Randy Cunneyworth

Lore & Background

Cunneyworth began his major junior career with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League in 1979–80, scoring 16 goals and 41 points in 63 games. He was chosen in the eighth round, 167th overall, by general manager Scotty Bowman of the Buffalo Sabres in the 1980 NHL entry draft. He returned to Ottawa for 1980–81 and led his team in scoring with 54 goals and 128 points in 67 games, as well as leading with 240 penalty minutes. He appeared in one game with the AHL affiliate Rochester Americans in 1980–81, earning an assist, and was called up to the Sabres on March 1, 1981, playing his first NHL game against the Boston Bruins in Boston, where he was held off the scoresheet.

Cunneyworth suffered a serious eye injury from a Barry Melrose high stick during a September 1981 preseason game at Toronto and missed the remainder of the preseason. He began the 1981–82 season with Buffalo, appearing in 20 games, scoring two goals and six points. He played primarily on the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railroad) line with young teammates Steve Patrick and Lindy Ruff, a nickname given by then-Sabres assistant coach Nick Polano. He earned his first NHL assist on October 7, 1981 against the Washington Capitals and scored his first NHL goal against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 1981 against goalie Steve Weeks. He was reassigned to Rochester in late November and spent the rest of the season there.

Cunneyworth spent the entire 1982–83 season with the Mike Keenan-coached Rochester Americans, appearing in 78 games scoring 23 goals and 56 points, and helped the Americans win the 1983 Calder Cup Championship. He spent another full season in the AHL in 1983–84 with Rochester, scoring 18 goals and 35 points in 65 games, and helped the Americans reach the playoffs, losing to the Maine Mariners in the 1984 Calder Cup finals. In 1984–85, his third full season with the Americans, he played in 72 games, scoring 30 goals and 68 points to finish third in team scoring. Although offered a contract, Cunneyworth elected not to re-sign with the Sabres organization, and on October 4, 1985, Sabres GM Scotty Bowman traded him and Mike Moller to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Pat Hughes.

Reader's Guide

Cunneyworth's time with the Buffalo Sabres organization spanned from his draft in 1980 through the 1984–85 season, though his NHL playing time with the Sabres was limited to 20 games in 1981–82. He spent the bulk of his Sabres-affiliated years with the Rochester Americans, where he was a key contributor to their 1983 Calder Cup championship and a consistent scorer in the AHL. His development in the Sabres system included playing on the notable 'CPR line' with Steve Patrick and Lindy Ruff, and he was coached in Rochester by future NHL coach Mike Keenan. After leaving Buffalo, Cunneyworth went on to a full-time NHL career with Pittsburgh, Winnipeg, and Hartford, achieving his best offensive seasons with the Penguins, including a 35-goal, 74-point campaign in 1987–88. His nearly 40-year career in hockey later included roles as an NHL head coach (interim with Montreal) and as a player development coach with the Sabres organization, reflecting a long association with the franchise and its AHL affiliate.

Did You Know?

• Cunneyworth was a 10th-round selection (129th overall) in the 1978 OHL Midget Draft.
• Cunneyworth and teammate Ted Nolan began using local Rochester businessman Steve Bartlett as their representative/agent.
• He was the Penguins' nominee for the Masterton Trophy at the end of the 1986–87 season.