BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres President Russ Brandon officially announced that Michael Gilbert (pictured above) has been promoted to the role of Buffalo Sabres vice president of administration and general manager of HarborCenter. Brandon also announced that Chris Bandura will assume control of all media relations duties for the Sabres and Buffalo Bandits (NLL), and will be the primary media contact for the Sabres as director of media relations.
In this new role, Gilbert will be responsible for the daily administrative activities of the Sabres’ organization. As general manger of HarborCenter, he is now responsible for the day-to-day operations of the complex and all related properties within its portfolio. Gilbert joined the Sabres in the summer of 1997 and served in his most recent role of vice president of public and community relations from 2011 until the time of this promotion. During his tenure with the Sabres, his duties have included operating the public and community relations departments of the Sabres and Bandits, supervising the youth hockey and fan development initiatives of the organizations, serving as team liaison to the Buffalo Sabres Foundation, and serving as a member of the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame Committee’s board of directors. Additionally, Gilbert serves as the Sabres’ chief liaison to USA Hockey, and helped lead the organization’s effort to secure the 2018 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
Bandura is currently in his 12th season with the Sabres and sixth as the team’s director of media relations after spending his first six seasons as the team’s media relations coordinator. Bandura will now oversee all communications and media relations efforts for both the Sabres and Bandits. Bandura will serve as the team’s primary media contact and liaison between media members and the Sabres’ organization, including players and hockey department personnel.
In addition, Don Heins has been named communications manager for Pegula Sports and Entertainment. Heins will handle all public relations duties for all PSE business properties, including HarborCenter. Ian Ott, who will enter his seventh season with the team, will continue in his role as manager of media relations for the Sabres and will also oversee all day-to-day media relations efforts for the Buffalo Bandits.
