Ted Darling
Encyclopedia
Edgar Lee "Ted" Darling was the original "Voice of the Buffalo Sabres
" ice hockey
team for twenty-two seasons, calling the team's games on television from the team's inaugural season in 1970 to 1991. Prior to his work with the Sabres, he hosted Hockey Night in Canada
telecasts from Montreal
.
Darling was relieved of his duties by the executive producer
of Sabres broadcasts, Paul Wieland, on December 12, 1991 due to worsening Pick's disease
, to which he eventually succumbed in 1996. He was brought back as a studio analyst for games on WUTV
in the 1992-93 season. The press box at the team's new HSBC Arena was named the "Ted Darling Memorial Press Box" in his honour. Darling was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1994.
He was succeeded on television by John Gurtler
, who was himself succeeded by Pete Weber
in 1995, who was in turn replaced by longtime Sabres radio play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret
in 1997.
hit the city of Buffalo
, Darling called a game between the Sabres
and Montreal Canadiens
at the Montreal Forum
from his apartment—phoning in his commentary while watching the action on his television.
On occasion, Jeanneret, who had been the team's radio voice since 1971, and Darling would hold TV-radio simulcasts, with Darling calling the first and third periods and Jeanneret covering the second period.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
" ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team for twenty-two seasons, calling the team's games on television from the team's inaugural season in 1970 to 1991. Prior to his work with the Sabres, he hosted Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
telecasts from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
Darling was relieved of his duties by the executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
of Sabres broadcasts, Paul Wieland, on December 12, 1991 due to worsening Pick's disease
Pick's disease
Pick's disease, is a rare neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive destruction of nerve cells in the brain. Symptoms include loss of speech , and dementia. While some of the symptoms can initially be alleviated, the disease progresses and patients often die within two to ten years...
, to which he eventually succumbed in 1996. He was brought back as a studio analyst for games on WUTV
WUTV
WUTV, virtual channel 29, is the Fox-affiliated television station in Buffalo, New York. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 14. The station is owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, in a duopoly with the area's MyNetworkTV affiliate WNYO-TV...
in the 1992-93 season. The press box at the team's new HSBC Arena was named the "Ted Darling Memorial Press Box" in his honour. Darling was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1994.
He was succeeded on television by John Gurtler
John Gurtler
John Gurtler II is an American sportscaster from Orchard Park, New York. He is most notable for having succeeded Ted Darling as television play-by-play announcer for the Buffalo Sabres, a position he held from 1992 until 1995...
, who was himself succeeded by Pete Weber
Pete Weber (broadcaster)
Pete Weber is the play-by-play voice of the NHL's Nashville Predators, a position he has held with the organization since the team's first season ....
in 1995, who was in turn replaced by longtime Sabres radio play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret
Rick Jeanneret
Richard "Rick" Jeanneret is the television and radio play-by-play announcer for the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres and its broadcast network, the Sabres Hockey Network. Having started with the team on radio during the 1971–72 season, he is the longest-tenured announcer in the NHL...
in 1997.
Memorable calls
When the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977
The Blizzard of 1977 was a deadly blizzard that hit upstate New York and Southern Ontario from January 28 to February 1, 1977. Daily peak wind gusts ranging from were recorded by the National Weather Service Buffalo Office ....
hit the city of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Darling called a game between the Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
and Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
at the Montreal Forum
Montreal Forum
The Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
from his apartment—phoning in his commentary while watching the action on his television.
On occasion, Jeanneret, who had been the team's radio voice since 1971, and Darling would hold TV-radio simulcasts, with Darling calling the first and third periods and Jeanneret covering the second period.