Former Sabres player, coach brings Stanley Cup to WNY

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Dudley was a Lewiston native. This has been corrected.

LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — It was another season of dashed hopes to bring the Stanley Cup to Western New York, or was it?

Turns out the Florida Panthers championship means Lord Stanley’s Cup is spending some time in Western New York after all.

A senior advisor to the general manager of the Florida Panthers, Rick Dudley, brought it to his home in Lewiston on Tuesday.

Dudley, a Lewiston resident, has been around the game of hockey for countless years and has been around the Western New York area for even longer.

Dudley played for the Sabres between 1972 and 1975, and once more from 1978 to 1981 before becoming head coach from 1989 to 1991. Now a senior advisor with the Panthers, does winning it behind the scenes instead of on the ice change the feeling?

“It would be the same feeling. It’s a sense of satisfaction,” Dudley said. “The fact that you’re a small player in a big puzzle, and we happen to do pretty well.”

After more than 50 years of working in professional hockey, Dudley, showing his true character, shared the silver chalice with neighbors at the Griffon Brewery and Gastropub on Tuesday.

“I’ve lived in this area for a long time, never had a chance to do something good and this is kind of nice,” Dudley said.

The line was packed out the door with adults, kids and even newborns taking a seat in the cup to experience the thrill of seeing, touching and kissing the trophy.

“I realized one thing after we won it, and that’s how iconic this trophy is,” Dudley said. “It’s not just hockey fans, it’s people that have heard of it. It’s kind of fun to have it in your possession for a little bit.”

“We’ve known Rick since the seventies and eighties. We met him down in Florida and we connected. He invited us to his party,” a pair of fans said. “It’s awesome being here, this is beautiful, can’t beat the Buffalo summers.”

The cup spent time in the city of good neighbors a few different times, but never because the Sabres won it.

“We’re always saying next year, but next year is actually the year,” another fan said.

The quest for Lord Stanley’s next champion is only a few months away. The Sabres preseason begins in September.

Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.