Paul Wieland The Mastermind of Taro Tsujimoto has passed away

[Brawndo]

 

[Eleven]

Well there's the third.  Welch, McCarver, Wieland.  All icons of the early 80s in my book.

[Marvin]

Damn.  He was a big part of my youth.  RIP, Paul.

You can also thank him for all the April Fool's Day stuff the Sabres did years ago.

[LabattBlue]

Wow.  Very sad.  So much a part of early Sabres history. 
 

For the youngins’ not familiar with him…

https://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/paul-wieland-84-former-buffalo-sabres-pr-director-and-creator-of-taro-tsujimoto-dies

 

Edited February 17, 2023 by LabattBlue

[Taro T]

He was a huge behind the scenes part of the Sabres in their formative years.

Apparently he was a very generous & helpful person too.

Maybe he'll finally get to pull some pranks on the Knoxes again.

RIP Mr. Weiland.

[phil_soisson]

 

[Brawndo]

 

[Brawndo]

 

[That Aud Smell]

A jewel of a man. Rest in Peace.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

He was as big a part of the early success of the Sabres as anyone.  Brilliant PR guy.

[HoosierDaddy]

Funny that the Cincinnati Cyclones have an actual Japanese player on their roster.

[Doohicksie]

17 minutes ago, HoosierDaddy said:

Funny that the Cincinnati Cyclones have an actual Japanese player on their roster.

We will miss you, Mr. Wieland.  Godspeed.

[Quint]

Godspeed Paul to one of the original Sabre builders. 

[North Buffalo]

4 hours ago, Brawndo said:

 

His daughter Cynthia is a sweetheart worked on Capitol Hill for many years.  Nice lady took after her Dad.

[Pimlach]

RIP Paul.  
 

Great guy. A big reason for the huge success and popularity of the Sabres in Buffalo the 1970’s.  He could do PR better than anyone. Everything about him was good PR, he was a natural at it. 

[Marvin]

9 hours ago, HoosierDaddy said:

Funny that the Cincinnati Cyclones have an actual Japanese player on their roster.

Welcome back!

[spndnchz]

🙏🏻

[Night Train]

Very nice man. Was always on early Sabres TV games in the 1970's.

 Used to kid that while holding the Mic for others to speak, he would constantly be darting his eyes in all directions, as if snipers were after him. 

 

 RIP

[mphs mike]

15 hours ago, Eleven said:

Well there's the third.  Welch, McCarver, Wieland.  All icons of the early 80s in my book.

I'd make it 10 years earlier. 

 

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

 

Edited February 17, 2023 by \GoBillsInDallas/

[Stoner]

I think it's fair to say that the success of the Buffalo Sabres was not guaranteed in those early days. Punch near-miraculously got them to elite status in five years, and that was huge.

But even in a good hockey town that had had the AHL Bisons, creating affinity for an expansion team was no small feat. H/t to Ted, Paul and Chuck Burris (TIL Paul was not the director at first) and others including Rick* of course. Dave Forman got the Aud roof raised.

The rest is history.

*Not sure how to estimate Rick's value in promoting the team in the very early days. He would have called only a few games his first season.

[Brawndo]

I actually met Him a few months ago and spent a few minutes talking about the Sabres. 
 

He was hopeful for the first time in a long time with the team, hopefully they prove Him correct