NHL Gum Card: Rene Robert (and the Buffalo Sabres)

During my preteen years, like many young men, the National Hockey League (NHL) was the most important thing. Ice hockey ruled our world, its players, our sports heroes. O-Pee-Chee marketed player trading cards, and these would appear in our corner stores. For ten cents, one got a few cards and a stick of 'gum'. The convenience store on the "South Side" of CFB Borden was my go-to place for these little packets of goodness — yes, I actually liked that gum.

The above card is from the 1972 - 1973 season.

René Robert was upper deck.

While the speedily-talented winger wore four different team uniforms, including that of the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs, during his NHL career, René Robert (1948 - 2021) hit his peak when he played for the Buffalo Sabres. With "French Connection" teammates Gilbert Perreault and Richard Martin, he was a playmaking and scoring force, especially during the NHL's 1974/75 season when the Sabres eliminated my beloved Habs (Montreal Canadiens) from further playoff participation.