Remembering the Late Ray Emery

Today marks the third anniversary of the passing of former Flyers goaltender Ray Emery, who tragically died in a swimming accident in Lake Ontario. He was 35 years old.

Emery spent his first five seasons in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators, most notably starting in net during their run to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final. He signed with the Flyers, who took a chance on him despite character issues that had surrounded him, for one year at $1.5 million entering the 2009-10 season.

Injuries kept Emery to just 29 games in his first stint with Philadelphia. His absence opened the door for journeyman Michael Leighton to step between the pipes. Emery did not appear in the 2010 Playoffs, in which the Flyers won the Eastern Conference in dramatic fashion with the help of Leighton and veteran Brian Boucher.

The best year of Emery’s career came during the lockout shortened season in 2012-13 as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks while splitting time with netminder Corey Crawford. They won the Jennings Trophy, given to the goaltending tandem allowing the fewest goals in the NHL. The Blackhawks captured their second of three Stanley Cups in a six-year span.

Entering the 2013-14 season, the Flyers had ridded themselves of the disastrous situation surrounding high-priced goalie Ilya Bryzgalov with an amnesty buyout. They signed Emery, primarily as a backup, to the emerging Steve Mason. “The Razor” made his return known with a wild goalie fight against Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals.

Emery’s second stint in Philadelphia ultimately lasted two seasons. He split time with Mason in an opening round playoff series loss to the New York Rangers in 2014.

He finished his Flyers career with a 35-34-10 record, a .901 save percentage, and a 2.88 goals against average in parts of three seasons. He is also remembered for his positive interaction with Flyers fans during summers at the Jersey Shore.

Flyers goaltender Carter Hart paid homage to Emery with a customized goalie mask design in 2020.