeanneret's contract was extended in 2007 through the 2008–09 NHL season. It was further extended in 2008 through the 2009–10 season. He was back for the 2010–11 season along with Neale. During these seasons, Jeanneret did not broadcast games while the Sabres had west coast road trips and a home game against the Boston Bruins. This most recently was from December 27, 2010, through January 8, 2011. He was also off when the Sabres played the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa on January 25, 2011. During Jeanneret's vacation, his son Mark and Kevin Sylvester filled in on play-by-play. The idea for Jeanneret to take time off during west-coast road games during these seasons was that of former managing partner Larry Quinn.