The Buffalo Sabres announced Monday that former right wing Danny Gare will have his #18 retired in a ceremony on November 22 when the Sabres host the New York Rangers.
Why do I care? Because it was a Danny Gare goal against the Philadelphia Flyers that was the first goal I ever saw scored during an NHL game, way back in 1974. I never forgot it, and I never forgot him. Congratulations, Danny.
Danny Gare was indeed a pistol-a high scoring fighter on a top defensive line with Luce and Ramsey playing behind the French Connection. My first NHL goal as I recall was scored by the Red Wings George Gee in 1949. Poor Gee never made it up to the Olympia rafters but he did die with his skates on some time ago playing in an older timers game of former NHL players. His death then cast a pall over old timers games for some years.
It’s funny because I hurt that Gare was the Sabres’ 3rd choice for the #18 to be retired.
Wayne Presley was asked first, but declined since he couldn’t get Dave Hannan’s number retired along side of him.
Paul Cyr, the organization’s 2nd choice, doesn’t receive phone service in Yellowknife, so he never got the call.
Congrats Danny…the hair looks real, too!
I think that’s great! It’s just odd. Gare seems a fungible candidate for sweater retirement in Buffalo, in a group with Craig Ramsay’s 10, Mike Foligno’s 17, Jim Schoenfeld’s 6 (you could pretend you’re honoring Wowie, too), maybe even Bill Hajt’s 24 or Lindy Ruff’s 22. And I’d think any of those guys would come before LaFontaine, whose number is also being retired now.
But I wouldn’t have retired 7 and 14 for Martin and Robert, myself, so maybe I’m just a crank.
Matt — You are a crank… If it were up to me I would pull a Jackie Robinson for 7, 11 and 14 — but then that is probably a bit overboard for most people… Seriously though, if not 7, 11 and 14 — then who?? I realize Schoenfeld, Luce and Ramsey have done more for the franchise since the heyday, but the French Connection provided the excitement that made the heyday. I can agree on LaFontaine, but then I had moved from Buffalo by then and don’t have the same emotional investment in him as I do the mid 70′s Sabres. In case you couldn’t tell…