From 1963-1965, the goaltending tandem of Bernie Parent and Doug Favell manned the nets for their junior hockey team the Niagara Falls Flyers. From 1967 to 1971 they were the goaltending tandem for the Philadelphia Flyers. On May 5th, 1973 as part of a deal that eventually involved five players, Parent and Favell were traded for each other.
NHL Hall of Fame goaltender Bernie Parent played professionally for two Philadelphia hockey franchises, the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers (two stints) and the WHA’s Philadelphia Blazers (1972-73). Ironically, Parent played his junior hockey with the Niagara Falls Flyers (1963-64, 1964-65) and started his pro career in the minors with the Oklahoma City Blazers (1965-66, 1966-67).
Rick MacLeish – Flyers/C (1970-81, 1983-84) Slick skating Rick MacLeish was the first true “sniper” of the Flyers with his wicked wrister, and effortless skating. MacLeish was the Flyers first 50-goal scorer and second 100-point scorer, notching his 100th point (his 50th goal) just two days after Bobby Clarke hit the century mark at the end of the 1972-73 season. MacLeish scored 30 or more goals seven times for the Flyers. His biggest goal came on May 19th, 1974 in game six of the 1973-74 Stanley Cup Finals. MacLeish deflected a Moose Dupont shot past Boston Bruins goaltender Gilles Gilbert in the first period. It was the game’s only goal as the Flyers won game 6, 1-0 and captured their first Stanley Cup. MacLeish, a three-time NHL All Star entered the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1990.
May 19th, 1974 the Philadelphia Flyers, in just their 7th season sent the city into a frenzy as the Broad Street Bullies knocked off the Big Bad Bruins 1-0, winning the Stanley Cup Finals series 4 games to 2. Rick MacLeish tipped in an Andre Dupont shot from the point and with the wizardry of Bernie Parent in the net, that’s all the Flyers needed. So today we salute Bernie Parent and Rick MacLeish, and the entire 1973-74 Flyers. It was truly a day I will never forget.
Bernie Parent – Flyers/Goalie (1967-71, 1973-79) Widely regarded as one of the all-time best goaltenders in NHL history, Bernie Parent put together back-to-back seasons in 1973-74 and 1974-75 that earned him two Vezina Trophies (best goaltender) and two Conn Smythe Trophies (playoff MVP), and was instrumental in the Flyers winning their only two Stanley Cups to date. Parent had two stints with the black and orange 1967-68 to 1970-71 and 1973-74 to 1978-79. An accidental high stick struck Parent’s right eye through the mask opening and ended his career. Parent was a five-time NHL All Star and was inducted into the Hockey HOF in 1984. The Flyers retired Parent’s #1 on October 11th, 1979 and inducted him into the team’s HOF in 1988.
