Final yr I wrote that Rob Ray ought to be the subsequent individual the Buffalo Sabres inducted into their staff Corridor of Fame, and evidently they listened. In a video through the first interval of final Saturday’s matchup with the Florida Panthers, it was introduced that Ray will certainly turn out to be the forty fourth member of the Sabres Corridor of Fame. The date and potential further inductees are but to be introduced.
With over three a long time of service to the Sabres group as a participant, analyst and broadcaster, there’s no questioning that it’s the precise resolution. Because the Sabres and followers alike put together for a celebration, let’s study the various causes that he’s so revered.
Ray Epitomized Toughness & Braveness
The Sabres chosen Rob Ray of the Cornwall Royals (now the Sarnia Sting) within the fifth spherical of the 1988 Draft, eight spots after they picked his longtime teammate and fellow Sabres Corridor of Famer Alexander Mogilny. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 21, 1989 in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins and scored on his first profession shot, coincidentally on former Sabre Tom Barrasso. Although a spectacular introduction, that wasn’t what Buffalonians would turn out to be accustomed to.
Over the subsequent decade, the winger established himself as one of the prolific and viable fighters within the historical past of hockey, a lot so {that a} rule was finally created due to him. Regardless of a comparative lack of measurement to the giants of the day, Ray might maintain his personal in opposition to any opponent. He didn’t at all times come out on prime, however he by no means backed down and had memorable tilts with a number of the sport’s most revered enforcers. Tony Twist, Stu Grimson, Donald Brashear, Denis Vial- the listing goes on and on, however there was one identify that stood out above the remainder.
Ray and Tie Domi had already fought on three events by the point the latter got here to the Toronto Maple Leafs (Buffalo’s archrival) in 1994 they usually now had the chance to turn out to be much more acquainted. The rivalry that developed between them is the stuff of legends they usually fought a whopping 13 occasions over the course of their careers. The 2 had been so evenly matched that it was by no means one-sided; at any time when they squared off, you had been in for a present.
The Nineteen Nineties had been the top of an period for the tough and tumble days of the NHL earlier than the sport started to evolve right into a quicker fashion within the early 2000s. If you happen to’re going to exit, it’d as effectively be in a blaze of glory. And due to gamers like Ray, that was actually the case. However although the tough stuff was his declare to fame, all through his profession he proved that he was excess of only a bruiser.
Extra Than Meets the Eye
Although he not often appeared on the scoresheet outdoors of the penalty column, Ray was as priceless to the Sabres as any of their prime stars and performed a key function of their successes of the 90s. Opponents had been cautious to not take liberties with any of the staff’s huge names as a result of they knew to whom they must reply. This helped the Sabres turn out to be one of the constant groups of the last decade they usually reached the Stanley Cup Ultimate in 1999.
He was additionally a revered staff chief and was named an alternate captain in 1998, a job he stored for the rest of his tenure. However extra so than something he did on the ice, his legacy lies in what he did away from it.
Ray’s quite a few philanthropic endeavors have endlessly endeared him to Western New York and Southern Ontario. A staunch supporter of Oishei Youngsters’s Hospital and Roswell Park Most cancers Institute, he additionally hosted an annual charity golf match to profit the March of Dimes, served because the honorary chair of Stroll America and made quite a few contributions to the Make-A-Want Basis. The NHL acknowledged his efforts in 1999 when he was the recipient of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for charity and humanitarianism.
March 10, 2003 was a tragic day for the Sabres. Amidst a rebuild that noticed the final remaining items of these 90s glory days cleared out, Ray was despatched to the Ottawa Senators. On the time, he was the franchise’s longest-tenured participant and the final who had been on the staff within the Nineteen Eighties. In elements of 14 seasons in Buffalo, he scored 40 objectives and 90 factors whereas racking up 3,189 penalty minutes. His 889 video games performed within the blue and gold/black and pink are the fourth-most in staff historical past, a testomony to his longevity.
Ray’s post-Sabres profession didn’t final lengthy and he known as it quits through the 2003-04 season after simply 11 complete video games with Ottawa. Fittingly sufficient, he scored on his final NHL shift as effectively. He retired with 3,207 profession penalty minutes, the sixth-most in NHL historical past. However although his profession ended away from Buffalo, he wouldn’t be gone for lengthy.
Ray’s Second Chapter Continues
It was bittersweet to see Ray depart the Sabres and much more so to see him retire sporting one other staff’s jersey, however his absence from Buffalo proved to be temporary. Later that very same season he returned to the Sabres as a broadcaster, beginning as an intermission host. Ultimately, he was moved to between the benches as a sideline analyst, with a humorous second coming when he was fairly actually caught in the course of a shouting match between Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and Senators coach Bryan Murray throughout the now-legendary brawl between the groups in 2007.
When coloration commentator Harry Neale retired in 2012, Ray was promoted to the function and has held it ever since, incomes reward for his sincere and easy takes. Through the years he fashioned a memorable rapport with legendary play-by-play man Rick Jeanerette (whose enthusiastic narration helped make his fights so memorable) and browse a touching tribute to the icon after he handed away in August 2023. Along with his broadcasting duties, he’s additionally an energetic member of the Sabres’ Alumni Staff and continues his involvement in his quite a few charities.
In all, Ray has been a member of the Sabres household for effectively over half his life. All through that point, he’s represented the franchise with class, dignity and integrity. It will be troublesome even for essentially the most cynical of followers to not admire his dedication to each the Sabres and Buffalo itself. His spouse and kids had been in attendance for the announcement on Saturday and he was visibly combating again emotion afterward.
“I do know I don’t present it generally, however I’m attempting to not cry in entrance of all people as a result of I’ve received to sort of act powerful,” he mentioned. “It’s the best factor that might occur. For me, it’s an honor and it’s a privilege to even be named with numerous these guys on the wall.”
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The Stirling, ON native has had two separate careers with the Sabres, each of that are fully Corridor of Fame worthy. It was solely a matter of time earlier than he obtained the decision and it couldn’t be extra deserved. Congratulations to The Rayzor Man.
