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Broad Avenue Bullies: Extra Than Goons, Fists & Enforcers – The Hockey Writers – Flyers Historical past


Through the Seventies, solely the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins had extra victories than the Philadelphia Flyers’ 424. Throughout that decade, the Flyers gained back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975, went to 2 extra Finals, and missed the playoffs as soon as. Moreover, they registered 100 or extra factors in 5 consecutive seasons between 1974 and 1978.

The Flyers of that period are sometimes ignored by the Bobby Orr-led Bruins and the Man Lafleur-led Canadiens as a result of the Flyers lacked the elite offensive threats that different groups had in Orr and Lefleur of the Seventies or Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky of the Nineteen Eighties. But, an absence of big-name scorers on Philadelphia’s rosters through the Seventies didn’t hinder their success.

Associated: Origins of Each Jap Convention Group

As an alternative, they had been led by “the Broad Avenue Bullies,” a bunch of gamers whose toughness and tenacity was unmatched, but they weren’t completely goons. Relatively, they introduced an offensive punch, hit exhausting, usually pushed the boundaries of the rulebook, and backed all of it up with literal punches if the scenario deemed them vital.

The Flyers of the Seventies, and particularly the groups between 1973 and 1976 had been three of the perfect rosters ever assembled. Nonetheless, they’re typically misplaced between the Bruins and Canadiens that succeeded on the identical time and the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers that got here after. Now, over 40 years later and no extra Stanley Cups in franchise historical past, the Broad Avenue Bullies’ story stays as dynamic as ever.

The Flyers Earlier than the Broad Avenue Bullies

Hockey in Philly Earlier than the Flyers

Skilled hockey within the Metropolis of Brotherly Love dates again to 1930 when the Pittsburgh Pirates moved cross-state and have become the Philadelphia Quakers. They solely lasted one season in Philadelphia with an abysmal 4-36-4 file and their .136 successful share stays second-lowest in league historical past. After the 1930-31 season, workforce homeowners introduced they’d not have a workforce the next season and the town needed to wait 36 years earlier than an NHL workforce returned.

Ed Snider Brings the Flyers

After the Quakers dissolved, the subsequent rumors of an NHL workforce in Philadelphia arose in 1946 when a bunch tried to lift cash to construct an area and transfer the defunct Montreal Maroons south. Nonetheless, they missed their deadline for funding and it wasn’t till 1964 that critical discussions to carry a workforce to Philly started once more.

These discussions had been sparked by the late Ed Snider, then-vice president of the Philadelphia Eagles, who put forth a bid for an NHL franchise. Philadelphia was awarded the franchise for the 1967 Enlargement over Baltimore and joined the league together with the California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues.

The Flyers certified for the postseason every of their first two seasons regardless of not having a successful file in both. In each playoffs, they had been ousted by the larger, stronger Blues within the first spherical. In 1968, they misplaced in seven video games and had been swept in 1969. The Blues pushed the Flyers round and dominated their smaller gamers. This led to Snider making the choice to alter the workforce’s roster building.

“…I don’t need to see our workforce ever get beat up once more. I don’t give a (expletive) about this (workforce) having one policeman. Let’s have 5 – 6.” Ed Snider after watching his Flyers lose Recreation Seven to the Blues in 1968, as instructed to The Hockey Information.

The Plan to Get Larger

The Flyers started implementing their plan to get greater by drafting Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, Don Saleski, and Bob “Hound Canine” Kelly within the 1969 and 1970 Entry Drafts. These three had been the nucleus of what turned the Broad Avenue Bullies with every participant’s profession penalty minutes double his level totals.

However it was the workforce’s choice to draft diminutive heart Bobby Clarke within the second spherical of the 1969 Entry Draft that introduced the group collectively and made them a professional menace to win a Stanley Cup. But, regardless of expert and aggressive forwards, the Flyers wouldn’t have achieved their success had Bernie Mum or dad not been in web as his 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons are extensively thought of the perfect consecutive seasons by a goaltender in league historical past.

Lastly, no workforce can be full with no becoming coach. Fred “The Fog” Shero was the person behind the bench for the Flyers’ Cup runs and though he wasn’t as aggressive as his gamers, he was a participant’s coach and allowed their personalities to shine. These are the tales of those that made up the Broad Avenue Bullies and what allowed the Flyers to change into the most effective groups of the Seventies.

