Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Two Extensions to Go, When Did You Become a Flyers Fan?

Good morning. Love the cooter deal.

I became a fan during the bullies era and actually remember them winning the cup in 75 and losing to the Habs in 76.

My favorite era was the Lindros era.

Though I must say that my favorite team was the 2004 team.

Was introduced to hockey as a teen in 1972. Was completely consumed by Flyers hockey. How could you not be? Even after moving to L.A. in 1978 I lived Flyers hockey. Although the Early 90's Kings were exciting I would of been pulling for the Flyers if they had met in the Finals. Have been in Nashville since 96 and must admit the Preds are now my team. Still a Flyers fan at heart. (had to watch the 1980 finals loss to Islanders on NHL network the other night) but would be behind the Preds all the way in any meeting.

Looks like we are in good cap shape to get these things done, unless we attempt to get a #1 D man. But I am getting more comfortable with our youngsters games...Gus, Laurisden, and hopefully MAB will rebound this year. We may get through the curve of "waiting for our youth to develop" this season.

I am about two years older than you, Bill. I remember sitting in the car while my mom dragged my dad out of a bar and interrupting his cup celebration on the 2nd cup. I would listen to Gene Hart on my AM radio when I was 8 to 10 years old. I remember listening to the game in Minnesota when the unbeaten streak came to an end. I have been a die hard through all of the eras that you listed. The era that was the hardest for me was the Lindros Era. So much unrealized promise and potential culminating in Eric being run out of town on a rail.

In other words, despite Giroux's huge raise and the multi-year acquisitions of Vincent Lecavalier ($4.5 million cap it) and Mark Streit ($5.25 million), Philly would have no trouble budgeting in all three players for 2014-15 while also continuing to work on contract extensions for Couturier, Schenn and possibly Read.

Gotta fit our goalie(s) in there as well with both Mason and Emery being on 1 year contracts. And hopefully one or both of them has a great upcoming season for us...meaning they are going to get a pay raise.

My dad became a season ticket holder in '73-74. I was born in '86 and by his memory, my first game was in '88. Obviously I don't remember this, but I do have memories of the end of the dark ages and the beginning of the Lindros era. I've been going to games for 25 of my 27 years of life so far.

Thanks to my dad, I was raised a proper Philly fan. He made sure I knew all about the rich Flyers history, all the way from the beginning. He made sure I watched plenty of Broad Street Bullies games he had recorded, the Red Army game, and so on. He (and my mom) raised both myself and my older sister the same way, so another generation of Flyers fans are in place. Even though my sister married a man who doesn't like hockey (don't get me started), I've been sure to dress my niece in 3 Flyers outfits already and she's only 9.5 months old.

As always Bill, great blog and thanks for letting me taking a stroll down memory lane (even though I'm not that old).

Edit: I forgot to mention, my favorite era of Flyers hockey that I've gotten to live through is probably the Legion of Doom years. All-time though, I love watching the Broad Street Bullies games more than anything. I always tell my dad I was born in the wrong decade. That is the kind of hockey I enjoy watching the most.

When did i become a fan, mid 80's.

I was 8, 9 years old and my brother was a hockey nut. Well, my brother was always watching hockey and being only a year older then me i naturally followed his lead.

The 80's teams were so much fun to watch. They would work their tails off and make the enemy earn a win.

My favorite memory, Dave Poulin's 5 on 3 shorthanded goal gagainst Quebec. When Poulin intercepts the point to point cross ice pass, the reaction from the crowd would make you think the Flyers just scored. Then Gene Hart's call of the goal was priceless.

Quote - "He's going rite on in... Shoot... SCORE!"

I became a fan during the bullies era and actually remember them winning the cup in 75 and losing to the Habs in 76.

My favorite era was the Lindros era.

Though I must say that my favorite team was the 2004 team.
- MBFlyerfan

i voted that era as my fav (i was one of the few, i guess) because of that particular team

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.

Good signing for the flyers. Perfect money.

