Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Saturday Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Saturday Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Hard to remember my earliest Flyers memory, LOL. My parents said that my first game was during the 2nd season, sometime in late 68, I was still young enough to sit on my dad's lap and not need a ticket!

The first games I really remember attending were during the 72-73 season when I turned 7. I basically remember lots of fights, Bobby Clarke and my dad saying that they need a better goalie than Doug Favell!

Don't remember the exact game, but it was the 75-76 season. My mom taught grade school with the wife of Bill Corson, who manned the visiting team's penalty box, and she had been given tickets in the front row of the 2nd level, just behind the Flyers bench. Turns out those seats belonged to the late Charlie Roeser, head of the Flyers' off-ice officials at the time. Got to meet Charlie a few times, and to an 11 year old, just knowing a man who held a position of esteem with the Flyers was a great honor.

My only clear memory of the game was shouting down at the bench, "Send Schultzie out there!"

My first Philadelphia hockey memory was watching a Philadelphia Ramblers game on TV, maybe a playoff game.

First Flyers memory was a game on the tube during 72-73 or 73-74, first live game was 75-76 when the bearded wonder Jerome "Moses" Mrazek was given about 7-15 minutes late in the game vs the Blues and Gary Unger scored on a rebound against him during a power play.

I used to live in town near 22 & Pine . A friend and I used to walk across the Walnut St bridge past the Penn rink to go to the Firebirds games, what did they cost - $2 ?
The broadcaster John MacAdam was a regular fixture on the radio for the road games against villians like the Beauce Jaros. During their AHL tenure, the Maine Mariners came in and on that early Calder Cup era team, the now hockey executive Brian Burke was a Flyers minor leaguer (not sure if he was drafted) had a full head of red hair and a big mustache.

Back in the pre security crazed days-at the firebirds games, I used to sneak a flask of kahlua in my 35 mm camera bag ( I did take pictures) and we warmed ourselves up with kahlua in the arena cocoa.

Think about that, $2 game ticket and mixing your own drink discretely and no one hassling you

February 16, 1969 vs the Oakland Seals.

My dad took me as we sat in the second level and watched Forbes Kennedy get into a scuffle late in the game with an Oakland player who I can't remember. What I do remember is that on the way to the penalty box, Kennedy stopped and had a few words with Seal's coach Fred Glover. This continued all the way into the penalty box until Forbes couldn't take it any longer. He jumped out of the box and attempted to leap into the Oakland bench, tossing rights and gloves in Glover direction.

Both teams went wild. The crowd went wild. I was hooked.

I have to thank Jay Greenberg for the date, which I couldn't remember. A brief description of the game was written up in his Full Spectrum.

This will be a fun thread. Thanks, Bill and also to those who post, it will bring up a lot of memories.

My first recollection was watching an afternoon game on TV between the Canadiens and Chicago during the 71 finals. I think someone at my father's office had taken him to a Flyers' game earlier in the season and he got hooked enough to get a 14 game ticket plan for the 71-72 season.

I don't remember which game I first went to but my guess would be between the Leafs, Bruins and North Stars. I was in 1st grade. Clarke and Favell were my favorites. I got to see between 4 and 6 of the games. My souvenirs from that season were a puck (I love the smell of a hockey puck, weird, I know), a mini stick and the Mylec Tony Esposito mask. All three are probably still at my parents' house. There was a feature in the programs that had a photo of a fan in the stands. Late in the season was a photo of a child wearing a Mylec mask. My gut tells me it is of me. I did get to go to the game against the Blues where they went into the stands after someone dumped a beer on Al Arbour at the zamboni entrance (the next year they changed the visitor entrance to be along the bench). Not understanding French and not hearing the names, for several months, Jaques Plante was Jakwes Plant. I remember the excitement of the big trade with the Kings that season and the news of Bruce Gamble's heart attack.

The lasting impact of that season was that the Flyers were abandoning the game plans going into the 72-73 season and only having single game or season tickets. My father decided to base his decision on whether the team made the play-offs. Going into the last game in Buffalo, the team was battling the Penguins for the final play-off spot. Gerry Meehan scored with 4 seconds left in the entire season and knocked the Flyers out. I was watching the game with my dad and I cried for about a half hour. We still curse that day as we would most likely still have those tickets. I hate Gerry Meehan.