GM Keith Allen

Keith Allen was the architect of the Broad Avenue Bullies and served as Philadelphia’s normal supervisor from 1969 to 1983. He was additionally the franchise’s first head coach and guided them throughout their first two seasons with Bud Poile as normal supervisor. Previous to changing into Philadelphia’s head coach for the 1967-68 season, Allen was a defenseman and performed for the Detroit Crimson Wings in 1953-54 and 1954-55. He even had his identify engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1954 after showing in 10 video games that season.

After his enjoying profession ended, he coached the Seattle Individuals/Totems of the Western Hockey League from 1956 to 1965 and left when the Flyers joined the NHL. He remained with them in some capability till his demise in 2014, serving as an govt following his tenure as normal supervisor. He was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame as a builder in 1992, the Flyers Corridor of Fame in 1989, and was named The Hockey Information’ Government of the 12 months for the 1979-80 season.

Head Coach Fred Shero

If Allen was the architect of the Broad Avenue Bullies, Shero was their normal, serving behind the Flyers’ bench from 1971 to 1978. He compiled a 308-151-95 common season file with them and a 48-35 file within the postseason. He additionally gained his solely Jack Adams Trophy with them after the 1973-74 season. After the 1977-78 season, he left them to change into the top coach of the New York Rangers, a submit he held for 2 full seasons earlier than he stepped down midseason in 1980-81.

Head coach Fred Shero (heart) with Bobby Clarke (left) and Bernie Mum or dad, arguably the three most essential folks to the Philadelphia Flyers’ success through the Seventies. (Getty Photographs)

Previous to changing into a coach, he was a defenseman like Allen. The Rangers signed Fred Shero out of junior hockey however army service in World Struggle II prevented his NHL debut till 1947. He performed components of three seasons with the Rangers earlier than they traded him to the AHL’s Cleveland Barons in 1951. He completed out his enjoying profession within the WHL and Quebec Hockey League earlier than retiring in 1958.

Following his enjoying profession, he coached within the minors from 1958 till 1971 when the Flyers employed him. As a coach, he was recognized for getting essentially the most out of his guys with out operating them ragged. As talked about above, he was a gamers’ coach who hardly ever yelled however sought to make the sport enjoyable. He was additionally progressive because the first coach to make use of techniques and examine sport tape of opponents.

The Rangers had been the final NHL workforce Shero coached. He spent a season teaching within the Netherlands earlier than he returned to be a particular assistant with the Flyers in 1989. At this level in his life, he was battling abdomen most cancers. The Flyers inducted him into their workforce Corridor of Fame in March 1990 and he handed away on Nov. 24 that 12 months. He was posthumously elected to the Hockey Corridor of Fame as a builder in 2013. His son, Ray, is the final supervisor of the New Jersey Devils.

Goalie Bernie Mum or dad

Though Bernie Mum or dad was not a member of the Broad Avenue Bullies, the Flyers wouldn’t have approached their success within the Seventies with out him. His NHL profession started with the Bruins who left him uncovered within the 1967 Enlargement Draft. The Flyers chosen him and subsequently traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1971 with Rick MacLeish as a part of the return. It was with the Maple Leafs that Mum or dad honed his craft, studying from childhood hero Jacques Plante.

After the 1971-72 season, Mum or dad joined the World Hockey Affiliation and performed the 1972-73 season with the Philadelphia Blazers. Afterwards, he returned to the NHL and the Maple Leafs traded his rights to the Flyers. He instantly turned their starter and his 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons had been phenomenal. In 141 common season video games, he had a 91-27-21 file, a .926 save share (SV%), 1.96 objectives in opposition to common (GAA), and 24 shutouts. He gained the Vezina Trophy each seasons.

He was even higher within the postseason. In 1974, he completed with a 12-5 file with a .933 SV%, 2.02 GAA, and two shutouts. He allowed two or fewer objectives in 11 video games. In 1975, he had a 10-5 file, .924 SV%, 1.89 GAA, and 4 shutouts. He had 9 video games wherein he allowed two or fewer objectives. He took dwelling the Conn Smythe Trophy each years as playoff MVP.

