Amherst High School hockey coach Jim D'Angelo was honored prior to Friday's game with the J. Michael Duffett Award. The award is 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."
D'Angelo grew up playing hockey in the open air rinks of the Town of Tonawanda and he played high school hockey at Kenmore West and was a member of the first Canisius College club teams.
He's coached at Kenmore West, Canisius, Timon and Williamsville North, as well as with various house and tournament teams throughout the years. He has served on Amherst Youth Hockey board for 12 years.
"I wish to thank my family, especially my wife LuAnn, son Peter and daughter Molly and brother Fred for all their support," D'Angelo said. "Finally, I'd like to thank the Smith family, my best friend David, his brother Barry and their late father Bob for the opportunities and guidance they provided me throughout the years."
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 after a battle with cancer. In 1984, the Buffalo Sabres established the J. Michael Duffett Award in his memory.
