The French Connection (ice hockey)

In Hockey was The French Connection the nickname of one of the most famous storm ranks of the Buffalo Sabres, which consisted of Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Richard (Rick ) Martin. The striker trio was given this name based on the film The French Connection, as all three of the French-speaking part of Canada, the Province of Québec, originate.

Gilbert and Rick Martin had been playing together for Juniors times and were reunited by the Sabres to the 1971/72 season. When René Robert then joined the Sabres, one of the most productive offensive formations of NHL history was born, for example, in the season 1974/75 a total of 291 points scorer scored ( René Robert: 40 goals, 60 assists; Rick Martin 52 goals, 43 assists, Gilbert Perreault: 39 goals, 57 assists) and thus all three landed in the top ten scorers in the NHL. Although the offensive strength of this series could lead the Sabres to the finals for the Stanley Cup, have won the cup the Sabres but never.

The three players stood together by the end of the 1971/72 season until the end of the season 1978/1979 on the ice, after which Robert was transferred to the Colorado Rockies. The numbers of all three players will no longer be awarded by the Sabres - they hang together under the roof of the hall First Niagara Center.