Bernie Parent, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and the greatest goaltender in Flyers history, has died. He was 80 years old.
The team released in part of a statement:
“The Philadelphia Flyers and Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Bernie Parent, a true legend, one of the most famous and beloved players, and most popular figures in the history of the organization and city of Philadelphia.”
The Hockey Hall of Famer backstopped the Flyers to their back-to-back titles in 1974 and 1975. He finished his Flyers career with 231 wins, a 2.43 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and 50 shutouts.
He won the Vezina Trophy twice as the NHL’s top goalie and the Conn Smythe Trophy twice as the league’s postseason MVP. In the Flyers’ first Cup run, Parent posted a 2.02 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. In the second Cup run, he had a 1.89 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.
The Montreal native had just attended a Flyers Community Caravan this weekend at the University of Delaware.
“That’s the last I saw him,” Bob Kelly, a former teammate, said Sunday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Parent, who had his No. 1 retired by the organization, was known for his big smile and fun-loving nature.
“Bernie, he was just a likable guy, a lovable guy,” Kelly said. “He loved everybody. And mostly, he loved the dogs better than anybody else I think. His dogs used to sleep in bed with him all the time.”
When Parent’s playing days were over, he stayed involved with the next wave of Flyers teams. He was a devoted ambassador for the organization and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education program.
“Tough one,” Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said Sunday, fighting back tears. “I’ve been gone for so long, I kind of lost touch with him over the years. But when I was an 18-, 19-year-old coming in here, he was one of the nicest guys that helped my career. Tough one. I wish I saw him.”
In January 2024, Parent and his teammates from the championship-winning clubs were honored at center ice, surrounding the Cup again.
“It seemed like every day was a great day to him,” Tocchet, a Flyers Hall of Famer like Parent, said. “I don’t even know if he ever had a bad day. That group was very close and Bernie was kind of the glue. Bob Clarke obviously, unreal. Billy Barber, all those guys. They came around a lot. Bernie was one of those guys, we’d lose three in a row, and somehow he’d come in there and loosen us up in the Bernie way. The knowledge he gave our goaltenders, he was an incredible ambassador to the Flyers.”
Whenever the Flyers had an event, Parent always seemed to be there.
“His personality was very infectious to people, he would do anything for you, he would help out,” Kelly said. “No matter what you were doing, ‘Count me in, Bob, I’m in, I’m in!'”
Parent played parts of 10 seasons for the Flyers. He also suited up for the Bruins and Maple Leafs.
“Bernie Parent’s foreboding white mask was the last sight you wanted to see if you were an opposing shooter with a big game on the line,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in part of a statement. “The grinning, welcoming face that mask protected was the first you wanted to see when you walked into a room. At his unbeatable, unflappable best on the ice when the stakes were highest, Bernie was a warm, gregarious bear of a man off the ice who was venerated in Philadelphia and adored throughout the hockey world.”
It was fitting that Parent wore No. 1.
“We all have stories and they’re all memories that will never go away,” Kelly said. “You often look at those pictures that we have framed. There was only one Bernie Parent and he was the best.”