Flyers Legend Bernie Parent Dies at 80

The man behind the mask in each of the Stanley Cup clinching shutouts in 1974 and 1975 has passed away. Bernie Parent was 80 years old.

“The legend of Bernie Parent reached far beyond the ice and his accolades,” a statement from the Flyers and Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation said. “Bernie had a deep love for Philadelphia and fans of the Flyers. He was passionate about his role as an ambassador for Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education and inspired an entire generation of hockey fans. He dedicated his time, energy, and enthusiasm to not only grow the game, but also to spread joy to anyone he encountered.”

“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. The grinning, welcoming face that mask protected was the first you wanted to see when you walked into a room,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “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.”

“He was an incredible ambassador to the Flyers,” an emotional Rick Tocchet said. “When you talk about the Flyers, who do you talk about? I can name five guys, but Bernie’s the guy, right? It’s a family. Bernie’s been part of the Flyers for years. He’s been here. He does charities, a million charities. He spends a lot of time, and he represents the Flyers.”

Parent was an original Flyer. After two seasons with the Boston Bruins, he was selected by the Flyers in the 1967 expansion draft. Parent then spent the next three-plus seasons with the Flyers during the first seasons of their history. He was traded to Toronto in 1971.

Parent returned to Philadelphia in another trade with Toronto in the 1973 offseason. He played the final six seasons of his career with the Flyers, including two unforgettable seasons in 1973-74 and 1974-75. In each, Parent won the Vezina Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy, leading the Flyers to back-to-back Stanley Cups. 

Following his playing career, Parent was always a presence at the arena. He regularly made appearances and greeted fans. Parent was the first Flyer to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984, and was part of the inaugural Flyers Hall of Fame class in 1988. His No. 1 is one of six retired numbers in franchise history.

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.