Stormin Norman Posted March 26, 2011 Report Posted March 26, 2011 Some of these are odd, but I was young at the time and these are some memories I carry regarding the French Connection (in no particular order). 1. Gil's end-to-end rushes (which I attempted to replicate in street hockey and ice hockey) 2. Robert's OT goal vs. Montreal in the Sabres first ever playoff series 3. Bernie Parent stoning the Connection for the most part during our first Stanley Cup series 4. Perreault breaking his leg in a collision with Brian Spencer (I believe) at home before Spinner became a Sabre 5. Martin testifying as a character witness on Spencer's behalf during a murder trial 6. Martin going down in a heap and then experiencing convulsions on the ice after absorbing a brutal hit 7. Perreault and Martin putting on helmets for the first time in a real game - boy, that was odd 8. Of course, Rico's blast from the top of the left circle 9. Playing youth ice hockey and wearing number 7 because of Rick Martin
Taro T Posted March 26, 2011 Report Posted March 26, 2011 Some of these are odd, but I was young at the time and these are some memories I carry regarding the French Connection (in no particular order). 1. Gil's end-to-end rushes (which I attempted to replicate in street hockey and ice hockey) 2. Robert's OT goal vs. Montreal in the Sabres first ever playoff series 3. Bernie Parent stoning the Connection for the most part during our first Stanley Cup series 4. Perreault breaking his leg in a collision with Brian Spencer (I believe) at home before Spinner became a Sabre 5. Martin testifying as a character witness on Spencer's behalf during a murder trial 6. Martin going down in a heap and then experiencing convulsions on the ice after absorbing a brutal hit 7. Perreault and Martin putting on helmets for the first time in a real game - boy, that was odd 8. Of course, Rico's blast from the top of the left circle 9. Playing youth ice hockey and wearing number 7 because of Rick Martin 6 was the reason for 7. Btw, it was Nick Fotiu (Rags goon) who stuck his finger down Rico's throat and pulled his tongue out to free up his airway.
Overeducated Homer Posted March 26, 2011 Report Posted March 26, 2011 6 was the reason for 7. Btw, it was Nick Fotiu (Rags goon) who stuck his finger down Rico's throat and pulled his tongue out to free up his airway. Did not know that about Fotiu. Good for him! I remember that moment so clearly, Rico was hooked on the shoulder and fell backward behind the Rags' goal... hit his head and went into convulsions. I guess that was in the 1977-78 season, but I have never been able to find confirmation of that. I do know that was indeed the end of helmetless hockey for the Sabres. It was odd to see Perreault in a helmet for quite some time.
Stoner Posted March 26, 2011 Report Posted March 26, 2011 Did not know that about Fotiu. Good for him! I remember that moment so clearly, Rico was hooked on the shoulder and fell backward behind the Rags' goal... hit his head and went into convulsions. I guess that was in the 1977-78 season, but I have never been able to find confirmation of that. I do know that was indeed the end of helmetless hockey for the Sabres. It was odd to see Perreault in a helmet for quite some time. February 15, 1978. Rico missed a month with a severe concussion, according to Budd Bailey's book.
Overeducated Homer Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 February 15, 1978. Rico missed a month with a severe concussion, according to Budd Bailey's book. Thanks for that. I need to track down the Bailey book!
Stoner Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 Thanks for that. I need to track down the Bailey book! That'll be tough. They are sold out. The author told me he bought the remaining copies from the Sabres 10 years ago. And I never see it available online. That would be your best best -- keep checking eBay etc.
Stormin Norman Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Posted March 27, 2011 February 15, 1978. Rico missed a month with a severe concussion, according to Budd Bailey's book. Grumpy, as usual, you are rock solid with Sabres knowledge, even if you looked it up!
Stormin Norman Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Posted March 27, 2011 I forgot to include the French Connection and how they looked vs. the Russians in 1976. Of course, our beloved Rick Martin netted two goals and added three assists as the game's first star. All three members of the Connection scored in the game. Yet another life-long memory for many fans.
bills_fan_in_raleigh Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 probably the beating the russians was all time. sabres have had some terrible injuries over time. Rico got alot of guys in helmet, rick seiling got alot of visors. desjardins eye injury changed nature of goalie mask.
Weave Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 probably the beating the russians was all time. sabres have had some terrible injuries over time. Rico got alot of guys in helmet, rick seiling got alot of visors. desjardins eye injury changed nature of goalie mask. And there was a run on goalie throat shields after the Malarchuck incident.
henysgol Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 I remember my father and my uncles raving about them.
Overeducated Homer Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 No love for the only OT All-Star Game? Nice memory, that... of course, that was before ESPN and the like, so the only video I have ever seen of the winning goal is indirect... The bumper sticker advertising that game "The NHL All-Star Game Comes to Hockey's Best City" still adorns the dresser in my old bedroom at my mom's house.
Meathead Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 unfortunately my clearest memory of the players was watching martin go unconscious and shake like he was being electrocuted after hitting his head on the goalpost he was all right but we were scared poopless he was gonna die right in front of us. aint gonna forget something like that
DFITZ1 Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 Some of these are odd, but I was young at the time and these are some memories I carry regarding the French Connection (in no particular order). 1. Gil's end-to-end rushes (which I attempted to replicate in street hockey and ice hockey) 2. Robert's OT goal vs. Montreal in the Sabres first ever playoff series 3. Bernie Parent stoning the Connection for the most part during our first Stanley Cup series 4. Perreault breaking his leg in a collision with Brian Spencer (I believe) at home before Spinner became a Sabre 5. Martin testifying as a character witness on Spencer's behalf during a murder trial 6. Martin going down in a heap and then experiencing convulsions on the ice after absorbing a brutal hit 7. Perreault and Martin putting on helmets for the first time in a real game - boy, that was odd 8. Of course, Rico's blast from the top of the left circle 9. Playing youth ice hockey and wearing number 7 because of Rick Martin I'd like to add an early FC moment, even before they were named the French Connection. It was near the last game of 71-72, playing the Pens at home on a Sunday nite in March. Rene Robert had been a Sabres only 1-2 weeks, but I beleieve the line was together. Score is 2-1 Pens with less than a minute left, Robert lets go a slapper from the point. No one sees the puck until after the net jumped. Sabres earm a tie, and it was a sign of things to come. It's always a great lagacy of tthe Sabres that it's most enduring face of the franchise is the 7-11-14 forward line, not a single player.
