Bill Meltzer: A Tribute to Ed Snider

What sad, sad news. Rest in peace Mr. Snider, no matter what, you were always dedicated to the success of the Philadelphia Flyers franchise and that certainly cannot be said for many sports franchise owners. Thank you, thank you so much, for bringing hockey to Philadelphia and for being determined, at any cost, to putting a winner on the ice. You will truly be missed.

RIP Mr Snider ... I hope this team made you proud! Thank you for the Flyers!

God rest your soul, Ed.

Thank you or bringing hockey to Philly.

I am sitting here at my desk crying!

Man, this is a tough pill swallow.

Thank you, Mr. Snider.....

Thanks for including so much detail, Bill -- I learned plenty from reading this.

I'm really sad right now, as a fan. Because I know Ed Snider cared about this team as much as I did.

That is not the case with other owners. It just isn't.

He cared because he always knew it was his skin in the game to start it. And knowing that...man.

It's just a sad day.

Very very sad. Rest easy Mr snider.

RIP Mr Snider.

God rest your soul, Ed.

Thank you or bringing hockey to Philly.

I am sitting here at my desk crying!

Man, this is a tough pill swallow.
-ggunky

Me too, my friend, me too.

Bill-Fantastic piece. You are the class of this site. RIP Ed

Great tribute, Bill. I'm glad he got to see them clinch and see God Bless America one last time. Hopefully they go on a crazy run for him. RIP Mr. Snider.

Thanks for including so much detail, Bill -- I learned plenty from reading this.

I'm really sad right now, as a fan. Because I know Ed Snider cared about this team as much as I did.

That is not the case with other owners. It just isn't.

He cared because he always knew it was his skin in the game to start it. And knowing that...man.

It's just a sad day.
- AllInForFlyers

For years, you would hear, all over Philly, why can't (insert franchise owners name) be more like Ed Snider.

Ed, you were one of a kind, you will be so deeply missed.

For years, you would hear, all over Philly, why can't (insert franchise owners name) be more like Ed Snider.

Ed, you were one of a kind, you will be so deeply missed.

- BiggE

And also other hockey teams fans would say it too. He truly lived for this franchise to succeed on and off the ice. The dedication he had to the players is returned by all the good they bring through the Alumni and Wives organizations. It's a huge loss for this team, city and the sport of hockey.

RIP Mr. Snider

RIP. one of the best owners ever in all of sports. there will never ever be a philly owner like him again.

Pathetic not a mention at all on the espn home page.

Rip Mr.Snider.The best sports team owner ever period.

RIP Mr. Snider. Sucks Lord Stanley couldn't be brought back to Philly since 75. Flyers will play inspired hockey for sure this postseason.

16 wins. Lets go boys.

16 wins for Mr. Snider.

For years, you would hear, all over Philly, why can't (insert franchise owners name) be more like Ed Snider.

Ed, you were one of a kind, you will be so deeply missed.

- BiggE

It won't be the same.

There will be another owner. But it won't be the same.

Saw this somewhere on twitter this morning, and it really is so true:

"I'll never miss someone so much that I've never met, as much as Ed Snider."

Truer words...

RIP. one of the best owners ever in all of sports. there will never ever be a philly owner like him again.

Pathetic not a mention at all on the espn home page.
- rinaldo

(frank) ESPN.

ESPN doesnt care about Hockey or people

Sometimes, it's a little easy to be cynical when the Flyers bust out "God Bless America", but I still always sing along and it still always gets me.

Last Saturday, I was at the game and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why Lauren had her own phone out. I thought, she's done this so many times that there's no way she needed help with the words. I thought, maybe it was to sync up better with the video or something.

I had no idea she was facetiming with Mr. Snider so he could see "God Bless America" one last time.

I'm glad I was there for that.

A true visionary owner who beat out Baltimore to land an NHL team in Philadelphia.

Changed the game forever.

Pushed boundaries.

Was never afraid to venture into unknown territory.

Always a champion for his players and staff.

Snider was, is and shall remain always Philadelphia Flyers hockey.

Rest in Puck.

Well said Bill. As always you capture the spirit of the thing perfectly. It feels like we lost a relative today. It's painful. We have lost an icon. What Ed Snider brought to the city of Philadelphia and it's fans was unmatched by any one individual in my lifetime. Snider was the rare owner that matched the fire of his city's fanbase-and this city is easily one of the most passionate fanbases going. A man of vision, whose desire for the Flyers to win was never questionable, who wore his heart on his sleeve as much as any fan. That passion that Ed Snider had may have led to some poor decisions in the cap era, but the intensity of that passion was unquestionable. Even beyond sports, Ed Snider's impact on the community, with his charitable work and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey program will live on. In closing, Thank You, Mr Snider, for all you have given to me and to the city of Philadelphia. RIP.