I remember my friend's dad told me Wayne Gretzky was magic and he bought me and my friend Wayne Gretzky stuffed dolls. Me and my friend would always watch this Gretzky VHS tape over and over again. Then the Oilers and Flyers played in the 1987 finals when I was five years old. Gretzky became the bad guy instantly. He went from my hero to our worst enemy. My friend and I smashed our stuffed Gretzky dolls with any kind of Flyers paraphernalia we could find. Gretzky was the good guy wrestler that betrayed the good guys and became evil. He ruined my childhood. I was heartbroken, but I forgave him...when he retired.

My first Philadelphia hockey memory was watching a Philadelphia Ramblers game on TV, maybe a playoff game.

First Flyers memory was a game on the tube during 72-73 or 73-74, first live game was 75-76 when the bearded wonder Jerome "Moses" Mrazek was given about 7-15 minutes late in the game vs the Blues and Gary Unger scored on a rebound against him during a power play.

I used to live in town near 22 & Pine . A friend and I used to walk across the Walnut St bridge past the Penn rink to go to the Firebirds games, what did they cost - $2 ?
The broadcaster John MacAdam was a regular fixture on the radio for the road games against villians like the Beauce Jaros. During their AHL tenure, the Maine Mariners came in and on that early Calder Cup era team, the now hockey executive Brian Burke was a Flyers minor leaguer (not sure if he was drafted) had a full head of red hair and a big mustache.

Back in the pre security crazed days-at the firebirds games, I used to sneak a flask of kahlua in my 35 mm camera bag ( I did take pictures) and we warmed ourselves up with kahlua in the arena cocoa.

Think about that, $2 game ticket and mixing your own drink discretely and no one hassling you
- Steelmanpa

I remember my friend's dad told me Wayne Gretzky was magic and he bought me and my friend Wayne Gretzky stuffed dolls. Me and my friend would always watch this Gretzky VHS tape over and over again. Then the Oilers and Flyers played in the 1987 finals when I was five years old. Gretzky became the bad guy instantly. He went from my hero to our worst enemy. My friend and I smashed our stuffed Gretzky dolls with any kind of Flyers paraphernalia we could find. Gretzky was the good guy wrestler that betrayed the good guys and became evil. He ruined my childhood. I was heartbroken, but I forgave him...when he retired.
- TonyBazz

Quick Wayne Gretzky story. It was the first visit by the Edmonton Oilers in 1979 in both their's and Gretzky's first NHL season. My dad and I were having a pregame dinner at the old Stadium Hilton hotel where the visiting teams used to stay. As we walked in, we first stopped in the lobby shop cause my dad wanted to buy a paper. Who was in there buying a pack of gum? Yeah, you guessed it, Wayne Gretzky!!

He was very nice and happily signed an autograph for me. Of course, being a teenager, I have no idea what happened to that autograph, but it was still a very cool experience!

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Saturday Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

My earliest memory was the first SC. I was 5 and my mom had to take me with her to go drag my dad out of a bar.
Oddly enough, my first Flyers game was the California Seals and the second was the Colorado Rockies.

My first Flyers game memory was the 1980 Cup Finals vs the Islanders.I was 11. My parents were splitting up so I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. She used to take me to a neighborhood "club" basically a members only bar. The San Antonio Society, it was called at 7th and Rising Sun in North Philly. I still ha dthe T-Shirt a couple years back that they gave out when Don Toellefson did an event there.... I used to sit in the back dining room and read to stay occupied , or listen to the juke box, but when the cup finals were on, they let me come up to sit at the bar and watch the games because it was a special occasion. I felt like a grown up and learned first hand how to hate Leon Stickle forever.

My first live game was also a Firebirds game at the civic center, probably 1979 or 80. We were in the cheap seats. Highlight of the game was seeing a deflected puck hit the seats near us. Ironically later on in the 80's I wound up working in a construction job with one of the former Firebirds players who sold me his old equipment so i could play. I only remember his name as Ivan.

Did not grow up in the Philly area. Earliest Flyer memory was an afternoon national TV playoff game in 73, Flyers vs Minnesota. Early in the game, Bob Kelly ran somebody on the Stars and picked up a charge or a board, can't recall. Thought to myself, that was kind of dumb, how does this team expect to win taking such stupid penalties. Hahahahaha!

