My love for the Buffalo Sabres started when I was about five years old. Like many lifelong fans, it didn’t begin with statistics or standings. It began with family.
My Grandpa Dunn took me to my very first Sabres game when I was around five years old. We sat four rows from the ice, just behind the Sabres net. For a kid that age, it felt like I was sitting right in the middle of the action. The sound of skates cutting into the ice, the thud of the boards, and the roar of the crowd inside the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium—“The Aud”—made an impression on me that never faded.
That night started a lifelong love affair with the Sabres.
Growing up, I watched the legends of the franchise. Players like Gilbert Perreault, whose skating and skill helped define the early years of the team.
There were so many players that shaped my childhood as a fan: Lindy Ruff before his coaching days, the gritty leadership of Mike Foligno, the toughness of Larry Playfair, the relentless work ethic of Craig Ramsay, the dependable play of Don Luce, and the scoring touch of Danny Gare.
But one player always stood out to me personally—Jim Schoenfeld, number 6. Schoenfeld became one of my favorites, and because of him, #6 was always the number I wanted whenever I played hockey growing up.
As I got older, a new wave of Sabres stars arrived. Phil Housley brought elite offensive skill from the blue line. Dave Andreychuk became one of the league’s premier power forwards, and Pierre Turgeon added speed and scoring down the middle.
Then came one of the most unforgettable moments in Sabres history.
When the Sabres traded for Pat LaFontaine, the excitement in Buffalo was electric. I had ordered a LaFontaine jersey before puck drop of his first home game as a Sabre, the jersey I ordered was delivered right to my seat during the first intermission. Sitting there in the arena holding that brand-new jersey while the crowd buzzed with excitement is a moment I’ll never forget.
Around that same era, another incredible moment happened at the Aud. When Alexander Mogilny made his NHL debut with the Sabres in 1989, he scored his first NHL goal just 20 seconds into the game. It was one of those electrifying moments that Sabres fans still talk about today.
And the Sabres teams of that era didn’t just have skill—they had toughness.
I always loved the grit and edge those teams played with. Guys like Rob Ray, Matthew Barnaby, Brad May, and Gord Donnelly brought a physical, hard-nosed style that made the Sabres one of the toughest teams to play against. They played with heart, and the fans loved them for it.
The Sabres have always had great goalies in the past from Don Edwasds, Tom Barrasso,
The Buffalo Sabres have had their share of outstanding goaltenders over the years. From Don Edwards to Tom Barrasso, Clint Malarchuk, Grant Fuhr, and of course Ryan Miller, the crease in Buffalo has rarely lacked talent.
But as great as those goalies were, there has only ever been one true Dominator.
Dominik Hasek didn’t just stop pucks — he redefined what goaltending could look like. With his unorthodox style, impossible saves, and unmatched competitiveness, Hasek became the backbone of the Sabres in the 1990s and one of the greatest goaltenders the NHL has ever seen.
“The Dominator” was something special to watch. The way he flopped, twisted, and somehow still made impossible saves made every game feel like something incredible might happen. Hasek didn’t just stop pucks—he brought energy and excitement that lifted the entire team and the entire arena.
As I got older and into my teenage years, my buddies and I had season tickets up in the famous Orange seats at the Aud. Those seats were steep, loud, and filled with some of the most passionate hockey fans you could imagine. The view of the ice was incredible, and the atmosphere was something every hockey fan should experience.
In 1993, my life changed when I moved to Moncton, New Brunswick. While it was the start of a new chapter in life, one of the things I missed the most about growing up in the Niagara Region was going to Sabres games. There was nothing quite like the energy of a night at the Aud, surrounded by thousands of passionate fans all cheering for the same team.
Being a Sabres fan hasn’t always been easy. There have been incredible highs and some heartbreaking lows along the way.
And then came the drought.
For more than a decade, Sabres fans have been waiting—waiting for playoff hockey to return to Buffalo.
But for the first time in a long time, the 2025–2026 Sabres team feels different. There’s energy again. There’s belief again.
For fans like me, who first fell in love with this team as a five-year-old kid sitting beside his grandfather four rows from the ice at the Aud, this season feels like something special might finally be happening again.
After all these years, the Buffalo Sabres—my first love—might finally be ready to give their fans another playoff run.
For those of us who grew up watching games at the Aud, cheering for legends, and living through the highs and lows of this franchise, it feels like the excitement is finally coming back.
This new generation of Sabres is writing its own story now. A team filled with young talent, speed, and confidence. And leading the way are players like Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson—two stars who represent the future of hockey in Buffalo.
Dahlin has become the backbone of the team on the blue line, playing with the same passion and edge that Sabres fans have always loved. Thompson brings the kind of scoring ability that can change a game in an instant. Together, they’ve given Sabres fans something we’ve been waiting a long time for—hope.
From sitting four rows behind the Sabres net with my Grandpa Dunn, to nights in the Orange seats at the Aud with my friends, to now watching from Moncton and dreaming of playoff hockey again… the Sabres have always been part of my life.
And if this team finally brings playoff hockey back to Buffalo, the City will be buzzing once again in April!!
Wray Dunn
The Quick Shift 