Rick Martin Dies Of A Heart Attack Today While Driving

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Rick Martin, one-third of the most fabled line in Buffalo Sabres history, died today of a heart attack. He was 59.

Martin reportedly had a heart attack while driving in Clarence, a law enforcement officer said on the condition of anonymity.

Martin became etched in local lore as the high-scoring winger on the "French Connection," skating alongside Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert as the infant Sabres captured the area’s attention.

Martin helped welcome new Sabres owner Terry Pegula to town late last month, skating onto the ice with Perreault and Robert and shaking Pegula’s hand at center ice as the fans in HSBC Arena cheered.

Sabres Edge - Blogs - The Buffalo News

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I just heard this VIA e-mail. Very sad day for sure. One of my all time fav Sabres. RIP Rick.

 

[IPostedWhat]

Sad day today for sure Boss.

 

[mattola]

RIP Rick

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Sad day today for sure Boss.

I had the chance to meet him a few times and he was a class guy. He was always smiling. It's going to be a somber arena this afternoon.

Very sad news only 59 years old.

 

[puckhead]

that sucks. he was one of my favourite Sabres (with Perreault of course.)

 

[dash]

I'm very sorry to hear this news...I loved watching 'The French Connection' line. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Martin family.

 

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[puckhead]

nice moment right there. glad it happened before he passed.

 

[IPostedWhat]

nice moment right there. glad it happened before he passed.

And you know Pegula is going to go all out to remember and honor him.

Pegula said that moment was one of the greatest in his life.

 

[Jimmy_the_Tongue]

59 is way to young....RIP Mr. Martin....

 

[naslundfan19]

Sad news. RIP, Mr. Martin.

 

[Caps Revenge]

Condolences...

 

[ritari330]

very sad news, RIP Rick

 

[IPostedWhat]

Rene Robert was already reeling from tragic news when he heard about his former linemate's death at around 2:30 this afternoon. Early this morning, Robert got a phone call informing him that his older brother, Real, had died of a heart attack in Montreal. Real, a musician, was the eldest of 10 children.

"It's like a bad dream," said Robert, who is in Florida visiting his daughter. "First my brother, then my left winger. I lose Rico [Martin]. I tell you what. This one is going to be tough for everybody in Buffalo.

"It's too bad. [Owner Terry] Pegula just put us together. He told us, 'You guys are going to be here now until you die.' "

Gllbert Perreault, the center on the great French Connection line, was watching hockey at his home in Victoriaville when he heard the news.

"It's sad news," Perreault said. "It's a reminder that you never know in life. I mean, he was 59. That's young, and he always seemed to be in such good shape.

"I hadn't seen him much in the past 20 years, but you don't forget all the years you played together. We were together since my days in junior. I stayed at his house for a year. Oh, Rick was a guy with all the jokes. He was funny and people really enjoyed being in his presence. He was a great golfer, too. That was his passion after hockey."

Late this afternoon, the Sabres released this statement:

"The Buffalo Sabres are saddened to announce the passing of Buffalo Sabres Hall of Famer and member of the famed French Connection, Rick Martin. Rick was not only one of the greatest players in franchise history, he was a great friend to the Sabres organization and the entire community. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Sabres organization go out to his wife Mikey and their two sons, Corey and Josh."

Rick Martin, member of famed French Connection, dead at 59 - Sabres & NHL - The Buffalo News

 

[puckhead]

And you know Pegula is going to go all out to remember and honor him.

Pegula said that moment was one of the greatest in his life.

on the HNIC interview last night, Pegula said that when he had heard that those three were going to be part of the puck drop ceremony, he knew he would break up, so he went and found them to meet them first privately and get that out of his system.

 

[buffhockey]

WOW.

I was able to meet Rick a couple of times while he ran a computer consulting company in Buffalo. He was quite the character.


RIP

 

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[Mintyp69]

just listened to part of the interview with playfair, roby, razor and lindy and htere was just so much emotion in that room. I teared up a bit. I never had the pleasure of seeing him play, but what he did for this community is tremendous and his loss profoundly felt