Quick Hits: May 19, 2023
1) Next year will be the golden anniversary of the Philadelphia Flyers' 1974 Stanley Cup championship. On May 19, 1974, Rick MacLeish's 1st period deflection goal is the lone tally in Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Final vs. Boston. Conn Smythe Trophy winner Bernie Parent shuts out the Bruins and the Flyers become the first expansion team to win the Cup.
3) On July 5, there will be a 3Ice game held at the Giant Center in Hershey. The 3Ice league features full game 3-on-3 manpower on the ice. The July 5 game will pit Team LeClair against Team Mullen. The former is coached by Flyers Hall of Famer and U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer John LeClair while the latter is coached by Hockey Hall of Fame player and longtime former Flyers assistant coach Joey Mullen.
Team Mullen features Joe’s son, Patrick Mullen (d), Joe Whitney (f), Paul Carey (f), Seamus Donohue (d), Parker Miler (goaltender), Steven Whitney (f), and Cam Brown (f). Team LeClair includes Brandon Hawkins (f), Ian McCoshen (d), Brayden Watts (f), Colton Saucerman (d), Colin Theisen (f), Tim Coffman (f), and Max Milosek (goalie).
There will also be a game pitting Team Bourque vs. Team Murphy. Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque is behind the bench for his namesake team, while fellow HHOF blueliner Larry Murphy steers the opposing team.
Several former Phantoms players will participate in the game, including Cooper Zech (defenseman, Team Bourque) and forward Shane Harper (forward, Team Bourque). Future AHL Hall of Famer Chris Bourque, a Hershey Bears legend and Ray's son, will captain Team Bourque. The squad also features former St. Louis Blues forward TJ Hensick.
The winners of the two first round games will compete in the finals with the other two teams facing off in a consolation game. The 3ICE season culminates with the Patrick Cup Championship at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, August 12 at 1 p.m.
Each 3ICE team is coached by a former NHL All-Star Stanley Cup Champion or Hockey Hall of Fame member. The other coaches in the league are Grant Fuhr, Craig Patrick, Eddie Johnston and Guy Carbonneau.
For more information, visit 3ice.com.