Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 
Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Two Extensions to Go, When Did You Become a Flyers Fan?
Author Message
Crimsoninja
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Dude, I am so sorry about whatever made you like this. Take it easy.
Joined: 07.06.2007

Jul 21 @ 12:15 PM ET
i voted that era as my fav (i was one of the few, i guess) because of that particular team
- FlyerMike18

agreed 2004 is still my favorite year

lindros era was what made me a fan though. i was 9 during his rookie year.. so it was perfect
Don'tForgetTocchet
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Ground Zero Brooklyn
Joined: 02.08.2007

Jul 21 @ 12:19 PM ET


i grew up in the desert and had some vague notion that hockey was a thing canadians did
Moose_15
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Rat Patrol, PA
Joined: 02.15.2013

Jul 21 @ 12:19 PM ET
I started to go to games when I was about six years old, so I started watching games in the dark-era of the early 90s.

Some of my first memories following the team revolved around Tommy Soderstrom and Dominic Roussel and thinking my Jason Bowen rookie card might one day be worth money.

But I did not become a "fan" until I met Mark Recchi in (I think) '93. He signed a puck for me after a game when they lit-up Patrick Roy, beating the Canadiens like 9 to 2 or something like that.

Loved the Crazy-Eights line--Fedyk, Lindros, Recchi.

When the Flyers traded Recchi in '95 I remember being so upset.

That was the first time my favorite player was traded.
Moose_15
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Rat Patrol, PA
Joined: 02.15.2013

Jul 21 @ 12:25 PM ET
I'm one of the few who can identify the "Dark Era" as the time when I can recall cognitively becoming a fan, in which I would've been about 5-6 years old (born in 1985). I remember Tocchet, Dineen, and Terry Carkner being among my first favorite players - Carkner only because he was my first-ever in-person autograph and an extremely nice guy. I also remember being upset that Tocchet was traded to Pittsburgh, until Recchi came in and put up ridiculous points for a couple of seasons.
- countreeman28






I remember those days. (I'm an '84).
Yosimar89
Vegas Golden Knights
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Joined: 05.11.2010

Jul 21 @ 12:27 PM ET
Back in 2004, i was around 14 years old and i had never payed attention to hockey seeing as i was just a couple of years removed from living in cuba, never seen snow, never skated (still haven't). My sports fanhood was dominated by baseball.

IDK how i even started watching the game that got me into it, back then it was still on ESPN i remember there were people at the house though and somehow this game came up and i just started watching around the last period and got hooked and said to myself this is the team im rooting for if/when i fall in love with the sport. Of course the Lockout came and it took longer than i thought it would but i've been following them ever since.


[url]
bird_dog
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: PEI
Joined: 09.30.2011

Jul 21 @ 12:32 PM ET
I really started getting into the flyers hardcore as a kid around the 35 game unbeaten streak. That's when as a kid I made sure I watched every game possible. We had prism back then just for the flyers and phillies.
My favorite team was the Kerr, Propp, Poulin, Hextall era.
I don't remember the cup years much since I was only around 5 to 7 years old.
hereticpride
New Jersey Devils
Location: HEY. Does this pole still work?, NJ
Joined: 01.14.2011

Jul 21 @ 12:40 PM ET
Born in 87. Moved to South Jersey in 97.


Legion of Doom or bust.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Jul 21 @ 12:44 PM ET
I am a Flyers fan solely because of Eric Lindros. My house was largely a baseball household until we got Lindros. Once I saw hockey, I was hooked.

I swear, I almost cried at the Alumni Game when he set up LeClair for that goal.
FlyerMike18
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 03.07.2009

Jul 21 @ 12:58 PM ET
agreed 2004 is still my favorite year

lindros era was what made me a fan though. i was 9 during his rookie year.. so it was perfect

- Crimsoninja


pretty much the exact same thing (except i was 8 during his rookie year). don't know if i started following right away, but it was early. that 95 ecf run was right up there with the 93 phils as like the turning points between just being aware and actually caring about what happens

04 still is tops though. i was convinced they were gonna win it all
dilbert719
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 11.30.2006

Jul 21 @ 1:01 PM ET
Born in 83. Baseball fan first, but got into hockey around '91 or '92, something like that. I was just in time for Lindros to come to town, so even though I was following the team before that, I really got into hockey properly as Lindros got here, and now it's my favorite sport.