Bernie Mum or dad of the Philadelphia Flyers with the 1975 Stanley Cup, Vezina Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy. (Picture by Bruce Bennett Studios through Getty Photographs Studios/Getty Photographs)

Neck and again accidents held him to 121 video games over the subsequent three seasons and an eye fixed harm on Feb. 17, 1979 compelled him to retire at age 34. That October the Flyers retired his quantity. He turned Philadelphia’s goaltending coach for a number of seasons and mentored future Vezina Trophy winner and former workforce GM Ron Hextall alongside with Pelle Lindbergh. He was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 1984 and was an inaugural inductee, together with Bobby Clarke, to the Flyers Corridor of Fame.

Proper Wing Gary Dornhoefer

Like Mum or dad, Gary Dornhoefer started his profession with the Bruins. Over three seasons with them, he had 12 objectives and 24 factors in 62 video games. He was left uncovered within the Enlargement Draft and the Flyers chosen him. In his first season with Philadelphia, he had 13 objectives, 43 factors, and 134 penalty minutes in 65 video games. Between 1968-69 and 1970-71, he scored 20 or extra objectives twice and by no means amassed greater than 100 penalty minutes.

Through the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons, he scored 28 objectives and 94 factors and totaled 227 penalty minutes in 126 video games. Between the Flyers’ 1974 and 1975 Stanley Cup runs, he totaled 10 objectives, 21 factors, and 76 penalty minutes in 31 video games. He retired after the 1977-78 season as Philadelphia’s second-leading scorer with 202 objectives and 518 factors in 725 video games. Moreover, he had 1,256 penalty minutes as a Flyer.

Upon his retirement, the Flyers commissioned a statue in his honor positioned in entrance of the Spectrum to commemorate the time beyond regulation aim he scored in opposition to the North Stars in Recreation 5 of the opening spherical of the 1973 Playoffs. After his enjoying profession ended, he joined Hockey Evening in Canada as a colour commentator from 1978 till 1987. He returned to Philadelphia in 1992 to be in the identical function and remained there by the 2005-06 season. He was a 1991 inductee of the Flyers Corridor of Fame.

Defenseman Ed Van Impe

Saskatoon native Ed Van Impe performed for the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL for 5 seasons earlier than debuting with the Chicago Black Hawks through the 1966-67 season. As a rookie, he had eight objectives and 19 factors in 61 video games and completed runner-up to Bobby Orr in Calder Trophy voting. After that season, Chicago uncovered Van Impe within the Enlargement Draft, which paved the way in which for him to hitch the Flyers.

In 1968, he turned Philadelphia’s second captain in workforce historical past, a submit he served till 1973. In 155 video games through the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons, he had three objectives, 36 factors, and 228 penalty minutes. In 34 playoff video games between 1974 and 1975, he had one aim, seven factors, and 68 penalty minutes. Through the 1975-76 season, the Flyers dealt Van Impe to the Penguins, with whom he completed out the season however solely performed in 10 video games the next season earlier than retiring.

He was a standard stay-at-home defenseman who introduced little offensively. He was additionally not referred to as a robust skater however was bodily and aggressive. He was one in every of three authentic Flyers, alongside Dornhoefer and Joe Watson, who gained each Stanley Cups. Van Impe was inducted into the Flyers Corridor of Fame in 1993.

Middle Bobby Clarke

Probably the most achieved participant from the Flyers’ Cup-winning groups, Clarke made the groups well-rounded. The Flyers drafted him within the second spherical, seventeenth total, of the 1969 Entry Draft, effectively under his expertise stage. With the Flin Flon Bombers of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, he had 173 objectives and 488 factors in 162 video games throughout his closing three seasons. He slid within the draft as a result of a prognosis of Kind-1 diabetes as a young person which led many to really feel he’d by no means survive the NHL.

Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers on the ice throughout a house sport, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Seventies. (Picture by Bruce Bennett Studios through Getty Photographs Studios/Getty Photographs)

Nonetheless, docs believed he may play so long as he monitored his well being, which was sufficient for the Flyers to take an opportunity on him. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 11, 1969 and completed fourth in Calder Trophy voting that season. Previous to the 1972-73 season, the Flyers named him captain at age 23, then the youngest captain in NHL historical past.

After a 100-point breakout marketing campaign in 1972-73 when he gained his first Hart Trophy, Clarke regressed barely through the 1973-74 season with 35 objectives and 87 factors in 77 video games. He additionally surpassed the 100 penalty minutes mark for the primary time. Through the 1974 Stanley Cup run, he added 5 objectives, 16 factors, and 42 penalty minutes in 17 video games.

