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Flyers Alumni vs. Warriors Showcased Organization’s Class

By Colin Newby

ALLISTON, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 7: Former Philadelphia Flyers player Bob Kelly #9 during a Flyers NHL Alumni Game on September 7, 2011 at Nottawasaga Sports Complex in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ALLISTON, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 7: Former Philadelphia Flyers player Bob Kelly #9 during a Flyers NHL Alumni Game on September 7, 2011 at Nottawasaga Sports Complex in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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The Flyers Alumni Showcase against the Flyers Warriors took place at IceWorks Skating Complex in Aston (Delaware County), PA on Sunday afternoon. The event was an overall success thanks to the hard work of everyone involved.

Former defenseman Jimmy Watson, the Director of Youth Hockey at IceWorks, coached the alumni team to three victories over three different tiers of Warriors squads. Joe Watson, Jimmy’s older brother and a member of the inaugural Flyers team in 1967, also played a leadership role for the alumni.

The Philadelphia Flyers Warrior Hockey Program for injured and disabled military veterans provides men and women who have returned from war with an opportunity for positive engagement in the community and healthy interaction with fellow veterans. Former Flyers defenseman Brad Marsh has taken initiative as a coach and leader in the development of the program.

Joe Watson and Marsh both proved they still have some toughness left over from their playing days, as they skated in all three games, totaling sixty minutes collectively, without helmets on.

The alumni team featured prominent names like Danny Briere, John LeCliar, Mark Howe, Chris Therien, and Robert Esche. Some toughness was also provided by former enforcers Riley Cote, Todd Fedoruk, Jody Shelley, and Dave Brown. They won the three games by respective scores of 6-0, 6-1, and 6-3.

As expected, the Flyers Alumni brought out the nostalgia and gave the crowd something to cheer about after a disappointing season on the ice in 2020-21. They honored attending Flyers Stanley Cup champions Bill Clement, Bob “The Hound” Kelly (who also coached the Warriors), Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, Orest Kindrachuk, and the Watson brothers with a ceremonial opening faceoff.

Lou Nolan, usual public address announcer at the Wells Fargo Center, even introduced famed anthem singer Lauren Hart for “O Canada” and “The Star Spangled Banner” prior to the opening faceoff and a rendition of “God Bless America” between the second and third games. Even Gritty got involved!

Legendary former Flyers head coach Fred Shero told his team, “Win today and we walk together forever,” prior to Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins. His statement holds true, as the Flyers Alumni is one of the most respected in all the NHL.

Their work with the Flyers Warriors is just another great chapter in the history of the organization.

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