Buffalo Jr. Sabres

The Buffalo Jr. Sabres are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Buffalo, New York. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League. Its current head coach and general manager is Nick Tuzzolino, who played in the organization during its Buffalo Lightning era and later played a ten-year professional career for numerous teams in the UHL, IHL, ECHL and AHL.

Buffalo Jr. Sabres
CityBuffalo, New York, United States
LeagueOntario Junior Hockey League
Founded1975
Home arenaLECOM Harborcenter
ColorsBlue, yellow, white               
Owner(s)Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association
(Kevyn Adams, president)
General managerNick Tuzzolino
Head coachNick Tuzzolino
Franchise history
1975–1986Buffalo Jr. Sabres
1987–1998Niagara Scenic
1998–2005Buffalo Lightning
2005–presentBuffalo 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.

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. Michael Peca was hired as general manager prior to the 2011-12 season.

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 would be joined by six younger-level teams, also carrying the Jr. Sabres name, in an expanded program that would play at the LECOM Harborcenter, the multi-use facility being constructed by the Buffalo Sabres which opened in 2014. The team previously played at the Northtown Center.

Season-by-season results
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
1983–845029138-----661st NAHL
1984–85246126-101117183rd NAHL
1985–86402992-205125601st GHJHLDid Not Participate
1985–86246144-110238164th NAHLSplit Season in NAHL
1986–87Did Not Participate
1987–883216124-159139363rd NAHL
1988–894021136-220206483rd NAHLUSA Hockey National Runner-Up
1989–904420177-192215474th NAHL
1990–914012217-----316th NAHL
1991–9240152231144190345th NAHL
1992–9340141886158197364th NAHL
1993–9444271162217167601st NAHL
1994–95EJHL Standings Not Available
1995–965232155-294242694th Metro ALost Semi-final
1996–975017267-230262419th Metro A
1997–985012362-1152572615th Metro A
1998–99511134421482492810th OPJHL-W
1999–0049133222170236309th OPJHL-W
2000–0149251671203176585th OPJHL-W
2001–0249539411232751510th OPJHL-W
2002–0349123214167229297th OPJHL-W
2003–0449123142137239309th OPJHL-W
2004–0549182731163232407th OPJHL-W
2005–064944140852921210th OPJHL-WDNQ
2006–074993550154298239th OPJHL-WLost Conf. QF
2007–08491530-4151223348th OPJHL-W
2008–09492517-7207176575th OJHL-M
2009–10562526-41982185410th OJAHLDNQ
2010–11501830-2206234386th OJHL-WDNQ
2011–12492321-5189189513rd OJHL-WLost Division SF
2012–13553812-5249160811st OJHL-WLost Conf. SF
2013–14533116-6253184681st OJHL-WLost Conf. SF
2014–1554221912172208473rd of 6, West Div.
8th of 12, South West Conf.
17th of 22, OJHL		Lost Conf. Quarters 3-4 (Raiders)
2015–1654331713233166703rd of 5, West Div.
4th of 11 South West Conf.
6th of 22, OJHL		Lost Conf. Quarters 1-4 (Rangers)
2016–1754232722177189503rd of 5, West Div.
8th of 11 South West Conf.
15th of 22, OJHL		Lost Conf. Quarters 1-4 (Raiders)
2017–1854262206173172582nd of 5, West Div.
6th of 11 South West Conf.
12th of 22, OJHL		Lost Conf. Quarters 0-4 (Rangers)

Playoffs
Old Lightning Logo
Old Scenic Logo

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
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