He rebounded for the 1974-75 season with 27 objectives, 116 factors, and 125 penalty minutes in 80 video games. He gained his second Hart Trophy at season’s finish. In that 12 months’s playoffs, he had 4 objectives, 16 factors, and 16 penalty minutes in 17 video games.

He was pivotal within the 1975 Stanley Cup Remaining in opposition to the Bruins as he usually went up in opposition to Phil Esposito within the faceoff dot and gained a majority of attracts within the collection. Clarke’s impression on the sport and the Flyers franchise was immense. His 89 assists in 1973-74 had been a file for a middle. He gained a 3rd Hart Trophy after the 1975-76 season and was an All-Star each season between 1973 and 1976. He added a Selke Trophy following the 1982-83 season.

Clarke retired comparatively younger at 34 after the 1983-84 season after his manufacturing fell each season between 1976-77 and 1981-82. Following his retirement, he instantly turned Philadelphia’s normal supervisor. He remained in that function till he was fired after the 1989-90 season following Stanley Cup Remaining appearances in 1985 and 1987. Afterwards, he served as GM of the Minnesota North Stars and Florida Panthers earlier than returning to the Flyers for the 1994-95 season.

He moved to the workforce’s vice chairman function in 2006 and stays in that place at present. Clarke is extensively thought of the perfect participant within the workforce’s historical past. His quantity 16 was retired upon the conclusion of his enjoying profession, he was an inaugural member of the Flyers Corridor of Fame, and was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 1987. He completed his profession fourth all-time in assists and eleventh all-time in factors.

Proper Wing Don Saleski

One other Saskatchewan native, Don Saleski turned a Flyer after they drafted him within the sixth spherical of the 1969 Entry Draft. Previous to his skilled profession, he performed for the Regina Pats, the place he had 33 objectives and 58 factors in 40 video games his closing season. Through the Flyers’ Cup-winning seasons, he had 25 objectives, 68 factors, and 238 penalty minutes in 140 common season video games.

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In comparison with his common season scoring common over these two seasons, his common through the 1974 Playoffs was a bit larger with two objectives and 9 factors in 17 video games. His manufacturing fell the next postseason with two objectives and 5 factors in 17 video games. The Flyers traded Saleski to the Colorado Rockies through the 1978-79 season and he retired in 1980.

Left Wing Dave Schultz

Additionally a Saskatchewan native, Dave “The Hammer” Schultz was essentially the most fearsome of the Broad Avenue Bullies. The Flyers drafted him within the fifth spherical of the 1969 Entry Draft after a productive junior profession. With the Swift Present Broncos, he had 85 objectives, 167 factors, and 264 penalty minutes in 146 video games.

He didn’t change into referred to as an enforcer till he joined the Salem Rebels of the Jap Hockey League as soon as his junior profession ended. In a single season with the Rebels, he had 32 objectives and 69 factors in 67 video games. Nonetheless, he additionally had 356 penalty minutes.

In 4 AHL seasons following his season with Salem, he totaled 42 objectives, 107 factors, and 1,035 penalty minutes in 211 video games. His presence within the penalty field proved to have endurance as soon as he reached the NHL. In 1972-73, his first full NHL season, he had 259 penalty minutes to steer the league. It was his first of 4 occasions doing so. His manufacturing additionally dropped to 9 objectives and 21 factors in 76 video games.

Between the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons, he mixed for 820 penalty minutes alongside 29 objectives and 62 factors in 149 video games. His 472 penalty minutes through the 1974-75 season stay an NHL file. His penalty minutes didn’t decline as soon as the postseason began both. In 17 video games in 1974, he had 139 penalty minutes which included 9 majors, six misconducts, and 5 video games with a minimum of 10 penalty minutes. It was an identical story in 1975 with 83 penalty minutes in 17 video games. That 12 months he had seven majors, one misconduct, and three video games with 10-plus penalty minutes.

The Flyers traded Schultz to the Kings through the 1977-78 season. He additionally performed for the Penguins and Buffalo Sabres earlier than retiring after the 1979-80 season. He completed his profession with 2,292 penalty minutes, 134 majors, one match penalty, 73 misconducts, and 25 sport misconducts in 535 video games, a median of over 4 penalty minutes per sport. An everyday fighter, he started taping his palms with boxing tape, a follow banned with Rule 46.15, also referred to as “The Schultz Rule,” which gave gamers a match penalty if discovered with tape on their palms.

