A working list of the Sabres’ top minor league affiliates:

• 1970-71 Salt Lake Golden Eagles, WHL, owner: Dan Meyer (died in 1/25/71 after falling from a 19 story hotel room while attending league meetings.
• 1971-1974 – Cincinnati Golden Swords, AHL, owner: Buffalo Sabres (Knox group). Sabres exercised option to create an AHL team to replace the Bisons who folden after the 1969-70 season when Buffalo was awarded the Sabres.
• 1974 – 79 – Hershey Bears, AHL, owner: Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company (founded by Milton Hershey, yeah the candy guy).
• 1980 – 2008 – Rochester Americans, AHL.  owners: Buffalo Sabres through 2000, Steve Donner.
• 2008 – 2011 – Portland Pirates, AHL, owner: Brian Petrovek.
• 2011- present – Rochester Americans, AHL, owner: Buffalo Sabres (Terry Pegula group).

The Sabres have had other secondary affiliations with smaller leagues.  A partial list compiled by Tom Doran and myself is:

• 1986-1989 – Flint Spirits, IHL
• 1989-90 – Phoenix Roadrunners, IHL,
• 1998-01 – Broome County Icemen,  UHL
• 2002-03 – Greensboro Generals, ECHL
• 2005-09 – Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, CHL
• 2011- present – Gwinnett Gladiators, ECHL