THE MEMORY OF YANICK DUPRE STAYS ALIVE IN PHILADELPHIA. AHL
This week marks the 19th anniversary of the passing of Yanick Dupre at age 24 after a year-long struggle with leukemia. While the story is a sad one, both the Flyers and the American Hockey League made sure that the memory of the bright and talented young player has been kept alive.
When one met Dupre, two things quickly stood out. Although he was a native Quebecois whose first language was French, his English had little trace of a Quebec accent. The reason: he lived in Mississauga and Barrie, Ontario for six years during childhood and frequently spoke English outside the home. Secondly, apart from being a talented hockey player with excellent speed, Dupre was an intelligent and articulate young man, seemingly mature beyond his years.
On January 3, 1996, Dupre scored his first NHL goal -- the game-winner -- in a 3-1 Flyers road win against the San Jose Sharks. Eight nights later, Dupre scored his first and only goal at the Spectrum in the third period of a 4-4 tie with the St. Louis Blues. The French-Canadian forward started the play by intercepting a Blues headman pass near the blueline and also finished it, converting an Anatoli Semenov feed.
In April 1996, Dupre learned he had leukemia. The first warning signs anyone noticed were when the player's greatest asset - his skating ability- fell off dramatically. For weeks, he struggled to get up and down the ice and felt weak physically. The unexplained feeling of lingering sluggishness and Dupre's believe that he may have had mononucleosis set in motion a series of medical tests that led to the discovery of his actual condition.
The young man underwent chemotherapy treatment at Maison Neuve Rosemont in Montreal. Dupre suffered a lung infection that nearly killed him. The chemo treatments also left him very weak and ill.
Dupre battled onward, surviving a coma. Eventually, the leukemia went into remission and he started to feel much better. Doctors told Dupre that his chances of his survival were excellent.
Slowly Dupre started to put on weight and eventually even took to the ice again. He visited his Flyers teammates periodically, and spoke of a comeback with their AHL club.
Shortly before the 1997 Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Carnival, Dupre made a public appearance in Philadelphia. Still nearly bald from the chemo treatments and much lighter than his playing weight but seemingly feeling much better than he had been in a long time, dropped the ceremonial opening faceoff before a Flyer game at their new home arena (then called the CoreStates Center, now Wells Fargo Center).
Dupre was received very warmly by the fans and the players on both teams. He left the ice with a big smile on face.
As his health continued to improve, Dupre announced a plan to go to Quebec and commence much more intense workouts in his effort to eventually start playing hockey again. Even if he only suited up in a single minor league game, it would be a major triumph for the courageous young man.
He also told his teammates that he planned to take a summer vacation backpacking across Europe. In the meantime, Dupre often reached out to other cancer patients -- especially the families of children with forms of pediatric cancers -- and tried to offer his support and encouragement.
Dupre regained most of the 44 pounds he lost during his cancer treatments. He confirmed to Flyers management that he would go full speed ahead in his comeback bid.
Tragically, Dupre's dream came to a crashing halt when learned that the cancer had returned. He needed to undergo the chemo again, followed by a bone marrow transplant. During the 1997 NHL playoffs, he followed the Flyers' journey to the Stanley Cup Finals from a hospital room in Quebec.
While the Flyers battled for the championship, Dupre continued to fight for his life. He underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure but his condition deteriorated despite his second brave fight for his life. He contracted an infection, which ultimately took his life. A private funeral for the immensely well-liked young man was held in Montreal several days after his passing.
Today, Dupre's memory is honored both both the Flyers and the American Hockey League.
Selected by the members of the Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, the annual Yanick Dupre Memorial Class Guy Award is bestowed upon the Flyers player who best illustrates character, dignity and respect for the sport both on and off the ice.
The AHL's Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, selected by the league president, is awarded annually to a player who provides tireless service to his local community. Apart from keeping Dupre's name alive, the award also recalls the way Dupre devoted himself to charitable causes both before and after his own leukemia diagnosis.
I am not afraid to admit that, while transcribing the interview Yanick's father, Jacques Dupre, did with Jay Greenberg for the upcoming
Flyers at 50 book, I was nearly moved to tears by Jacques' explanation of why it means so much to the entire Dupre family that both the Flyers and the AHL honor his name with special awards.
I hope that Jay will not mind if I share one quote from Jacques Dupre: "When Yanick was in the hospital the second time, he said to me, 'Dad, I'm never going to be remembered as a hockey player.' I think if Yanick knew how much he is remembered and honored every year, for the person he was on an off the ice, he would have been been proud. As his father, I am very proud and happy about that. He doesn't have to worry if people remember him. Every year, I see who get the trophies from the Flyers and the AHL, because it represents Yanick's memory."
In 2015-16, Wayne Simmonds won the Yanick Dupre Memorial Class Guy Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. It was a big honor for me to represent the PWHA in presenting the award to Wayne; a very deserving winner. The AHL's Yanick Dupre Memorial Award for community service went to San Jose Barracuda forward Ryan Carpenter.
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Today in Flyers History: August 19
1996: The Flyers sign prolific scoring AHL center Peter White as an unrestricted free agent to play for the newly created Philadelphia Phantoms.
1997: The Flyers re-sign restricted free agent goaltender Garth Snow to a one-year, $675,000 contract.
2004: The Flyers agree to terms with winger Sami Kapanen on a two-year contract extension.
Birthday: Flyers Hall of Fame defenseman Jim Watson was born August 19, 1952 in Smithers, British Columbia. The younger of the Flyers' two Hall of Fame brothers was a five-time NHL All-Star, two-time Stanley Cup winner and a member of Team Canada's squad at the 1976 Canada Cup.
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Flyers Alumni Camp Gets Underway
The second annual Flyers Alumni Fantasy Camp gets underway in Atlantic City today and runs until the championship game on Monday. All 60 fan participation slots sold out early this year; ahead of the registration deadline.
"We got great feedback about last year's camp,” said Bob “the Hound” Kelly. “The participants all had a blast, and so did the Alumni. Right away, there was no question that we needed to do it again. This year is going to be even better."
Proceeds from Flyers Alumni Fantasy Camp will benefit the Flyers Alumni Association and Flyers Charities. For more information,
click here.
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