Following his enjoying profession, Schultz coached a number of groups within the minor leagues and was inducted into the Flyers Corridor of Fame in 2009. Though arguably essentially the most well-known enforcer in league historical past, he has regrets for spreading a tradition of violence within the sport.

“I’ve sure regrets over my place because the hit man of hockey. I turned a task mannequin for younger gamers comparable to your self…Fairly quickly there have been juniors and peewees emulating Dave Schultz quite than Bobby Orr…If enjoying hockey means combating, then take up golf, tennis – something that stresses talent over easy violence.” As written by Dave Schultz in A Letter to My Son About Violence, The New York Occasions, Feb. 7, 1982

Left Wing Invoice Barber

The Flyers drafted Invoice Barber seventh total in 1972, the best place of any of the Broad Avenue Bullies. He reached the NHL in his draft 12 months after simply 11 AHL video games. He completed that season with 30 objectives and 64 factors in 69 video games and was runner-up in Calder Trophy voting. Through the 1973-74 season, he had 34 objectives and 69 factors in 75 video games and solely amassed 54 penalty minutes. He added three objectives and 9 factors in 17 playoff video games that 12 months.

His manufacturing elevated once more for the 1974-75 season with 34 objectives, 71 factors, and 66 penalty minutes in 79 video games. Within the 1975 Playoffs, he had six objectives and 15 factors in 17 video games. A purpose for his uptick in efficiency through the 1974-75 season was his installment onto the LCB line of he, Clarke, and Reggie Leach.

Associated: Invoice Barber: A Flyer for Life

His manufacturing elevated to a career-high the next season with 50 objectives and 112 factors and was an All-Star for the primary time. His profession ended after the 1983-84 season at 31 after he was unable to get better from knee surgical procedure. He captained the Flyers in 1981-82 and a part of 1982-83. He completed his profession with 420 common season objectives, most in franchise historical past, and was a three-time All-Star. The Flyers retired his quantity in 1990, the identical 12 months he was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame and one 12 months after the Flyers inducted him into their Corridor of Fame.

Following his enjoying profession, he turned a Flyers assistant coach for 3 seasons earlier than changing into the top coach of their AHL affiliate. He returned to the Flyers for the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons and gained the 2001 Jack Adams Award. He turned the Tampa Bay Lightning director of participant personnel in 2002 and gained the 2004 Stanley Cup with them, his third. He returned to Philadelphia after the 2007-08 season and at the moment serves as a scouting advisor.

Middle Rick MacLeish

The Bruins drafted MacLeish fourth total within the 1970 Entry Draft however he by no means performed a sport with them. As an alternative, he began his skilled profession with the Oklahoma Metropolis Blazers of the Central Skilled Hockey League. The Bruins traded him midseason to the Flyers in a three-way commerce, a part of which concerned sending Mum or dad to the Maple Leafs. MacLeish joined the Flyers afterwards and performed in 26 video games his rookie season.

Two seasons later, in 1972-73, he turned the franchise’s first 50-goal scorer and in addition hit the 100-point mark for the one time in his profession. He had two productive seasons between 1973 and 1975, scoring 70 objectives and tallying 156 factors and 92 penalty minutes in 158 common season video games. He was actually good in each Stanley Cup runs, main the postseason in factors each years. In 1974, he had 13 objectives and 22 factors in 17 video games and 11 objectives and 20 factors in 17 video games in 1975.

Rick MacLeish was the primary 50-goal scorer in Philadelphia Flyers historical past. (picture: Bettmann/Corbis)

MacLeish had two extra productive seasons with the Flyers in 1975-76 and 1976-77, together with 49 objectives and 97 factors within the latter. The Flyers dealt him to the Hartford Whalers through the 1981-82 marketing campaign and he completed his profession enjoying for the Penguins and Crimson Wings earlier than retiring after the 1983-84 season. In 1990, the Flyers inducted him into their Corridor of Fame. MacLeish handed away in 2016 after affected by a number of well being points.

Proper Wing Reggie Leach

From Manitoba, Reggie Leach performed junior hockey for a similar workforce as Clarke, the Flin Flon Bombers. The Bruins took him third total within the 1970 Entry Draft and traded him to the Golden Seals halfway by his sophomore season. He performed two full seasons with them earlier than the Flyers acquired him in 1974. Earlier than becoming a member of the Flyers, he had 60 objectives and 120 factors in 250 common season video games. As a Flyer, he completed with 306 objectives and 514 factors in 606 video games.

