The Buffalo Sabres on Monday announced Tom Tzetzo has been named the recipient of the 2018 J. Michael Duffett Memorial Award, presented each year to the coach or administrator whose contributions to amateur hockey in Western New York "best exemplify the knowledge, teaching, love of the game and gentle humanity of Mike."
Tzetzo is the 33rd recipient and will be presented with the award on Tuesday at the Sabres' game against the New Jersey Devils.
Since 1984, Tzetzo has been a part of Amherst Youth Hockey, coaching both house and travel teams from the Squirt to Midget 18U AAA levels. His teams have played in numerous state championship tournaments as well as four national tournaments.
In addition to coaching, Tzetzo has been on the Amherst Youth Hockey board of directors for the past 17 years, including four years as treasurer and three years as the ice scheduling coordinator.
J. Michael Duffett was a student of the game and a coach with the Buffalo Bisons and the Amherst Hockey Association. A standout player at Nichols School and Clarkson University, Duffett was working in the Sabres' hockey department under Scotty Bowman and Roger Neilson at the time of his death following a battle with cancer. The Sabres established the J. Michael Duffett Award in 1984 in his memory.