Read for 3yr $9M sounds fine by me! I would even go to a 4th year at that number.

I'm only 25 so I came up on the Lindros era. Never forget re-inacting the legion of doom with my friends when we played street hockey. Then watching the playoff games in my basement with them. I miss my youth. Have they invented the time machine yet? God, what does our government do with their time to not invent a time machine yet!?!?!

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.

My parents had season tix as far back as I can remember. I was raised on hockey the way kids are raised on football today.
The first season I remember really becoming a fan was 84-85.
I remember watching the Bobby Clarke retirement ceremony and then the great Cup run really drew me in. Seeing Dave Poulin play with broken ribs was my introduction to sports leadership, and the different mindset of hockey players.
The 86-87 team was my favorite, and the effort, focus and dedication of those teams became the standard to which every future Flyer would be held.

The Lindros era, for me!

Born in 93, been a fan since!

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

Tocchet was my first favorite player. Watched him grow from enforcer to goal-scoring power forward. His Stanley Cup jabbering turned me against him forever.
Kevin Dineen later took his place, and is still my favorite Flyer.

Love the Couts signing. Would love to get Schenn and Read signed as well. As much as I would like Schenn at 2/$5 I do like the idea of staggering his and couts negotiation years. Therefor 3/$9 would work. Read at 3/$9 would be a really nice contract as well.

Became a Flyers fan playing street hockey in the suburbs of Philly in the early 1970's right around the time of the Broad Street Bullies.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Two Extensions to Go, When Did You Become a Flyers Fan?
- bmeltzer

I'd say mid 80's

I moved to Philly in the early 80s and had never watched a game in my life. My dad wasn't a big sports watcher. Moved during the summer and there were always street hockey games. So I joined in and that is how I got hooked on the Flyers, because everyone would pretend to be a Flyers player. My dad would get tickets through work and we would go to a few games a year. One in particular I remember can't remember who it was against but there were several huge fights bench clearing types and that just really sold me.

I moved away from Philly in 86, moved to Columbus Oh, but stayed a fan. Didn't get to watch much during the 80s and most of 90s, but kept an interest. During the late 90s when I moved to NYC I started to watch more often. Now living in Jersey and back to being all consumed by the Orange and Black.

Take the kids to see them and they are Flyers fans now also. Wife and her family are huge Sabres fans, so important that I got to the kids early.

I'd say early 2000s are what I really identify with because that is when I really got back into the team. I'd say ever September/October is my favorite team because that could be the team that brings the cup back to Philly.

My family moved into the area in 1972 and I watched the Flyers beat the North Stars and losing to the Canadiens the following round. The following year We had gotten a few tickets for the season and I was fortunate to go to Opening Night to see Parent's return and Kate Smith live. I was hooked big time!


Later in the mid 80s I had season tickets and saw the 85 and 87 Finals. Had the tickets for 20 years before economics got in the way. Met a lot of great people at the games and still keep in touch with some. A great experience and made me a hockey fan and most importantly a Flyers fan for life!

Immigrated to the USA from former USSR in 90's. Took a little while to adjust to the style of living and the style of hockey. A die hard fan since ~2004

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

That's awesome. As a kid I would wallpaper my room with sportspage pictures and articles. That was the back page of the Daily News, great picture.
One of my favorites, an I hope someone remembers this, was a chararicture of Dave Brown. After his cross checking incident with Tomas Erikson, the DN had a drawing on the backpage of Brown hold his stick like a rifle and smoke coming from the end of it

Love the Couts signing. Would love to get Schenn and Read signed as well. As much as I would like Schenn at 2/$5 I do like the idea of staggering his and couts negotiation years. Therefor 3/$9 would work. Read at 3/$9 would be a really nice contract as well.

Became a Flyers fan playing street hockey in the suburbs of Philly in the early 1970's right around the time of the Broad Street Bullies.
- jstross

I dont think Schenn will be a problem, he like Couturier have a lot of improving to do. As well as Luke is signed here for a while, I bet we see a deal very similar to yours.

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

great pic