Can anyone say smooth transition?
     A veteran of 14 NHL seasons, Fred Stanfield retired from professional hockey in 1978. Since putting away the skates and sticks, Stanfield has proved to be as adept in the business arena as he was at the hockey rink. For the past two decades, the former Buffalo Sabre center has operated an office furniture business. What started as a modest business venture has blossomed into a major league operation.
     “We’ve been in business for 20 years,” Stanfield said. “It started with just myself and my wife. Now, there’s eight of us. We used to have one station wagon, now we have two trucks and a van. It’s been quite an experience.”
     Located at 4231 Transit Road in Clarence, Stanfield’s Office Furniture was situated in Amherst for the first 18 years of its existence.
     “I really like our new location here on Transit,” Stanfield said. “We have 10,000 square feet. We were on Main Street for 13 years and we were on Harlem Road for five years. One fellow, Steve Sommers, has been with me 19 years.”
     Stanfield, who entered the NHL with Chicago during the 1964-65 season, also played in Minnesota and Boston. He was an integral part of the Buffalo club that went to the Stanley Cup finals in 1975. He enjoyed playing for that team’s architect, former Sabre general manager Punch Imlach.
     “I had a lot of respect for Punch,” Stanfield said. “He had a lot of hockey knowledge. He coached the last Toronto team to win the cup. He knew how to win. He liked to put veterans with young kids. That was a good mix.”
While a member of the Boston Bruins, Stanfield won two Stanley Cups.
     “Winning the two cups was great,” he said. “The first one was especially nice. My first year in the NHL, 1964, I went to the finals with Chicago. We went to the seventh game, but we got beat by Montreal.”
     As a Bruin, Stanfield, who finished his career with 211 goals and 616 points, got a chance to play with the legendary Bobby Orr.
     “Bobby Orr was the best player I ever played with,” Stanfield said. “He had unbelievable skills. His skating was excellent. He had three or four different speeds. His knowledge of the game was fantastic. He had a great shot and he was tough. And he showed up every night.”
    One of Stanfield’s coaches with the Bruins was Harry Sinden, Boston’s current President and general manager.
     “I played for some good coaches, but Harry Sinden may have been the best,” Stanfield said. “He was a real good coach. He was there for the players. He knew how to win.”
     Although, he hasn’t played professionally in over 20 years, Stanfield remains in contact with several former NHL players.
     “I started the alumni for the Sabres over 15 years ago,” he said. “As it went along, we formed a real organized alumni group. Danny Gare, Larry Playfair and Derek Smith are also involved. Seymour Knox IV really got involved with the former players. He enabled us to stay with the team.”
     Like most former players, Stanfield is also a fan.
     “I follow hockey quite a bit,” he said. “I go to Sabres’ games and I watch a lot on television. We have an alumni room down at the arena. The Knox family started this and John Rigas has continued it.  The ownership has been very good to the alumni.”
     During his playing days, Stanfield was known as a money player. In 106 NHL playoff games, he scored 21 goals and totaled 56 points. His NHL playing days may be over, but he still does what it takes when it comes to keeping physically fit.
     “I play racquetball, I golf and I walk two miles every morning,” Stanfield said. “And I’ve got a pool in my backyard. Also, I play hockey all winter. I play 30 to 40 games.”
     Acquired by the Sabres in a trade that sent Norm Gratton to Minnesota, Stanfield never was able to win a cup in Buffalo. Still, he remains a fixture in Western New York.
     “We like the location and the people,” he said. “My wife and I are both from Ontario, so it’s close to home. When I finished playing, my kids were settled here and we loved the area where we lived. The schools were good. We decided to stay.”