LABOR DAY: FLYERS HARDEST-WORKING PLAYERS
Fred Shero used to refer to Bobby Clarke as a "dream dressed in work clothes." The Flyers' captain was the epitome of elite playmaking skill combined with a tireless work ethic and a fierce will to win. In honor of the Labo(u)r Day holiday in the U.S. and Canada, here is an all-time Flyers "Lunchpail Team" to recognize some of the hardest-working players in team history.
These are not necessarily the best players in franchise history. Rather, the focus is solely on recognizing players who led by example with their work ethic and competitiveness.
FIRST TEAM
Bobby Clarke (C): From the very first to the very last shift of his NHL career, Clarke never took anything for granted. He approached every game is if he was a player just trying to earn his spot in the lineup. When the team's best player was also its hardest-working player, everyone else was inspired to follow suit. Clarke was the player who, above all others, set the team-above-all-else tone for the Flyers' mini-dynasty of the mid-1970s.
Ron Hextall (G): Bernie Parent was the best goalie in Flyers history. Pelle Lindbergh may have been the quickest and most naturally gifted netminder in franchise history. Both had to put in plenty of hard work to become Vezina Trophy winners. However, I'm giving Hextall the nod on this particular all-time list because I have never seen a more competitive goalie who hated to lose more than Hexy. He fought for every puck and defended his crease like a rabid attack dog. Moreover, Hextall's legendary puckhandling skills didn't just magically appear one day. He worked and worked and worked some more at it. It used to be a treat to attend a Flyers practice just to see Hextall practice his puckhandling. He could pick a spot on the half boards from the crease or behind the cage and bank the puck out of the zone off the same spot time and time again. He could also fire the puck the length of the ice on goal at the other side with regularity in practice. That's why no one was surprised when he scored a pair of goals -- one regular season and one playoff -- in his career.
Rod Brind'Amour (C): It was tough to leave Brind'Amour off the first team, but no one was going to unseat Clarke for the center spot. Likewise, it's tough to leave off someone like Dave Poulin or Ron Sutter from the second team, but I couldn't justify omitting Brind'Amour from at least a second team spot. A fitness fanatic off the ice, Brind'Amour was also easily one of the hardest working players on the ice that I've ever seen.
PHANTOMS LAUNCH 24/7 INTERNET RADIO STATION
Lehigh Valley Phantoms broadcaster Bob Rotruck has started an internet radio Phantoms Hockey 24/7 channel on TuneIn.com.
Currently, two games from last season -- Oct. 11, 2014 at Wilkes Barre/Scranton (first regular season game for the team after its relocation from Adirondack to Allentown) and Oct. 17, 2014 vs. Adirondack Flames (opening night at the PPL Center) -- are available.
During the 2015-16 season, game broadcasts will be archived and available on demand. If a fan misses a Phantoms game -- for instance, there's an overlap with a Flyers game the same night -- the full-game broadcast will still be available at the listener's convenience.
FLYERS ALUMNI FACE OFF AGAINST CANCER
On Saturday, Sept. 12, the Flyers Alumni Team will participate in the third annual Faceoff Against Cancer at the Ice Works in Aston, PA. Last year, the Alumni's participation helped raised $145,891 for Delaware Valley families in need, with roughly $13,000 apiece going directly to 12 beneficiaries to offset some of the high financial burdens involved in the fight against various forms of cancer.
The Faceoff Against Cancer is an all-day event at the Ice Works complex, featuring a hockey tournament, live bands and other entertainment, on-ice and off-ice events, kid-friendly carnival games, a silent auction, raffles, prizes, food and soft drinks. Alcoholic beverages are available at an additional adult admission price.
The highlight of the day is a game between the Flyers Alumni Team and a team of "All-Star" donors from the various participants. The game is slated to start at 7:15 p.m. EDT. Afterwards, for an additional $50 donation, event attendees can have dinner and a personal meet-and-greet with the Flyers Alumni players.
To purchase tickets for the 2015 Faceoff Against Cancer, click here.
Even if you cannot attend the even in person, there's a variety of online donation options available. Donors can make a general donation to be split among all the beneficiaries or else they can make individual donations to go to the cancer patient beneficiary chosen by each of the participating teams. The beneficiaries come from a variety of different backrounds and ages -- some are pediatric cancer patients, some are the parents of young children, some are grandparents and one is a memorial fund.
For more information on all of the day's activities, bios on the beneficiaries and more, please visit the Faceoff Against Cancer website. The cause also has a Twitter account (@FACEOFFvsCANCER) and Facebook page.