As a result of Leach wasn’t current for Philadelphia’s 1974 Stanley Cup and by no means amassed greater than 63 penalty minutes in a season, he’s not a full member of the Broad Avenue Bullies. But, his presence on the LCB Line through the 1974-75 season and past can’t be ignored. He was a direct success with the Flyers, scoring 45 objectives and 78 factors in 80 common season video games his first 12 months. He was additionally productive through the 1975 Playoffs with eight objectives and 10 factors in 17 video games.

However it was his efficiency through the 1975-76 common season and the 1976 postseason that he’s greatest recognized for. In 80 common season video games, he had 61 objectives and 91 factors, was a plus-72, and was named to the second All-Star workforce. His 61 objectives led the league and stay a franchise single-season file. His postseason numbers that 12 months had been out of this world. In 16 video games, he led the league with 19 objectives and 24 factors and gained the Conn Smythe Trophy regardless of the Flyers dropping the Stanley Cup Remaining to the Canadiens.

Reggie Leach (proper) enjoying in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens within the 1976 Stanley Cup Remaining. Leach gained the Conn Smythe Trophy that 12 months regardless of enjoying on the dropping workforce. (Picture by Denis Brodeur/NHLI through Getty Photographs)

In doing so, he turned the solely non-goaltender to be named playoff MVP in a dropping effort. Following the 1981-82 season, Leach departed Philadelphia to play one season with the Crimson Wings earlier than retiring. After his enjoying profession ended, he turned a junior hockey coach and is now a scout in juniors. His son, Jamie, performed on Pittsburgh’s Cup-winning groups in 1991 and 1992.

Left Wing Bob Kelly

The Flyers drafted Bob “Hound Canine” Kelly within the third spherical of the 1970 Entry Draft. Previous to his NHL profession, he performed for the Oshawa Generals once they had been a member of the Ontario Hockey Affiliation. Even in juniors he was a little bit of an enforcer with 100-plus penalty minutes each seasons. Within the NHL, that model of play continued with a minimum of 100 penalty minutes in eight of his 12 seasons.

That features the 1973-74 season when he had 130 and simply missed the mark the next season with 99 penalty minutes. He didn’t present a lot offensively with 15 objectives and 45 factors through the Stanley Cup years however he’s well-known for scoring the Cup-winning aim in Recreation Six of the 1975 Remaining in opposition to the Sabres.

Kelly remained a Flyer by the 1979-80 season when he was traded to the Washington Capitals. The following season he had profession highs with 26 objectives and 62 factors after which retired partway by the 1981-82 season. Since his enjoying profession ended, he, together with Dornhoefer and Mum or dad function hockey ambassadors for the Flyers. In that capability, he teaches kids in regards to the sport and represents the workforce at charity occasions.

The Flyers Have been Actually Good

As talked about within the intro, the Flyers didn’t have the runs of the Canadiens, Islanders, and Oilers of that period. But, they nonetheless went to 3 consecutive Cup Finals and had been the primary growth workforce to win a Stanley Cup. The 1974 and 1975 Flyers didn’t have the names that these others groups had. In the event you embody Shero, every of the Flyers’ Cup-winning rosters had 4 future Hockey Corridor of Famers on them. By comparability, the 1975-76 Canadiens, whom the Flyers misplaced to within the Stanley Cup Remaining, had 10 members on it.

The Philadelphia Flyers celebrating their Stanley Cup in 1974. (CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Regardless of over 4 a long time having handed for the reason that Broad Avenue Bullies entertained followers on the Spectrum, the blokes who made up the group will eternally be immortalized in hockey lore, each as a result of their expertise and willingness to drop the gloves. Maybe it’s as a result of no workforce since has reached the heights of the 1974 and 1975 Flyers whereas enjoying that model.

I really feel assured in saying that there is not going to be a contemporary model of the Broad Avenue Bullies. Violence is not as large part of the sport because it was in earlier a long time. However that doesn’t dismiss what the Flyers did. Because the league will get additional away from the Broad Avenue Bullies, all we’ll have left of them would be the lore. Very like the story of Invoice Barilko lives on in The Tragically Hip’s “Fifty Mission Cap,” the 1973-74 and 1974-75 Flyers groups will dwell on in reminiscence as not simply two of essentially the most entertaining groups in hockey historical past, but in addition two of the best.


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