NIAGARA FALLS —
For Gilbert Perreault, the Buffalo Sabres’ most prestigious alumnus and the organization’s first-ever draft pick as a franchise, trips to Buffalo are all about the fans.
The hockey legend, who lives in his native Quebec, Canada, visited the Niagara Holiday Market on Wednesday to sign autographs for the fans who lined up outside the BlueCross BlueShield ice rink to meet him.
“It’s great to see the fans,” Perreault said. “Most of the time, there’s lots of fans who show up. It’s nice to talk to the fans, because they still remember you. They remain faithful even after all these years.”
Fans like Randell Peddicord Sr. and his son, Randell Peddicord Jr., both of Niagara Falls. The pair showed up to the event at 4:15 p.m. to get an autograph and a picture with Perreault, even though the event started at 6 p.m.
But the pair’s early arrival stems from a memory of the hockey star from the father’s childhood.
“When I was 14 or 15, I went to (an appearance) by him,” Randell Peddicord Sr. said. “I waited in line, waited in line and when I was about 10 or so people from the front, he left. So I said ‘We’re not missing this this time.’ ”
Most of the fans gathered at the event had some story about the Sabres star, or the team in general. Mario Colucci, of Lewiston, brought half of an orange seat from the Memorial Auditorium.
“It’s a piece of history,” he said, clutching the seat cushion portion of a seat from the upper bowl of the former home of the Sabres. “Someone I knew actually took this for me, and I want to have it signed.”
He said he’s had the seat cushion mounted on his wall for years. But people he’s met who aren’t from Western New York wouldn’t know what it was, he said. He’s hoping Perreault’s signature helps change it.
Others simply showed up because they wanted to. Joe Harris, of Buffalo, simply wanted to give some autographs as Christmas presents, while his friend, Mike Chismar, of Niagara Falls, just wanted to have something signed by a guy who played on the French Connection line, which Perreault centered between wingers Rene Robert and Richard Martin in the 70s.
The French Connection also brought Connie Brown and her son, Connor Brown, to the signing as well. Connie said the family bought a hockey puck signed by Martin before he passed away in February, with the hopes of Perreault’s signature bringing them one step closer to the entire line.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to get Rene Robert at some point,” she said. “But it’s nice to see the generations here. Some of these people weren’t alive when the French Connection played, yet they’re here.”
Key Bank, which recently opened a new branch location at 2407 Pine Ave., sponsored the autograph signing.
Communities
Related Photos
-
Buffalo Sabres legend Gilbert Perreault got a workout signing autographs during a special appearance Wednesday night at the Holiday Market, where a line of fans stretched outside of the building and halfway down the block on Old Falls Street next to the ice rink. Photo by James Neiss
-
Fans started lining up early Wednesday for the chance to meet Buffalo Sabres legend Gilbert Perreault during an autograph session at the Holiday Market downtown. Photo by James Neiss
Discussion
December 22, 2011
Former Sabre Gilbert Perreault meets fans at Holiday Market appearance
- Communities
-
-
Leadership Niagara youth program collects and shares prom clothes
From scrambling to find a date, to practicing dance moves, to searching endlessly for the perfect dress, high schoolers from all over the region are preparing for one of the most memorable nights of their lives -- prom night.
- Old Falls Street announces summer lineup Free concerts, street entertainment and recent blockbuster movies are all set to return to Old Falls Street this summer. There are some new things coming as well, though, as event organizers and marketing gurus at Global Spectrum attempt to once again capitalize on what promises to be a strong tourist season.
-
Teddy bear clinic teaches important lessons
Using teddy bears, students got demonstrations in various useful subjects including proper hand washing and bandaging during the first ever Teddy Bear Clinic at Niagara Street Elementary.
-
Orphaned polar bear cub lands at Buffalo Zoo
It may have been the most anticipated package ever delivered to the Buffalo Zoo: an orphaned polar bear cub that arrived Wednesday from Alaska and will spend the summer with another cub born six months ago.
-
Niagara University holding community garage sale this weekend
It's no secret that students sometimes leave usable items in their wake as the hustle to summer vacation begins. A Niagara University committee is coordinating an effort to put those items to good use.
-
Beekeepers remove 8-foot hive from Falls home
Busch Brother's Beekeepers Paul and Jim Busch were hard at work Monday, removing more than 80,000 honey bees from a Memorial Parkway home.
-
DG Bread & Pizza brings back memories of Trusello's -- and its customers
What started as a search for a storefront for a business of their own turned into a whirlwind of public attention for Gail Zacher and her boyfriend.
-
Six Niagara Falls pantries benefit from Saturday's Stamp Out Hunger drive
Every year, the Stamp Out Hunger food drive fills the shelves of food pantries across the United States as organizations strive to feed those facing desperation or hard times.
-
Native Center in Falls opens its doors
Lewiston businessman Joe Anderson held a special preview night Thursday to offer a glimpse of his latest development, the new Smokin' Joes Native Center at 333 First St. in Niagara Falls.
-
Letter carriers assist food drive
The largest one-day food drive in the nation to help the needy is set for Saturday.
- More Communities Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
