Bernie Parent, the greatest goalie in Philadelphia Flyers‘ franchise history, has died. He was 80 years old.
Parent was a beloved figure who backstopped the franchise’s two Stanley Cup championships in the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons. He was the first Flyers player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The club acknowledged his passing with the following statement:
“The Flyers and Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Bernie Parent, a true legend, one of the most famous and beloved players, and most popular figures in the history of the organization and city of Philadelphia. Bernard Marcel Parent was an original Flyer.”
Additionally during his press conference today, an emotional Rick Tocchet talked about the beloved Flyer.
“It’s a tough one (for me) because I’ve been gone so long and we lost touch over the years,” the Flyers head coach said to reporters. “But as an 18 or 19 year old coming in (as a player), was one of the nicest guys who helped me during my career.”
“He was a great guy. As a young kid, you’re stressed. You’re trying to make the team. And he would just break the room up (with humor). He really helped me when it came to that.”
“We could lose three in a row and he could just loosen us up.”
Bernie Parent’s Immortal Legacy With the Flyers
Parent’s Flyers’ career statistics were impeccable: 231 wins, a 2.43 goals against average, .917 save percentage, and 50 shutouts.
Moreover, Parent’s 1973 to 1975 seasons are acknowledged as some of the greatest ever produced by an NHL goaltender. He won two Vezina Trophies as the league’s best goaltender the 1974 and 1975 seasons (sharing it with the Blackhawks Tony Esposito the first time).
In both of the team’s clinching games of their Stanley Cup championships, Parent responded with dominant shut-out performances. In 1974, he blanked the Bruins, 1-0, in Game Six. It was punctuated with an amazing kick save on Ken Hodge’s blast with three minutes left. He followed that with a 2-0 victory over the Sabres in 1975 to secure back to back championships. In both instances, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
In many ways, the Broad Street Bullies would not have become the team they became without the ultimate confidence they gained playing in front of Parent.
Consequently, a popular car bumper sticker said all you need to know: “Only The Lord Saves More Than Bernie Parent.”
“That group was really close and Bernie was kind of the glue,” Tocchet said.
Parent Beyond The Ice
After his career came to an end due to an eye injury in 1979, Parent was a mentor to Pelle Lindbergh, Ron Hextall, and other goalies in the organization. He became part of the inaugural class of the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1988.
“He and Hexy had a great relationship,” Tocchet recalled. “Him and Pelle were really close. We had great goaltending, he really passed the torch to those guys.”
Furthermore, Parent’s legacy reaches far beyond the ice. He served as one of the primary ambassadors for Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education. He was a fixture at Flyers Alumni events. People gravitated towards his effervescent personality and energy.
And no one will ever forget the 2012 Winter Classic Alumni Game against the New York Rangers and his stop on Ron Duguay.
Finally, we at Hockey Hot Stove express our deepest condolences to his wife Ginny and to the entire Parent family. Per the Flyers, the family has requested in lieu of flowers that donations are made to the Ed Snider Youth Hockey and Education.
My Hockey Hot Stove colleague Bill Meltzer will have more on the life and legacy of Bernie Parent soon.
