Flyers Honor Bernie Parent: Emotional Tribute to the Hockey Icon

The Philadelphia Flyers pay tribute to Bernie Parent, an iconic figure in hockey, with a moving tribute following his passing at the age of 80. The celebration, which spanned two days, included a service and a special game in his honor.

A Remembered Icon

In each victory, the Flyers honor their stars with a replica of Parent’s goalie mask, a symbol that evokes the team’s golden age. This white mask, with the team logo, is reminiscent of the one Parent wore on the cover of Time magazine in the 70s, when the Flyers were much more than a hockey team. On Saturday, before the game against the New Jersey Devils, the mask was placed over one of the goals, a final tribute to the legend.

Forever our number 1.
Lou Nolan, Flyers announcer since 1972.

The tribute included the display of his iconic number 1 in the pavilion and the banners of the Stanley Cup championships, the only ones in the history of the franchise. Parent was key in the conquest of the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975, being the first expansion team to achieve it. He won the Conn Smythe and Vezina trophies in consecutive seasons.

Before the game, a photo of Parent with his Stanley Cup rings dominated the stadium screen, next to the bronze statue of Ed Snider, founder of the Flyers, who passed away in 2016.

We have two Stanley Cups thanks to Bernie.
Bobby Clarke, Hall of Fame member.

Flyers Honor Bernie Parent: Emotional Tribute to the Hockey Icon — Los Flyers honraron la vida del portero del Salón de la Fama Bernie Parent en parte sacando su máscara de portero blanca y dejándola sobre una de las redes.

Fans showed their affection by wearing jerseys with Parent’s number 1, and celebrated the highlights of his career. The loudest cheers were for the Stanley Cup moments. The Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins in 1974 and the Buffalo Sabres in 1975, with Parent achieving shutouts in the decisive games. The team celebrated the victory with the Stanley Cup in the airplane aisle, enjoying every moment.

We were able to sit, look at the Stanley Cup, and savor it.
Bernie Parent in 2010.

The phrase “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent” became a popular motto in Philadelphia. Parent was also an ambassador for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey and Education program, which announced that it will honor his legacy with the Bernie Parent Goaltending Development Program, aimed at preparing young people for success on and off the ice. Flyers Charities donated $50,000, an amount matched by Snider’s children. Parent, along with Bobby Clarke and Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, were Flyers stars in an era when the team was known for its aggressive play, earning the nickname “Bullies.” The team won the hearts of fans, with more than two million people celebrating the championships in the streets of Philadelphia. Several members of the Stanley Cup teams attended Saturday’s game, remembering the deceased teammates. Clarke, moved, mentioned Barry Ashbee, Ed Van Impe, Bill Flett, Ross Lonsberry, and Rick MacLeish.