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CLARKE TURNS 68
Today is Flyers executive vice president Bob Clarke's 68th birthday. In previous commemorative blogs, I have attempted to put into words what Clarke meant both to the Flyers organization and to a generation of Philadelphians who grew up watching the three-time Hart Trophy winner captain the Flyers to two straight Stanley Cups and three consecutive trips to the Cup Final.
This time around, I will try to describe Clarke's abilities on the ice for yournger fans who never had the privilege of seeing him play and witnessing his impact on the team. Clarke was one of those very rare players who truly made everyone else on the team better by his presence.
His playmaking talents were of the highest caliber. In terms of his ability to see the ice, create scoring opportunities for teammates and make a tape-to-tape pass, he was similar caliber to Peter Forsberg.
I'd liken Clarke's two-way abilities to Patrice Bergeron. In fact, Clarke has said that he took more pride in winning the Selke Trophy in 1982-83 than in any of his three 100-point seasons. Clarke was as tenacious applying back pressure as he was pursuing the puck on the forecheck. He'd pay any price to prevent an opposition goal from being scored and always took the shortest route possible to the puck. He wasn't a pretty skater but he was a very efficient one.
Fred Shero's description of Clarke as "a dream dressed in work clothes" was apt. He was far from the biggest guy on the ice but he kept himself in superior physical condition for a player of his era. He didn't have the most overpowering shot although he had a quick release and good accuracy. He didn't have blazing speed, but he had cat-like quickness because of his elite hockey sense and sheer tenacity. Even more than craving victory, Clarke hated to lose and especially despised selfishness and excuse-making.
As a captain and locker room leader, Clarke had few peers. He could inspire or cajole, either gently or bluntly. He did not shrink back from having difficult conversations when necessary. On the other hand, when a teammate was pressing, Clarke would often ask if the player could be moved to his line for a few games. Clarke innately made the team's role players and tough guys feel as valued as its stars: to him, there were only Flyers and opponents.
As a hockey player, Clarke truly cared nothing for his own statistics and was almost embarrassed by personal accolades. His pain threshold, even by hockey standards, was incredible. Yes, Clarke had a ruthless edge to his game. He doled out more than his share of slashes, spears and butt-ends. However, he also willingly took plenty of punishment himself. Even with a cadre of teammates ready to pounce on anyone who took a run at their leader, Clarke shed plenty of blood and took more than his share of stitches. It was hard to know when he was playing hurt, though, because he never let on to anyone and he'd play through just about any malady.
On Jan. 14 of this year, Bob Clarke and longtime linemate (and fellow Hockey Hall of Famer) Bill Barber played in their final Flyers Alumni game as part of the team's 50th anniversary season celebration. I was given the tremendous honor of picking the three stars of the Golden Anniversary Game.
Picking the first star was a no-brainer. Symbolically, Clarke was the on-ice figure who most set the standard for what it means to be a Flyer. The history of the hockey team -- and the entire organization -- would have been unrecognizable without him.
The Flyers were a hard-working but otherwise nondescript NHL expansion team before Clarke's arrival. The diabetic kid from Flin Flon, Manitoba, changed all of that. He became the catalyst of an all-new identity and a changing of the guard in the NHL. Clarke was the first Hart Trophy winner from an expansion team, and the Flyers were the first expansion club to win the Stanley Cup. He made history and became a Philadelphia icon, but never let it get to his head.
Last month, Clarke participated in the Flyers Charity Classic. There he was, dressed in a Flyers t-shirt and ball cap, milling around the event area just like everyone else before the bike riders, the runners and the walkers finally took off at the starting line.
Clarke called no attention upon himself. He had no special introduction to the crowd before the event. Upon recognition, he politely shook hands, posed for photos, or signed autographs -- as did the many other Flyers Alumni who came out to raise money to help the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation build a new rink. He was otherwise perfectly happy just being a face in the crowd.
The franchise icon didn't hold court, and he let others make the speeches. He was relaxed and happy.
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RIP, BRYAN MURRAY
Condolences go out to multi-stint former Flyers player and coach Terry Murray and to entire Murray family on the passing of Terry's older brother, Bryan, yesterday at the age of 74. Bryan waged a courageous three-year battle after being diagnosed with advanced colon cancer.
The Murrays have always been equally known as hard-driving hockey people while within the confines of the rink (Terry usually more outwardly stoic than Bryan) but as kindly, soft-spoken gentlemen and good story-tellers once the game was over. Asked to assess players, they were straightforward.
Although the elder Murray brother never worked for the Flyers' organization, the longtime NHL coach and front office executive was once a short-list candidate for the team's GM post. Even apart from Terry's long association with the Flyers in playing, coaching and scouting capacities, Bryan had many friends within the Flyers organization. He always professed deep respect for the franchise's accomplishments in general and personal fondness for the late Ed Snider in particular.
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