He’s still a King.
    Marcel Dionne was not the biggest hockey player in history but, his accomplishments are huge. In more than 18 NHL seasons, Dionne scored 731 goals and earned 1,040 assists. With 1,771 career points, he is the third highest scorer in league history. Only Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe put up bigger numbers.
    A sniper as well as a play-maker, Dionne hit the coveted 50 goal plateau six times. On eight occasions, he scored at least 100 points.
    Today, Dionne, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, resides in Clarence Center. Despite never having played for the Buffalo Sabres, the leading scorer in Los Angeles Kings’ history is a fan of both the team and the region it represents.
    “I follow the Sabres, I’m part of the community,” Dionne said. “I want to see them do well. It’s good for this area if the team wins. I read about them everyday in the newspaper.”
    The owner of a sports marketing concern, Dionne has become acquainted with several current and former Buffalo players.
    “I know Michael  Peca and Rob Ray has also been out here,” Dionne said. “Geoff Sanderson came out here last year before he was traded.”
    In 1971, Dionne, after Guy Lafleur, was the second player selected in the NHL entry draft. In his rookie season, as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, he netted 28 goals and finished with 77 points. In 1975 he took home the prestigious Lady Byng Trophy, which is awarded annually to the NHL’s most gentlemanly player. In 1977, while with the Kings, Dionne once again captured the award.
    Upon the conclusion of the 1988-89 season, Dionne, then a member of the  New York Rangers, called it a career.
     He talked about what it was like to say good-bye to the game he loved.
“I knew my career was over,” Dionne said. “I knew it was the last time I would play professional hockey. It was tough, but I was very fortunate. I have many good memories and I made a good living.”
    Although he was never known as a fighter, Dionne did compile 600 penalty minutes in his career.  Only 5-foot-8, he shared the ice with many physically imposing specimens.
    “I played against a lot of tough guys,” he said. “But there’s no such thing as the toughest guy. All guys get beat up. There’s always someone that’s bigger or stronger. Ask Rob Ray.  Look at Ali, even he got beat.”
Even though he hasn’t played NHL hockey for 11 years, Dionne still likes to keep in shape.
    “I play golf, I’m still very, very active,” he said. “Chasing my kids certainly helps. My conditioning is still very good. I pay attention to my waistline.”
Through his business ventures, Dionne has frequent contact with the NHL and its member franchises. The Buffalo area has served him well as a base of operations.
    “People don’t really know about this place,” Dionne said. “It’s a perfect location for me. I do a good deal of business in Canada and Buffalo’s close to the border. It’s very convenient.”
    He has lived in some of the most desirable parts of North America, but    Dionne has placed Western New York at the top of his list.
    “This is the greatest place I’ve ever lived,” Dionne, who moved to Clarence in 1994, said. “There’s the waterfront. We have a baseball team, a football team and a hockey team. It’s close to Canada. There are some good schools. Also, the new airport makes a difference. It’s a first-rate airport.”