Bernie Parent Passing

I was age 23 and a Flyers season ticket holder when Bernie led the team to its first Stanley Cup. If you watch video highlights of his Hall of Fame career, especially against the Rangers and the Bruins in the 1974 and 1975 playoffs, you'll see goaltending that you just don't see today. His reflexes and quickness were unbelievable. RIP Number 1.
 
Bernie Parent is the 3rd '70s goaltending great to die in the past couple of weeks. He was 80.

He won the Conn Smythe trophy in both 1974 and '75, ending each final with a shutout, and leading the Flyers to their only Stanley Cup championships to date.

I saw him playing for the Philadelphia Blazers during his year in the WHA. He wore #00.

Ken Dryden and Eddie Giacomin both passed away recently.

RIP, heroes of my youth!
 
NormanBuntz said:
I was age 23 and a Flyers season ticket holder when Bernie led the team to its first Stanley Cup. If you watch video highlights of his Hall of Fame career, especially against the Rangers and the Bruins in the 1974 and 1975 playoffs, you'll see goaltending that you just don't see today. His reflexes and quickness were unbelievable. RIP Number 1.
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It would have been amazing to be a Flyers fan in '74 when they beat the heavily favoured Bruins in 6, the first expansion team to win the Cup.
 
Number_35 said:
It would have been amazing to be a Flyers fan in '74 when they beat the heavily favoured Bruins in 6, the first expansion team to win the Cup.
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I'll never forget the atmosphere at the Spectrum for game six when they ushered in an aging Kate Smith to sing "God Bless America." I thought the roof would blow off, again like it had in 1968. And Kate even shook hands with Phil Esposito. That was a darn good Boston team, and everyone knew if the finals went to game seven in Boston, the Cup would go to the Bruins. The Flyers never win their two Stanley Cups without Bernie Parent.
 
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My last memory of Bernie was when he suited up to play in an outdoor game in Philly, I think it was the winter classic alumni game when the flyers played the rangers. It was really great to have him out one last time for everyone to enjoy 🧡
 
Inked said:
View attachment 301574
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Flint Flint's own Bobby Clarke! I was up there for work in 2011. It's quite a place ...

In the 1970s Hockey Night In Canada tried out some parabolic mics to catch some of the on-ice sounds. After the mics picked up some of Mr Clarke's admonishments, the experiment was curtailed.

Edit: Clarke was drafted later than his talent dictated - it was thought that due to him being diabetic, he would not be able to play for long.

The Flyers got a gem in Bobby Clarke.
 
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NormanBuntz said:
I'll never forget the atmosphere at the Spectrum for game six when they ushered in an aging Kate Smith to sing "God Bless America." I thought the roof would blow off, again like it had in 1968. And Kate even shook hands with Phil Esposito. That was a darn good Boston team, and everyone knew if the finals went to game seven in Boston, the Cup would go to the Bruins. The Flyers never win their two Stanley Cups without Bernie Parent.
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Yes, historically when the crew at the Spectrum had played a recording of Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" (as an alternative to "The Star-spangled Banner"), the Flyers usually won.

So they went all-in, and brought her in to sing in person before Game 6.

The Bruins responded graciously, presenting Miss Smith with a bouquet of roses - but the Flyers won 1-0.
 
Inked said:
Bernie Parent, longtime Flyers goalie, passed today at 80 yo. As a kid growing up in Philly playing street hockey back in the 70’s, he and others on that team and throughout the league were icons to me and my buddies. RIP Bernie.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/former-flyers-g-hockey-hall-of-famer-parent-dead-at-80/
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I had a Fibrosport mask for street hockey, and painted it orange like Bernie's WHA mask.

A frozen tennis ball hurts! The pain is long gone, but the good memories of street hockey remain.
 
Number_35 said:
Flint Flint's own Bobby Clarke! I was up there for work in 2011. It's quite a place ...

In the 1970s Hockey Night In Canada tried out some parabolic mics to catch some of the on-ice sounds. After the mics picked up some of Mr Clarke's admonishments, the experiment was curtailed.

Edit: Clarke was drafted later than his talent dictated - it was thought that due to him being diabetic, he would not be able to play for long.

The Flyers got a gem in Bobby Clarke.
Click to expand...
Ack! So-called "Autocorrect" strikes again. Flin Flon, not Flint Flint. Grrr.
 
Number_35 said:
Flint Flint's own Bobby Clarke! I was up there for work in 2011. It's quite a place ...

In the 1970s Hockey Night In Canada tried out some parabolic mics to catch some of the on-ice sounds. After the mics picked up some of Mr Clarke's admonishments, the experiment was curtailed.

Edit: Clarke was drafted later than his talent dictated - it was thought that due to him being diabetic, he would not be able to play for long.

The Flyers got a gem in Bobby Clarke.
Click to expand...
"Clarkie" was one of the hardest working hockey players I ever saw. He was a maximum effort guy. As a team General Manager, not so good.
 
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