Bernie Parent (Picture credit: AP)
Bernie Parent, the legendary goaltender who led the Philadelphia Flyers to their only two Stanley Cup championships, died at the age of 80. The Flyers announced his death on Sunday, though no cause was immediately shared. According to his former teammate Joe Watson, Parent died in his sleep.
Just two nights earlier, Parent attended a gathering with former Flyers teammates in Delaware. Watson recalled seeing Parent in great pain from back issues, but said he still enjoyed the evening with friends and fans. “He could hardly walk, but he was smiling and joking. It’s very sad to lose him so soon,” Watson said.
Career And Championships
Parent became a household name in Philadelphia during the Flyers’ “Broad Street Bullies” era. His fearless play and piercing stare through his old-style goalie mask even landed him on the cover of Time magazine in 1975.
He backstopped the Flyers to Stanley Cup victories in 1974 and 1975, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender in both years. In both championship-clinching games, Parent recorded shutouts.
Parent began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins in 1965 but was left unprotected in the 1967 expansion draft and picked by the Flyers. After a short stint in Toronto, he returned to Philadelphia in 1973 and quickly became the backbone of the team. He won 47 games in the 1973-74 season and 44 the following year, leading the NHL both times.
Sudden End To Career
In 1979, Parent’s playing days ended abruptly when a stick accidentally struck his right eye, causing temporary blindness. Though he never returned to the ice, he retired as one of hockey’s greats with 271 career wins, 231 of them with the Flyers.
Known for the slogan, “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent,” he became a beloved figure in Philadelphia sports culture. His No 1 jersey was retired by the Flyers, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984, the first Flyers player to receive the honor. He remained an ambassador for the team, often appearing at events and connecting warmly with fans.
Personality And Legacy
Teammates described Parent as competitive yet generous. Bob Kelly remembered him as a goalie who pushed teammates hard in practice but was always the first to defend them. Fans adored his humor and charm, often lining up just to see his championship rings.
Parent made one last memorable appearance in 2011 during the Flyers’ alumni game at Citizens Bank Park. Playing just over five minutes, he stopped all six shots he faced, sparking thunderous “Bernie! Bernie!” chants from the crowd.
Parent’s death comes just weeks after another Hall of Fame goalie, Ken Dryden of the Montreal Canadiens, died at 78. Both men defined excellence between the pipes during the 1970s, and their loss has left the hockey community grieving.
“Bernie was more than a great goalie, he was a friend, a teammate, and a hero to so many,” Watson said. “He gave joy to everyone he met, and that’s how he’ll be remembered,” added Watson.
(With inputs from AP)