BUFFALO, N.Y. (April 20, 2017) — Buffalo Sabres Owner Terry Pegula has issued the following statement:
“After reviewing the past season and looking at the future of our organization, Kim and I have decided to relieve General Manager Tim Murray and Head Coach Dan Bylsma of their duties. We want to thank Tim and Dan for their hard work and efforts that they have put in during their tenures with the club. We wish them luck. We have begun the process to fill these positions immediately.”
Will continue as Managing Partner/President of the Buffalo Bills
BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 27, 2015) — The Buffalo Sabres today announced Russ Brandon will become President and Alternate Governor of the Buffalo Sabres effective immediately while continuing as Managing Partner/President of the Buffalo Bills. Brandon will oversee all aspects of the business operations for both the Sabres and Bills organizations and report directly to Terry and Kim Pegula. Former team President Ted Black has mutually agreed to part ways from the organization.
“Since we purchased the Buffalo Bills last October, we have been highly impressed with the business acumen that Russ has shown with the Bills,” said Terry & Kim Pegula. “Now is an appropriate time to give him additional responsibilities with the Sabres. Russ will work with Pegula Sports & Entertainment to create strong synergies between the Sabres and Bills. With Russ’ strong ties to the area business community and sponsorship partners, he will effectively position both organizations for future growth. We are grateful to Ted Black for all he has done for the Sabres organization and wish him much success in his future endeavors.”
Brandon will oversee the business operations for both teams and will represent ownership interests locally, regionally and with the NHL and NFL. He will work to extend the reach of the Bills and Sabres brands throughout the region, especially in Rochester and Southern Ontario. Nationally, he will position both teams to capitalize on their successes on the field and on the ice. Brandon will continue to work with PSE to create synergies throughout both organizations while operating independently from a business operations standpoint.
“I would like to thank Terry and Kim for the confidence they have placed in me,” said Brandon. “With so much excitement surrounding the Sabres, there is also great opportunity. We have a strong staff at the Sabres that I will be relying on and there is much from my Bills experience that can be applied at the Sabres. I look forward to the opportunity to engage with the Sabres great fans and lead the business operations of both teams.”
Brandon, who has been with the Bills since 1997, has served as team president since January 2013. His acute business expertise and leadership skills have largely been credited for keeping the Bills franchise viable in the ever-competitive NFL landscape, which culminated with him playing a key role in facilitating the sale of the Buffalo franchise from the Wilson family to the Pegula family. He also played an integral role in negotiating a new stadium lease agreement between the Bills, the State of New York and Erie County to keep the franchise in Western New York for the foreseeable future as the three entities signed a MOU in late December of 2012 that included a renovations package to enhance the fan’s game day experience at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Sabres General Manager Tim Murray will continue to oversee hockey operations for the organization and report directly to Terry & Kim Pegula.
“Kim and I are humbled and honored that the Wilson family has chosen us to be the second owner of the Buffalo Bills. Pending the NFL approval process, being the next owner of the Buffalo Bills would be a great privilege for our family. Ralph Wilson left an indelible mark on our community and we will strive every day to honor his legacy.
Our interest in owning the Bills has everything to do with the people of Western New York and our passion for football. We have knowledgeable, dedicated fans here and along with our ownership of the Buffalo Sabres, it is gratifying to reassure these great fans that two franchises so important to our region are both here to stay.
We are grateful to Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Andrew Cuomo for their support and desire to keep our Bills in Western New York where they belong and to our team of professional advisors at Allen & Company and Sherrard, German & Kelly. We would also like to thank the staffs of the NFL and the Bills for helping to guide us through the sale process. We now look ahead to the NFL review process in accordance with League policy. If awarded final approval, we will be driven to achieve a singular goal: To win a Super Bowl for our fans.
Out of respect for the continuing sale process, until League approval is attained, we will have no further comment.”
Darcy Regier and Ron Rolston relieved of duties with team
BUFFALO, N.Y. (November 13, 2013) — Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula today announced that Pat LaFontaine has been hired to serve as President of Hockey Operations for the team. Pegula also announced that Darcy Regier and Ron Rolston have been relieved of their respective duties. Ted Nolan has been hired as the team’s interim head coach and the Sabres have retained the remainder of the coaching staff.
LaFontaine joins the Sabres after beginning the season as vice president of development and community affairs for the NHL. He will work with Assistant General Manager Kevin Devine on day-to-day hockey operations while conducting the search for the Sabres’ next general manager.
LaFontaine enjoyed an illustrious 15-year career, including six seasons with the Sabres, before retiring from the NHL in 1998 as the second highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history with 468 goals and 1,013 points in 865 games. Today, he ranks sixth among all Americans in goals and ninth in points, and his 1.17 points-per-game average ranks 11th among the 79 1,000-point scorers in NHL history.
He had a career year for Buffalo in 1992-93 when he set Sabres records for points (148) and assists (95) in a season. After being sidelined by a knee injury for most of the 1993-94 season, he returned as team captain in 1994-95 and was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey. LaFontaine played with the Sabres from 1991-1997, finishing with 385 points (158+227) in 268 games with the team.
Nolan re-joins the Sabres after coaching the team to a 73-72-19 record in the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons, a stint during which he became the franchise’s first Jack Adams Award winner following a first-place Northeast Division finish in 1996-97. Nolan later spent two seasons as head coach of the New York Islanders, guiding the Islanders to a 74-68-21 record during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.
Nolan began his NHL coaching career as an assistant coach for the Hartford Whalers in 1994-95 after building a successful resume in junior hockey that culminated with a Memorial Cup win in 1993-94 in his sixth and final season as head coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL). Prior to his coaching career, Nolan tallied 22 points (6+16) in 78 NHL games as a member of the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Posted in News Release
Tagged Darcy Regier, Pat LaFontaine, Ron Rolston, Ted Nolan, Terry Pegula
BUFFALO, N.Y. (February 20, 2013) — Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced that Lindy Ruff has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. Regier also announced that Ron Rolston will serve as the interim head coach of the Sabres, beginning with the team’s game against Toronto tomorrow.
Statement from Sabres owner Terry Pegula:
“The hockey world knows how I and the entire Buffalo Sabres organization feel about Lindy Ruff not only as a coach but also as a person. His long tenure with the Sabres has ended. His qualities have made this decision very difficult. I personally want Lindy to know that he can consider me a friend always.”
Rolston becomes the 16th head coach in franchise history and joins the Sabres after spending the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons as head coach of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL). As head coach of the Americans, Rolston compiled a 63-44-17 regular-season record.
Prior to joining the Americans, Rolston spent seven seasons as head coach with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, where he became the first coach in U.S. history to lead the United States Under-18 team to three gold medals (2005, 2009, 2011) at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Under-18 Championship, adding a silver medal (2007) in his other appearance as head coach.
In addition to coaching at the Under-18 and Under-17 levels, Rolston also served as head coach for the U.S. National Junior Team at the IIHF U20 World Championship in 2007 and 2009. In 2007, he led Team USA to the bronze medal.
Rolston joined USA Hockey after serving as an assistant coach at four different NCAA Division I hockey programs (Lake Superior State University, 1990-1995; Clarkson University, 1996-1999; Harvard University, 1999-2002; Boston College, 2002-2004) between 1990 and 2004, winning National Championships in 1992 and 1994 with Lake Superior State University.
