In a moving ceremony, the Flyers paid tribute to Bernie Parent, ice hockey legend, following his recent passing at the age of 80. The event, which spanned the weekend, commemorated the life and legacy of the iconic goaltender, a key figure in the franchise’s history.
A Remembered Icon
The celebration included the display of a replica of Parent’s mask, a symbol that evokes the golden years of the Flyers and their impact on the city of Philadelphia. The white mask, with the team logo on the sides, was reminiscent of the one Parent used in the 1970s, when the franchise dominated the sport and Parent was the visible face of the “Broad Street Bullies”. The tribute took place before the game against the New Jersey Devils, with the mask placed over one of the goals, as a final tribute to the legendary goalkeeper.The act also included the display of the flag with Parent’s number 1, which hangs in the pavilion, next to the Stanley Cup championship banners, the only ones in the franchise’s history. Parent was fundamental to the Flyers, winning the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Vezina Trophy in consecutive seasons, in 1974 and 1975, becoming the first NHL expansion team to achieve the championship.“Forever our number 1,” expressed Lou Nolan, the Flyers’ announcer since 1972.
Lou Nolan
The phrase “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent” became a popular bumper sticker in Philadelphia, a motto that accompanied Parent during his retirement and his years as a team ambassador. Parent was also an ambassador for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey and Education program, created in 2005 for underprivileged youth in Philadelphia. The program announced that it will honor Parent’s legacy with the Bernie Parent Goalie Development Program, aimed at preparing young people for success on and off the ice. Flyers Charities presented a $50,000 donation that was matched by Snider’s children. Parent, team captain Bobby Clarke, and Dave “The Hammer” Schultz became Flyers stars under Snider’s leadership during an era when the team was known for its rough style of play, earning them the nickname Bullies. They embraced their nickname as the NHL’s toughest team and won the hearts of Flyers fans. More than 2 million fans thronged the streets of Philadelphia for each of their championship parades. Most of the living members of the Stanley Cup teams attended Saturday’s game, and Clarke held back tears at the memorial as he listed other Flyers from the title teams who have since passed away. Barry Ashbee. Ed Van Impe. Bill Flett. Ross Lonsberry. Rick MacLeish. “And now, may God bless Bernie, because he will join them,” Clarke said. “And the rest of us, until we go to join them, we will speak together forever.”We were able to sit, look at the Stanley Cup and savor it,” Parent said in 2010. “It was a special moment.”
Bernie Parent
