Sabres Coach Fired After 16 Years, NHL's Longest Tenured Coach [VIDEO]

The Buffalo Sabres relieved head coach Lindy Ruff of his duties Wednesday amid growing criticism for the team's slow start from the fan base after 16 seasons.

The change comes after the general manager Darcy Regier called the team's impassive game with the jets as "tipping point."

The team's Twitter account announced the news and was confirmed by Sabres spokesman Michael Gilbert on Wednesday. This came after a loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday and shortly after Ruff completed a 90-minute practice for Thursday's game at Toronto.

Ron Rolston, coach of the Rochester Americans, Buffalo's American Hockey League affiliate is to serve as interim coach for the remaining season, Regier said.

He added the rest of the season "will provide us and him the opportunity to get to know each other, and if things go well, he'll have the opportunity to become the head coach."

"The hockey world knows how I and the entire Buffalo Sabres organization feel about Lindy Ruff not only as a coach but also as a person," Sabres owner Terry Pegula said in a statement.

"His long tenure with the Sabres has ended. His qualities have made this decision very difficult. I personally want Lindy to know that he can consider me a friend always."

Ruff was the second-longest tenured coach in North American pro sports behind Gregg Popovich, who's been coach of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs since 1996.