Don Luce enters his 15th season as the Buffalo Sabres Director of Player Personnel, where he oversees the team's 11-person scouting staff. Together they scout the NHL, IHL, AHL, and ECHL, as well as the Canadian junior leagues, American high schools and colleges, and European leagues.
The work of Don and his staff continues to find outstanding young prospects all over the world. This past season The Hockey News again named Rochester goaltender Mika Noronen (1997, 1st round) as its Minor Pro Prospect of the Year for the second consecutive season. Remarkably, it was the third straight season that a Sabres prospect has received that honor. Goaltender Martin Biron (1995, 1st round) was the Minor Pro Prospect of the Year for 1999. However, Noronen was not the only Buffalo goaltender prospect that attained a lofty status in their respective league.
Ryan Miller, whom Luce and his staff drafted in the fifth-round in 1999, rewrote the college hockey record books while at Michigan State University. He became only the second goaltender to win the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey’s top player and set the NCAA career shutout record with 18. In his first two seasons with the Spartans, Miller has a record of 47-10-7 (1.40 GAA, .944 save %).
Don first joined the Sabres’ front office staff in 1984 when he worked for a year on special assignments and as an assistant coach. He spent the 1985-86 season as an American scout, before taking on his current role in 1987. One of his major accomplishments was his instrumental role in bringing Alexander Mogilny to America in 1989.
A member of the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame, Luce originally became a Sabre as part of a trade with Detroit for Joe Daley in 1971. He spent almost 10 full seasons of his NHL career with Buffalo and ranked with Craig Ramsay as two of the league's best penalty-killers throughout the 1970's.
In 1974-75, Don enjoyed arguably his finest season helping the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Finals and establishing two team records which still stand to this day: eight short-handed goals in one season and an incredible +61 plus/minus ranking. He capped the year by being named the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy which is given to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
After a trade to Los Angeles in 1981, Luce went on to play one more season with Toronto before retiring. He appeared in a total of 894 NHL games, registering 225 goals, 329 assists, 554 points, and 364 PIM. Don still ranks in the top 10 with Buffalo in eight career leaders categories.
As a result of his many accomplishments on and off the ice, Don was honored with induction into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in September 1997. He and his wife Diane have four grown children: three daughters Kim, Kelly, and Kristin, and son Scott, and his wife Ann, who boast their own sons Harrison and Griffin.
