Bernie Parent, Flyers legend and Hall of Famer, passes away

The ice hockey world mourns the loss of Bernie Parent, a legend in goal and a key figure in the Flyers’ two Stanley Cup championships. Parent, recognized as one of the best goaltenders of all time, passed away at the age of 80. The news was confirmed by the Flyers, although no immediate details were provided about the causes of his death. Joe Watson, former Flyers star defenseman, reported that Parent passed away in his sleep. Watson shared that he had seen Parent and other former Flyers players at an event on Friday night. He described Parent as someone who was suffering from severe back pain, which made it difficult for him to move.

The iconic image of Parent with his hockey mask graced the cover of Time magazine in 1975, when the Flyers were one of the most prominent teams in the sport. He won the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Vezina Trophy in consecutive seasons, achieving the championship in 1974 and 1975. The Flyers were the first NHL expansion team to achieve this feat.

“The legend of Bernie Parent transcended the ice and his achievements. Bernie felt a deep love for Philadelphia and the Flyers fans. He was passionate about his role as an ambassador for Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education and inspired a whole generation of hockey fans. He dedicated his time, energy, and enthusiasm not only to growing the sport, but also to bringing joy to everyone he met.”

Flyers Statement

After debuting in the NHL with Boston in 1965, Parent was selected by the Flyers in the 1967 expansion draft. After 3 and a half seasons, he was traded to Toronto, but returned to Philadelphia before the 1973-74 season. That season, he led the league with 47 wins and repeated as the wins leader the following season with 44. He retired from the Flyers in 1979 with 271 career wins, 231 of them with the Flyers. In 1979, an accidental blow with a stick to his right eye left him temporarily blind, which marked the end of his career. In 1974, the Flyers defeated the Bruins in six games to win the Stanley Cup and repeated in 1975 against the Buffalo Sabres. With Parent in goal, the saying “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent” became a symbol of Philadelphia.

“We used to joke in the locker room. We’d say: ‘Bernie, how many goals do you need?’ He’d say: ‘One, two, that’s all, and we’ll win the game'”,

Gary Dornhoefer, Flyers player.

Parent, along with team captain Bobby Clarke and Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, became stars for the Flyers under the direction of owner Ed Snider. The team, known for its aggressive style of play, adopted the nickname “Bullies” and won the hearts of fans. More than 2 million fans celebrated in the streets at each of their championship parades. The number 1 of Parent was retired by the Flyers and still hangs in the ceiling of their stadium. In 1984, he was the first Flyers player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Parent remains the Flyers’ all-time leader in shutouts, with 50. Parent, a Flyers icon, maintained a close relationship with the team over the years as an ambassador. Flyers coach Rick Tocchet described Parent’s influence moved by emotion. The last highlight of his career came in 2011, when Parent participated in an outdoor veterans game at Citizens Bank Park.