As a result, the Lindros era teams were my favorite, but I'm excited for the team we have now as well.
kicksave856
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: i love how not saying dumb things on the internet was never an option.
Joined: 09.29.2005

Jul 21 @ 1:06 PM ET
I became a Flyers fan on April 11, 1988. I was eleven years old at the time and had just moved to the Philadelphia area from Texas. I had no idea what hockey even was, but my dad got tickets to the Flyers-Capitals playoff game through his work. The Flyers were down 4-1 in the game and stormed back in the third period to tie the score and force overtime. What happened next is still legendary in Flyers history.....I can still picture Rick Tocchet sliding the puck over to Murray Craven and Craven backhanding the puck past Clint Malarchuk not long into OT. Tocchet and Craven dropped to their knees and hugged in the faceoff circle while Malarchuk just remained outstretched and frozen on the ice during the ensuing pandemonium. I've been a diehard Flyers fan ever since.

- MarkM33

like it was yesterday.
flyer_nutter
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Unleash the Peanuts, MB
Joined: 10.16.2008

Jul 21 @ 1:45 PM ET
Didnt really see much hockey in Slovakia except for international competitions, however I do remember that the Flyers always had a reputation for being tough and gritty.

Moving to Canada in '97 I actually remember watching hockey (Flyers) for a few years but wasn't truly hardcore until that 2004 team captured my heart for good.

Esche, to this day holds a special place in my heart.
BiggE
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: SELL THE DAMN TEAM!
Joined: 04.17.2012

Jul 21 @ 2:03 PM ET
Great write up as always Bill!

I became a fan as a child in the early 70s, one of my first memories is going to game against Detroit in 73-74, where the Flyers romped 12-2 and 2 players had hat tricks (I think it was Nolet and Macleish, but I could easily be wrong). I vividly remember watching game 6 against Boston in my parents den and going absolutely nuts when they won the cup!

My favorite era though was 84-87. By then I was in college, had played the game for years, and understood the nuances of the sport. Those teams were so much fun to watch! They basically out worked everyone, and got incredible goaltending from Lindbergh and then later Hextall. It's really a shame that they hit their peak at the same time as those Edmonton teams which may have been the best of all time. In almost any other era, those clubs would have won a cup.
Jsaquella
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Bringing Hexy Back
Joined: 06.16.2006

Jul 21 @ 2:11 PM ET
I became a fan during the Bullies Era, but my favorite Era is definitely the Keenan years. I loved those mid 80's teams. Howe, McCrimmon, Lindbergh, Propp, Poulin, Sinisalo, Hextall, Kerr, Zezel, Tocchet & everyone except Doug Crossman
Pyzik
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Flemington, NJ
Joined: 01.18.2008

Jul 21 @ 2:16 PM ET
My first game was March 24, 1984 vs the Pens I was 6 years old at the time and the Flyers SHREDDED the Pens 13-4. I had the ticket up to last year when Sandy destroyed most of my stuff.

I will say I have had the pleasure of being in attendance to some of the best Flyers Moments from that Point forward

- Poulin Lifting the Prince of Wales Trophy after beating Quebec

- Game 6 of the 87 Finals

- Craven's OT Goal vs the Caps (Pictured above)

- Hextall's First goal against the Bruins

- Hextall's Retaliation on Chelios in the 89 Playoffs for the boarding of Propp

Just to name a few from My all time favorite team, The mid to late 80's Flyers



That Photo of Poulin is the most iconic Flyers Photo aside from the Clarke/Parent Cup shot by far.
JoeyG1951
Location: Campbell River, BC
Joined: 05.23.2010

Jul 21 @ 2:22 PM ET
I became a fan during the Bullies Era, but my favorite Era is definitely the Keenan years. I loved those mid 80's teams. Howe, McCrimmon, Lindbergh, Propp, Poulin, Sinisalo, Hextall, Kerr, Zezel, Tocchet & everyone except Doug Crossman
- Jsaquella


I would have to say i became a fan at this time as well and the 80's teams were so exciting. I seen my Flyers every time they came to Vancouver and some of those games I will never forget. Silly as this may sound I also fell in love the flyers colors and to this day everything I wear is Flyer tshirts, jackets, hats, belt buckles and several Flyers jerseys including Lindros, LeClair, Gagne, Carter x 2. Just love the orange and Flyers hockey is tought hockey and that is the way I like it.
JoeyG1951
Location: Campbell River, BC
Joined: 05.23.2010

Jul 21 @ 2:27 PM ET
I became a fan during the Bullies Era, but my favorite Era is definitely the Keenan years. I loved those mid 80's teams. Howe, McCrimmon, Lindbergh, Propp, Poulin, Sinisalo, Hextall, Kerr, Zezel, Tocchet & everyone except Doug Crossman
- Jsaquella


