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

Hockey legend Bernie Parent, a Hall of Fame goaltender and a key figure in the Flyers’ only two Stanley Cup championships, has passed away at the age of 80. The news was confirmed by the Flyers, although no immediate details were provided. Parent died in his sleep, according to Joe Watson, star defenseman for the Flyers’ Stanley Cup teams. Watson recalled seeing Parent and other former Flyers players at an event Friday night in Delaware.

Bernie was in a lot of pain, he could barely walk. We had a good time, but I felt bad because he was suffering a lot. It’s very sad to see this.

Joe Watson

Parent, with his steely gaze through his old-school hockey mask, appeared on 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 and Vezina trophies in consecutive seasons, when the Flyers won the title in 1974 and 1975, being the first NHL expansion team to win the championship. The Flyers issued a statement highlighting Parent’s impact beyond the ice:

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 an entire generation of hockey fans. He dedicated his time, energy, and enthusiasm not only to growing the game, 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 won 47 games, leading the NHL in wins, and repeated the feat the following season with 44. He retired with the Flyers in 1979 after 271 victories, 231 of them with the Flyers, in a 13-year career. In 1979, Parent was accidentally hit in the right eye with a stick and was temporarily blinded, which ended his career. The Flyers defeated the Bruins in six games to win the Stanley Cup in 1974 and the Sabres in 1975. With Parent as a wall in the goal, the motto “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent” became a rallying cry in Philadelphia. Gary Dornhoefer, a winger on the Cup teams, recalled the atmosphere in the locker room:

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 DornhoeferParent, along with team captain Bobby Clarke and Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, became Flyers stars during a time when the team was known for its rough style of play, earning them the nickname “Bullies.” They embraced their nickname as the most hated team in the NHL and won the hearts of Flyers fans. More than 2 million fans thronged the city streets for each of their championship parades. Bob Kelly, former Flyers winger and defenseman, highlighted Parent’s team spirit:

We always felt comfortable with Bernie in the net. He challenged the guys in practice. He’d stop the puck and give it back to you and say, ‘Go ahead, try to catch this one.’ He was first in line to help a teammate if they needed it. He was a true example of what a team player is.

Bob Kelly

The number 1 of Parent was retired by the Flyers and still hangs in the heights of their stadium. In 1984, he became 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 was one of the most beloved Flyers and maintained his connection with the team over the years as an ambassador. Watson commented on Parent’s connection with the fans:

He was very good with people. Many athletes don’t understand it or don’t give fans time. Bernie gave everyone time. He always wore his rings. He showed them to people and people loved to see them. This past Friday in Delaware, people approached him, wanted to see the rings. People were very excited to see him. He had a great sense of humor. Bernie was a funny guy.

Joe Watson

Rick Tocchet, Flyers coach, who played 11 seasons in two stints with the team, described Parent’s influence:

When I was a kid, I was stressed trying to make the team. When he came in, he just broke the atmosphere. He really helped me with that. It seemed like every day was great for him. I don’t know if he ever had a bad day. But that group (from the Stanley Cup) was very close-knit, and Bernie was like the glue. Bob Clarke was obviously unreal, and Billy Barber and all those guys, they came around a lot. Bernie was one of those guys, we’d just lose three in a row, somehow he’d come in and relax us in Bernie’s way.

Rick Tocchet

The last highlight of his career came in 2011, when Parent was in goal for an outdoor alumni game at Citizens Bank Park before the NHL Classic. “Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!” echoed throughout the park for the affable goalie, who played 5 minutes and 32 seconds and stopped all six shots. Each save brought back the “Bernie!” chants. Parent was the third Hall of Fame goalie to die this month. Ken Dryden, who helped the Montreal Canadiens win six Stanley Cup titles in the 1970s, died at 78 after battling cancer. Ed Giacomin, one of the faces of the New York Rangers franchise in the 1960s and 1970s, died at 86 of natural causes. Kelly lamented the loss of these great goalkeepers:

They are great losses. They were top-notch, super goalkeepers.

Bob Kelly