The Buffalo Sabres will be honoring the famed French Connection line of the 1970s with a statue outside First Niagara Center.
Sabres president Ted Black stood outside the arena Thursday to announce that a 10-foot bronze statue of the renowned trio -- Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert, and Rick Martin -- will be part of a larger, newly-renamed Alumni Plaza.
"To be a Buffalo Sabres fan means that you know and you appreciate the rich history of this franchise. You learn it at an early age from your parents and from your grandparents, and one of the very first things you learn as a Buffalo Sabres fan are the names and numbers of three men: #11 Gilbert Perreault, #14 Rene Robert, and #7 Rick Martin," Black said.
Black says the idea to honor the famous trio was first suggested by team owner Terry Pegula when Martin died last year. Black says it was one of the most requested items in the team's fan suggestion box.
The Sabres have commissioned Jerry McKenna of Texas, a well-known sports sculptor, to create the statue.
The statue will be unveiled October 12, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the French Connection first playing together in 1972. The trio played together from 1972-1979.