I used to love Sinisalo using his speed to score unnassisted breakaway goals. When the Flyers hammered the Russians in Philly that was the most exciting game of my life. Pounding the Russians on the scoredboard and on the ice to the point they almost never finished the game. I had goosebumps all over me as Russians were getting smoked everywhere, the most punishing game I ever seen. What a perfomance that was.
Deasr1
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
Joined: 06.21.2009

Jul 21 @ 2:28 PM ET
Born 74. Starting watching 84
BiggE
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: SELL THE DAMN TEAM!
Joined: 04.17.2012

Jul 21 @ 2:50 PM ET
I used to love Sinisalo using his speed to score unnassisted breakaway goals. When the Flyers hammered the Russians in Philly that was the most exciting game of my life. Pounding the Russians on the scoredboard and on the ice to the point they almost never finished the game. I had goosebumps all over me as Russians were getting smoked everywhere, the most punishing game I ever seen. What a perfomance that was.
- flyerdude17


That game in 76 was unreal, I was only 10 and I can remember turning to my older cousin when the Russians left the ice and asking him, wow, did they just quit. Watching the Flyers outhit, out work and out smart the Soviets was just awesome!

I actually think the 75-76 team was the best team of the Bullies era. The LCB line was unstoppable, adding Bridgman to the mix made a deep corps of centers even better and on D, Jimmy Watson was hitting his peak and was still healthy. IF not for the loss of Parent for most of the season due to injury and the loss of Macleish during the playoffs, they just might have made it 3 in a row. At the very least the finals against Montreal would have gone 6 or 7 games.
richiewinthecup
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: canada
Joined: 04.07.2010

Jul 21 @ 2:53 PM ET
Born in toronto i was a leaf fan until i was 10 yeas old.My cousins moved to toronto in 1984 and they were from philly.I remember them cheering for the flyers and always talking about how good they were.In 85 i watched as many flyer playoff games i could and hoping they would win.Of course in the final they got smoked.1986 is kind of a blur,but 1987 when Hextall started to play is when everything changed for me.I thought he was great,i loved that he was crazy and that he chopped down neilson.So because of my cousins and ron hextall i became a flyer fan.It wasnt easy being in toronto during those dark years.In high school the flyers never made it to the playoffs and i took a verbal beating each year from the leaf fans.Karma is a female dog and before last year the last 11 years have been very enjoyable for me. GO FLYERS
dingo8urbaby
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 06.02.2009

Jul 21 @ 2:55 PM ET
Team Canada? Too many right handed defense?

Nash-Crosby-Giroux
E.Staal-Stamkos-St.Louis
Toews-Getzlaf-Perry
Taveres-Bergeron-Sharp
Richards
Benn

Keith-Seabrooke
Weber-Doughty
Girardi- Pietrangelo
Letang
Subban

Luongo
Price
Crawford
BiggE
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: SELL THE DAMN TEAM!
Joined: 04.17.2012

Jul 21 @ 2:58 PM ET
Team Canada? Too many right handed defense?

Nash-Crosby-Giroux
E.Staal-Stamkos-St.Louis
Toews-Getzlaf-Perry
Taveres-Bergeron-Sharp
Richards
Benn

Keith-Seabrooke
Weber-Doughty
Girardi- Pietrangelo
Letang
Subban

Luongo
Price
Crawford

- dingo8urbaby


I'd be pretty happy with that D, left hand/right hand who cares, the talent is off the chart!
KGBflyers10
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: United States, PA
Joined: 10.28.2007

Jul 21 @ 3:29 PM ET
Borin in '88. I was 2 years old and going to games. I remember the likes of Dominic Roussel and company.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Jul 21 @ 3:43 PM ET
Team Canada? Too many right handed defense?

Nash-Crosby-Giroux
E.Staal-Stamkos-St.Louis
Toews-Getzlaf-Perry
Taveres-Bergeron-Sharp
Richards
Benn

Keith-Seabrooke
Weber-Doughty
Girardi- Pietrangelo
Letang
Subban

Luongo
Price
Crawford

- dingo8urbaby


Doesn't matter. Canada could probably ice a B team that would compete for a bronze. I mean, you just put a defense forward where 2 guys that were Norris candidates (including the one who won it) don't even crack the top 6.
KINGKENZO
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: OMAR COMIN'..Head or Gut?.....Watching regular white people
Joined: 01.10.2008

Jul 21 @ 3:44 PM ET
https://www.google.com/se...0%3Bd%7CSBUnDZd55lUfNM%3A
Page: Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9  Next