DFITZ1 Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 Did not know that about Fotiu. Good for him! I remember that moment so clearly, Rico was hooked on the shoulder and fell backward behind the Rags' goal... hit his head and went into convulsions. I guess that was in the 1977-78 season, but I have never been able to find confirmation of that. I do know that was indeed the end of helmetless hockey for the Sabres. It was odd to see Perreault in a helmet for quite some time. As I recall, following Rico's concussion, the majority of players on most teams started wearing helmets. Before Rico's injury, seeing a helmet was unusual, after it, it was the unhelmetted who were in the minority.
Eleven Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 That'll be tough. They are sold out. The author told me he bought the remaining copies from the Sabres 10 years ago. And I never see it available online. That would be your best best -- keep checking eBay etc. http://web2.buffalolib.org/web2/tramp2.exe/authority_hits/A2jkr0ke.003?server=1home&item=1 There's one copy that circulates and two that don't in the downtown library. This is a really tough book to find, as you say. It is seemingly never available used on amazon.
Overeducated Homer Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 http://web2.buffalolib.org/web2/tramp2.exe/authority_hits/A2jkr0ke.003?server=1home&item=1 There's one copy that circulates and two that don't in the downtown library. This is a really tough book to find, as you say. It is seemingly never available used on amazon. Yes. no listing on Bookfinder either. Too bad.
Claude_Verret Posted March 28, 2011 Report Posted March 28, 2011 Did not know that about Fotiu. Good for him! I remember that moment so clearly, Rico was hooked on the shoulder and fell backward behind the Rags' goal... hit his head and went into convulsions. I guess that was in the 1977-78 season, but I have never been able to find confirmation of that. I do know that was indeed the end of helmetless hockey for the Sabres. It was odd to see Perreault in a helmet for quite some time. Here are some articles from the Courier Express that a friend forwarded to me about that incident and some other things. martin.pdf
Rico7 Posted March 28, 2011 Report Posted March 28, 2011 Here are some articles from the Courier Express that a friend forwarded to me about that incident and some other things. martin.pdf Wow. I remember that incident like it was yesterday. Thanks so much for posting the articles.
LeGrosGil Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 Some of these are odd, but I was young at the time and these are some memories I carry regarding the French Connection (in no particular order). 1. Gil's end-to-end rushes (which I attempted to replicate in street hockey and ice hockey) 2. Robert's OT goal vs. Montreal in the Sabres first ever playoff series 3. Bernie Parent stoning the Connection for the most part during our first Stanley Cup series 4. Perreault breaking his leg in a collision with Brian Spencer (I believe) at home before Spinner became a Sabre 5. Martin testifying as a character witness on Spencer's behalf during a murder trial 6. Martin going down in a heap and then experiencing convulsions on the ice after absorbing a brutal hit 7. Perreault and Martin putting on helmets for the first time in a real game - boy, that was odd 8. Of course, Rico's blast from the top of the left circle 9. Playing youth ice hockey and wearing number 7 because of Rick Martin With regards to #4, I seem to remember it was Mike Robitaille who collided with Gilbert after he had left the Sabres...?
LeGrosGil Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 Some of these are odd, but I was young at the time and these are some memories I carry regarding the French Connection (in no particular order). 1. Gil's end-to-end rushes (which I attempted to replicate in street hockey and ice hockey) 2. Robert's OT goal vs. Montreal in the Sabres first ever playoff series 3. Bernie Parent stoning the Connection for the most part during our first Stanley Cup series 4. Perreault breaking his leg in a collision with Brian Spencer (I believe) at home before Spinner became a Sabre 5. Martin testifying as a character witness on Spencer's behalf during a murder trial 6. Martin going down in a heap and then experiencing convulsions on the ice after absorbing a brutal hit 7. Perreault and Martin putting on helmets for the first time in a real game - boy, that was odd 8. Of course, Rico's blast from the top of the left circle 9. Playing youth ice hockey and wearing number 7 because of Rick Martin I remember playing floor hockey in middle and high school and running as hard as I could to emulate their style- it was exhausting! We knew they were as good as any line in the league and they proved it countless times. One of the greatest saves I ever saw was Parent gloving a Martin slapshot on an offsides call- the puck was six inches off the ice...I remember thinking if not for Parent the Sabres would have beaten the Flyers in five games.
R_Dudley Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 I remember playing floor hockey in middle and high school and running as hard as I could to emulate their style- it was exhausting! We knew they were as good as any line in the league and they proved it countless times. One of the greatest saves I ever saw was Parent gloving a Martin slapshot on an offsides call- the puck was six inches off the ice...I remember thinking if not for Parent the Sabres would have beaten the Flyers in five games. True that and my feeling as well. He may have had the best glove hand of his time hence the quote in Philly after that playoff "Only GOD saves more than Bernie Parent". I wonder if he didn't latter end up with that eye injury if he would have had a long run with that level of success or was he just on fire at the right time.
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