Ron Anderson

Ron Anderson is the answer to two interesting trivia questions. He was one of the players on the ice for the very NHL faceoff in Sabres history. He was the right winger on a line with Hap Myers and Billy Inglis. He was also the first Buffalo Sabre to score a shorthanded goal. That goal came on October 23, 1970 against Ron's original NHL team - the Detroit Red Wings.

Ron was a 6'0" 170 pound right winger from Red Deer, Alberta. He played his junior hockey with the dynastic Edmonton Oil Kings of the early 1960s. Ron played with them from 1962 through 1966. In that time Oil Kings made 5 consecutive Memorial Cup finals appearances (plus 2 more appearances prior to Ron's arrival in Edmonton) and won 2 championships. Other players on those great teams included Pat Quinn, Glen Sather, and Garnet "Ace" Bailey.

Ron (not to be confused with another Ron Anderson who played briefly with the Washington Capitals in the mid-1970s) turned pro in 1966-67, but spent the entire year in the minor leagues. The same went for year 2 in 1968-69, although he did get an 18 game cameo appearance with the Detroit Red Wings. He even managed to chip in two goals.

Ron made the NHL team in 1968-69, but was traded to Los Angeles after just 7 games. He finished the year in Los Angeles, but quietly contributed with just 3 goals and 8 points.

The St. Louis Blues acquired Ron for the 1969-70 season. He played most of the season in St. Louis, scoring 9 goals and 18 points in 59 games. However he did have a very successful and short stint in the minor leagues. He played 9 games - and scored 8 goals and 11 points - with the American Hockey League's Buffalo Bisons.

Ron's short but impressive stop in Buffalo perhaps persuaded the Buffalo Sabres to trade Craig Cameron to St. Louis in exchange for Anderson, who set NHL career highs in all major categories while with the Sabres in 1970-71. He played in 74 games, and registered 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points.

Ron's success was nowhere to be found the following season in 1971-72. He had zero goals and just 4 assists in 37 NHL games, and finished the year in the minor leagues.

That proved to be Ron's uneventful exit from the NHL. Like many fringe NHLers he jumped to the World Hockey Association where he went home to Alberta to play with the Alberta/Edmonton Oilers. Ron played a season and a half in the WHA before finishing his career by bouncing around the Southern Hockey League until 1977.