As time went on over the next couple years, I would grow to hate the Flyers until I moved to the area after college . . . and that transition took some time, believe me.

And here's the box score:

Penalties - PHI - Joe Watson (Holding) 0:17 ; PHI - Bob Kelly (Charging) 2:54

http://www.flyershistory....in/poboxscore.cgi?1973004

Hard to remember my earliest Flyers memory, LOL. My parents said that my first game was during the 2nd season, sometime in late 68, I was still young enough to sit on my dad's lap and not need a ticket!

The first games I really remember attending were during the 72-73 season when I turned 7. I basically remember lots of fights, Bobby Clarke and my dad saying that they need a better goalie than Doug Favell!


- BiggE

Eric Lindros beating the crap out of everyone

February 16, 1969 vs the Oakland Seals.

My dad took me as we sat in the second level and watched Forbes Kennedy get into a scuffle late in the game with an Oakland player who I can't remember. What I do remember is that on the way to the penalty box, Kennedy stopped and had a few words with Seal's coach Fred Glover. This continued all the way into the penalty box until Forbes couldn't take it any longer. He jumped out of the box and attempted to leap into the Oakland bench, tossing rights and gloves in Glover direction.

Both teams went wild. The crowd went wild. I was hooked.

I have to thank Jay Greenberg for the date, which I couldn't remember. A brief description of the game was written up in his Full Spectrum.
- 77rams

Fred Glover was a long time star player for the Cleveland Barons of the 50's/60's in the AHL if my memory is correct. There is a book called Forgotten Glory worth reading about the Barons(again if my memory is correct, I used to own the book)

Many of the players in the AHL finally got their shot with expansion in 67

Last line https://twitter.com/David...92736118870532097/photo/1

1987- Hextall's goal stick clanging off the goal posts, can't remember the game, but I was hooked.

Last line https://twitter.com/David...92736118870532097/photo/1
- wilsonecho91

Wow...even dead folk rip the Leafs.

Man it looks like I am the young buck here. My first memory was watching games on the defunct PRISM channel. I just remember being totally creeped out by Pelle's Friday the 13th looking goalie mask.

Man it looks like I am the young buck here. My first memory was watching games on the defunct PRISM channel. I just remember being totally creeped out by Pelle's Friday the 13th looking goalie mask.
- Pelle31Forever

Just wait until I give my novel in a few hours. Way too much to type on a phone at work in the hospital.

Just wait until I give my novel in a few hours. Way too much to type on a phone at work in the hospital.
- Giroux_Is_God

Late 90's, I must've been 5 or 6, playoff series against Buffalo, we lost that game/series and I remember my dad saying that was the last game of hockey until next season and I cried all night.

EDIT: 1998. I wasn't quite 5 yet.

My family always had season tickets to the Eagles starting with my grandfather, so when we went to a game, it was almost always at the Vet. Saw the Phils plenty, as well. We were all huge hockey fans, too, though, and finally I convinced my dad we should take in a Flyers game. I don't know why it took so long.

Early 90s, like 91-92? I was probably about 11 or 12, so that sounds right. They played the Bruins. I went down to the goal area before the game when they were doing a shoot around. Ray Bourque flipped me up a puck and said "here ya go, kid"

I still have it. And as much as I love Ray Bourque, I still hate those damn Bruins.

Just wait until I give my novel in a few hours. Way too much to type on a phone at work in the hospital.
- Giroux_Is_God

Can't wait

Having not grown up in Philly or any hockey market for that matter, my first introduction to hockey came in the 2010 Winter Olympics. I loved it and was looking for an NHL team to cheer for when I found the one team that carried a player born in AL on their roster that year (PHI) which was perfect because my uncle lived there, so I figured I could watch games when we visited. The first time I got to see them play on TV was on Versus in the 2010 playoffs game 1 against the Bruins.

Having not grown up in Philly or any hockey market for that matter, my first introduction to hockey came in the 2010 Winter Olympics. I loved it and was looking for an NHL team to cheer for when I found the one team that carried a player born in AL on their roster that year (PHI) which was perfect because my uncle lived there, so I figured I could watch games when we visited. The first time I got to see them play on TV was on Versus in the 2010 playoffs game 1 against the Bruins.
- aflyerpower8

what a freakin series to start watching a team

Can't wait
- ob18

Mkay.

I was referring to how it's going to make me seem really young, but whatever