Quick Hits: June 9, 2020
1) The Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association has nominated Flyers left winger Oskar Lindblom for the 2019-20 Masterton Trophy. The 23-year-old Lindblom, of course, was in the midst of a breakthrough season at the time of his diagnosis with Ewing Sarcoma.
2) Wayne Simmonds spoke to NBC Philadelphia's John Clark about the formation of the Hockey Diversity Alliance and what it means to him based on his own experiences in the sport. To read a synopsis, click here.
3) Today in Flyers History: On June 9, 1982, the Flyers traded goaltender Pete Peeters to the Boston Bruins in exchange for defenseman Brad McCrimmon. Peeters, a two-time NHL All-Star Game participant as a member of the Flyers, won the Vezina Trophy in his first season with the Bruins. However, his career arc would drop thereafter, and the emergences of the late Pelle Lindbergh and then Ron Hextall cushioned Peeters' departure. In the meantime, McCrimmon became a mainstay on the Flyers' blueline and eventually formed a dominant defense pairing along with Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Mark Howe.
4) Today in Flyers History: June 9, 2010 saw the Flyers' magical playoff run come to an end with a 4-3 overtime loss to Chicago in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. The game, which saw the series end abruptly on Patrick Kane's Cup-winning goal from a nearly impossible angle (and also saw the puck literally disappear in the padding at the back of the net), was the only game that Chicago won in Philadelphia between 1996 and 2019. Philly would gladly trade all but three of three of their home wins -- the exceptions being a regular season win in 2009-10 (since Philly needed a shootout win on the final day to make the playoffs) plus Games 3 and 4 of the 2010 Finals -- to have won Game 6 and force a 7th game back in Chicago.
5) June 9 Flyers Alumni birthdays: John Paddock (1954), Russ Romaniuk (1970).
**************
Million Dollar Bike Ride for Penn Medicine ODC
There is a very close relationship within the extended Philadelphia Flyers family, which includes the Flyers Alumni Association, the 2019 USA Hockey Warrior Classic champion Flyers Warriors and the back-to-back North American champion Flyers PowerPlay power wheelchair hockey team. They are now coming together again to support the Million Dollar Bike Ride, raising money for the Penn Medicine Orphan Disease Center (ODC).
Originally an onsite event scheduled for June 13, 2020, the 2020 Million Dollar Bike has become an online virtual event due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The PowerPlay team primarily consists of players that were born with some form of a debilitating disease. There are a number of players on the Power Play team that suffer from Collagen VI Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, which is an orphan disease causing muscle weakness at birth.
Some children never gain the ability to walk, while others lose the ability as they grow older. Affected individuals also may suffer from respiratory insufficiency, failure to thrive, contractures, and scoliosis. There is currently no treatment or cure. However, families with members affected by the disease have been actively involved in fundraising and awareness education.
Flyers Alumni Association president Brad Marsh, who is also the head coach of the Flyers Warriors and works closely in conjunction with the Flyers PowerPlay, is helping to coordinate a united fundraising effort for the Million Dollar Bike Ride. An avid cyclist, he is also an annual participant in the ride. This year, he will do the virtual ride.
The Flyers Alumni kicked off the drive with a $2,500 donation. They are working in conjunction with Team Cure CMD, which with make a dollar-for-dollar matching donation once a $20,000 fundraising goal is met. As such, a personal $5 donation can become $10, $20 can become $40, etc.
Unfortunately, fundraising has been slow this year for many charity events, due to the combined impact of Covid-19 and the economic havoc it has caused to many, many families. Correspondingly, Team Cure CMD is short of its minimum $20,000 goal although the Flyers Alumni, the Flyers Warriors and the Flyers PowerPlay families are working hard to do their part.
As such, Marsh has put out a call for help to Flyers fans to donate and/or to participate in the virtual ride. Please consider making a donation by clicking the Team Work donation link by clicking on the thermometer and filling out the form.
If you wish to participate in the virtual ride, it can done with or without additional fundraising participation. The Flyers Alumni/ Flyers Warriors team is CURE DMC. Click the registration link.