RIP Joe Crozier

[MarkusKetterer]

He’s before my hockey fandom, but sad day for his family.

 

[oldgoalie]

During the 70s heyday. RIP coach, and condolences to your family.

 

[Tsujimoto]

He was a bit before my time as a coach, but he worked for the organization for years after. I actually got to speak to him on the phone when he called me regarding a ticket package that I wasn't renewing one year in the early 2000s. I had a very nice 10-15 minute conversation with him about the team. He seemed like a really nice guy.

 

[Chainshot]

Such memories.

 

[haseoke39]

Great guy. His son coaches locally and Sr. was often helping at practice, going to games, giving words of encouragement. I have a few fond memories, myself. I'll be thinking of him and the family.

 

[Intermission]

Joe Crozier is among the most revered sports figures in Rochester history, a member of the storied Rochester Americans Hall of Fame as a player, coach, general manager and owner.

In the mid-1960s, he won three Calder Cups in a span of four seasons, returned 15 years later to take another Rochester team to the finals, and — after all that — mentored a young John Van Boxmeer to a championship in 1987.

Many sides of a champion: How legendary hockey coach Joe Crozier put family first

 

[Buffalo Norsemen]

Dryden AND Crozier in a week. That's a tough one from the hockey gods.

Back in the day when you could meet the coach in the Aud Club after the game and shake his hand.

 

[Dex]

Those were exciting times in the early 70s and Joe Crozier played a big role in those early years. Part of French Connection lore and of course the great Thank You Sabres season. Some great memories indeed. Lots of great years in Rochester as well, back in the 60s when I first became a fan of the Buffalo Bisons AHL team

Many years later - I can't remember exactly when, but I'm going to say late 2000s, I had occasion to stop in the Sabres ticket office in the new arena, and who was working in the office, but Joe Crozier. I asked him if he was in fact Joe Crozier and we spoke for about ten minutes or so about the good old days. He was just a very nice guy, very gracious - and I was happy to have met him and have a conversation. I also left the building thinking a great it was that after all those years, he was still a part of the Sabres organization. I'm pretty sure he worked for the Sabres into his 80s

 

[Howie Hodge]

RIP Joe Crozier

Absolutely amazing history in the game. Player and Coach, we know. I believe he was part of Punch Imlach's group that was expecting to receive an expansion team in Vancouver in 1967. They had bought players and stashed them in the minors in preparation for this. Hella cool story, and worth looking up. Quite the history with Punch.

He was The Sabres Coach when I became a hardcore fan in 1972..

 

[Howie Hodge]

With Punch and RJ!

A goofy 11 year old used to run down to ice level to catch a glimpse of things like this in 1972.


Joe with Don Cherry!

As a Maple Leaf.
Joe was the real deal.

 

[brian_griffin]

@Howie Hodge - no kidding, but I was listening to Strictly Commercial while reading this thread / your post / admiring your photos.

 

[Howie Hodge]

@Howie Hodge - no kidding, but I was listening to Strictly Commercial while reading this thread / your post / admiring your photos.

And were you also eating a Muffin, Man?

 

[Howie Hodge]

Maybe I'm just old; but we can't let a thread about Joe Crozier end with only
11 responses can we? Can we......

Joe as a player with The Quebec Aces!

 

[Buffalo Norsemen]

The Ken Dryden pads story.

100 Things Sabres Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die

Covering the entire 30 year history of the Sabres, author Sal Maiorana has collected every essential piece of Sabres knowledge and trivia, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all from 1 to 100. Most Sabres fans have taken in a game or two at the First Niagara Center, have seen...

books.google.com

 

[Howie Hodge]

Joe with Quebec Aces.

 

[Howie Hodge]

Joe as a Junior with The Brandon Wheat Kings.