Why Sabres is spelled like that instead of sabers

TL;DR

The Buffalo Sabres' name is spelled with a 'u' instead of an 'e', differing from the American English spelling of 'sabers'. This unique spelling highlights the team's identity in the NHL.

Key points

Buffalo Sabres are gaining prominence in the NHL
Team name is spelled 'Sabres' instead of 'sabers'
The spelling difference highlights the team's unique identity

Buffalo SabresNHL

Why Sabres is spelled like that instead of sabers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Buffalo Sabres are featuring more prominently on the NHL stage than they have in a long time.

One thing that brings into the spotlight is the team name itself, Sabres.

It's spelled a little differently than American English generally would go with, which would be sabers.

The '-re' ending exists more in Canada, with words like centre instead of center.

There's a reason for it, though.

MORE:Sabres' anthem singer has a message for the haters

Why is Sabres spelled like that?

The spelling goes back to the name's origin.

Toronto filmmaker Harry Cole had submitted the suggestion in a name-the-team contest in the late-1960s, and the Canadian '-re' ending stuck.

The Sabres maintain a lot of ties to Canada, including singing that country's national anthem before every home game.

MORE:Sabres 'blend in well with this city' in Game 1 win over Canadiens

A lot of Sabres fans cross the border to come to Buffalo for NHL games, considering the arena is only a handful of miles from the country line.

Sabres is actually spelled curiously enough that the spell check for this very website's publishing software puts a red line under it as if it's spelled incorrectly.

We can assure you it's spelled just the way they want it to be spelled.

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Q&A

Why is the Buffalo Sabres' name spelled with a 'u'?

The name 'Sabres' is spelled with a 'u' to create a unique identity for the team, distinguishing it from the common American English spelling 'sabers'.

What does the name 'Sabres' signify for the Buffalo NHL team?

The name 'Sabres' signifies a type of sword, reflecting strength and competitiveness, which aligns with the team's identity in the NHL.

How does the spelling of 'Sabres' affect the team's branding?

The unique spelling of 'Sabres' enhances the team's branding by creating a memorable and distinctive identity in the world of professional hockey.