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

The ice hockey world mourns the loss of a legend. Bernie Parent, the iconic goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers and a Hall of Famer, has passed away at the age of 80. The news was announced by the Flyers, who highlighted Parent’s importance in the team’s history. Parent, considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time, was a key piece in obtaining the Flyers’ two only Stanley Cup championships during the “Broad Street Bullies” era. Joe Watson, star defenseman on the Stanley Cup champion teams, revealed that Parent passed away in his sleep. Watson shared that he saw him recently, on Friday night, at an event in Delaware. “Bernie was suffering a lot, he could barely walk,” Watson commented, referring to Parent’s back problems. “It was a great moment, but I felt bad because he was suffering so much. It’s very sad to see this.”

Parent, with his penetrating gaze behind his hockey mask, was 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 Trophy, and the Vezina Trophy in consecutive seasons (1974 and 1975), being the first NHL expansion team to achieve the championship.

Bernie Parent’s legend transcended the ice and his accolades. Bernie deeply loved 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 sport, but also to bringing joy to everyone who crossed his path.

Flyers Statement

Parent debuted in the NHL with the Boston Bruins in 1965. He 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 league, and repeated as the leader in wins the following season with 44. He retired from the Flyers in 1979, after 271 wins in a 13-year career. An accidental hit in the eye with a stick in 1979 left him temporarily blind, which marked the end of his career. The Flyers defeated the Bruins in six games to win the Stanley Cup in 1974 and defeated the Buffalo Sabres in 1975. With Parent as a wall in the goal, the motto “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent” became popular in Philadelphia, accompanying him for decades. Gary Dornhoefer, a winger on both Cup teams, recalled the locker room jokes: “We used to say: ‘Bernie, how many goals do you need?’ He would reply: ‘One, two, that’s all, and we’ll win the game.'” Parent, along with team captain Bobby Clarke and Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, became a star for the Flyers under the ownership of Ed Snider, at a time when the team was known for its aggressive style of play that earned it the nickname “Bullies”. They embraced their nickname as the most hated team in the NHL and won the hearts of Flyers fans. Bob Kelly, former Flyers winger and enforcer, stated: “We always felt comfortable with Bernie in net. He challenged the guys in practice. He’d stop the puck and flip it back to you, saying, ‘Go ahead, try to catch this one.’ He was the first to help a teammate if they needed it. He was a true example of what it means to be a team player.” The number 1 of Parent was retired by the Flyers and still hangs in the ceiling of their stadium. In 1984, he became the first Flyers player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Parent remains the Flyers’ leader in shutouts, with 50. Parent was one of the most beloved Flyers and remained connected to the team over the years as an ambassador. Watson recalled: “He was very good with people. A lot of athletes don’t get it or don’t give fans the time of day. Bernie gave everyone the time of day. He always wore his rings. He would show them to people and people loved to see them. This past Friday in Delaware, people were coming up, they wanted to see the rings. People were very excited to see him. He had a great sense of humor. Bernie was a funny guy.” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet, visibly emotional, described Parent’s influence: “As a kid, you stress trying to make the team. When he came in, he broke the atmosphere. He really helped me a lot 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.” 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. The chants of “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 chants of “Bernie!”. Parent was the third Hall of Fame goalie to pass away 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 70s, died at 86 of natural causes. “They are big losses,” Kelly commented. “They were top-notch, super goalkeepers.”