The Wackness: Pelle’s death and the odd start to the 1985-86 season

By Bob H
Posted on 11/12/2012 at 1:00 pm

For the third straight year, Flyers Faithful will honor the memory and impact of Pelle Lindbergh with a piece dedicated in his honor. This time around, a reflection on the odd set of circumstances that surrounded the start to the 1985-86 season and how Pelle’s accident and death contributed to the surreal feel of what should have been a triumphant return to form in Mike Keenan’s second year at the helm. The front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday, November 11, 1985 announced the simple, but chilling news: “Flyers star ‘brain-dead’ after crash.” Below that, the first sentence in …

Poll: What would you change?

By Marcello De Feo
Posted on 03/08/2012 at 9:00 am

Let’s play God for a minute. If you had the ability to go back in time and change one thing in the history of the Philadelphia Flyers, what would it be?

Flyers Fans Book Review Part One

By ecnewman
Posted on 03/02/2012 at 12:00 pm

When you start a new hobby, or obsession (more apropos in my case), there is a lot of information to learn right off the bat. When my best friend Pam introduced me to hockey and subsequently, the Flyers, a lot of names came hurtling my way. Present Flyers, past Flyers, trades, etc. I heard names like Lindros, Pelle, Hextall, Clarke and I’m one of those people who has to see things to remember them. Just hearing stuff doesn’t stick in my mind. So I knew about Pelle Lindbergh and who Bob Clarke was (I now can recognize him both from …

Five Reasons I Love the Flyers: Bob H

By Bob H
Posted on 02/16/2012 at 1:00 pm

Bob H. is the writer/columnist/editor of Flyers Faithful, the site’s representative in the WFC press box and a long-time friend of FF’s Fearless Leader. Below, he gives his five reasons why he loves the Philadelphia Flyers. 5. Game coverage This may come across as a shameless plug, but as a professional, it’s a badge of honor to be able to have that credential from the Philadelphia Flyers hanging off my neck (and later hanging off the paw of the stuffed grizzly bear I have mounted above my television) and the chance to cover the National Hockey League in my hometown. …

This Week in Flyers History 2/12-2/18

By Bob H
Posted on 02/12/2012 at 2:00 pm

The continuation of a new weekly series here at Flyers Faithful, “This Week in Flyers History” aims to provide historical information on Flyers games of the past with some kind of significance, using pictures and videos where appropriate. February 12, 1984 Canucks 6, Flyers 5 – Despite a 20-4 shot edge in the first period and leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 5-3, Philly allows Vancouver to score three straight in the third period to win, culminating when Tiger Williams tallied with 1:56 remaining in regulation. Pelle Lindbergh, who surrendered six goals on just 29 shots, is in the midst of suffering …

New Book Time

By ecnewman
Posted on 02/10/2012 at 12:00 pm

With the magic of my Kindle Fire, I have gotten my next book to review. Due to my lack of hockey history, I’ve decided that it’s time to educate myself. Should I start with general hockey history or narrow it down? Enter 100 Things Flyers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die by Adam Kimelman. Yes! Right? I have to defend myself constantly as a Flyers fan up here in Northern Illinois, I ought to know my stuff. The book came out in 2010, so that might mean it’s dated, but we’ll see if that hinders it at all. …

Remembering Pelle

By Bob H
Posted on 11/11/2011 at 12:00 pm

First, a simple tribute to Number 31, with musical accompaniment. I think this particular clip plays perfectly to the emotions of the time, even if you’re not a fan of 80′s hair metal. Here’s Connie Chung hosting a short-lived NBC magazine show called “American Almanac,” early in calendar year 1986, and the report on the circumstances surrounding Pelle’s death. And finally, an interview of unknown origin (though I suspect it was either broadcast on CBC or PRISM) from the Summer of 1985.

McCrimmon perishes in Russian plane crash

By Bob H
Posted on 09/07/2011 at 12:23 pm

Former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman and long-time NHL blueliner Brad McCrimmon has died in a plane crash in Western Russia on Wednesday morning. The plane, carrying members of the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv club of the Kontinental Hockey League on its way for a game in Minsk, Belarus, crashed just after takeoff, killing all passengers. Only one crew member survived the ordeal, and a player who survived the crash reportedly later died of his wounds in hospital. McCrimmon had signed on as the club’s head coach in May following a successful three-year stint as an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings. “I’m personally …

The Lost Season

By Bob H
Posted on 05/27/2011 at 12:00 pm

Nursing the heartbreak of a Stanley-Cup caliber Flyers season that came to a screeching halt with a stupefying early playoff exit is a rare and beautiful thing. Although the Flyers have prided themselves on not shitting the bed in the postseason after being near the top of the NHL standings, it has been known to occur every once in a blue moon. Like in the early 1980′s. Tucked in between the Year of the Streak that ended in a loss to the Islanders in the Finals and the Mike Keenan-led surprise 1985 Cup finalists, was four deeply disappointing years that saw a …

Spectrum Memories: Life is a Carnival

By Bob H
Posted on 02/25/2011 at 2:00 pm

To celebrate my 25th year of hockey fandom, I will occasionally step into the way-back machine and write about events in the Flyers’ past. For the balance of the season, I will be dipping into the well to ruminate about some things related to my love of the Philadelphia Flyers, and in general about the fan experience as a youngster. This is the eighth in the series of Spectrum Memories. For this bi-monthly installment, I promise there’s no description of anger, violence, vulgar cheering or potentially-fatal illnesses. It’s all about the purely fun aspects of being a Flyers fan. The annual Flyers Carnival was actually …

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