Great news, Buffalo Sabres fans. The homer is coming home.
Rick Jeanneret, the iconic voice of the Sabres, will make his return to the play-by-play booth Saturday night in Buffalo as the team hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 72-year-old Jeanneret, who announced he had been diagnosed with throat cancer in July, is now cancer-free. He will begin his gradual return to his job by broadcasting the first period of Saturday’s game.
Watch: Rick Jeanneret’s greatest calls
“The time seems right to slowly begin transitioning back to work,” Jeanneret said, via team release. “My doctors have told me I’m cancer-free and I’m feeling well enough to get back in the booth, even if it’s only on a limited basis for the time being. The kindness and well-wishes from everyone, especially Sabres fans and the Western New York community, has been overwhelming and I’m truly grateful for the tremendous support during this process.”
Dan Dunleavy, who was already scheduled to assume an increased workload this season, called Buffalo’s first 18 games as Jeanneret sought treatment.
“I’m feeling pretty good, although a little weak from weight loss, which is par for the course and the recovery regimen,” said Jeanneret, a native of St. Catharines, Ont. “I had planned all along to get back in the booth, but I couldn’t set a timetable given that I didn’t know how the recovery would go. I had no preset return date, but it was certainly affected by the news that I had been found cancer-free.
“I’m approaching Saturday’s game with a great deal of trepidation, and just hope I’ll get stronger and better with each ensuing outing,” he continued. “One period seems right to begin with, and I’m hoping the stamina will be there to get me through it.”
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