The Flyers Alumni Association celebrates a special anniversary in 2024: 40 years. Throughout its history, Flyers Alumni has raised tens of millions of dollars for the community and hosted dozens of memorable events both on and off the ice.
In the spring of 1984, Flyers Hall of Fame defenseman Joe Watson and some of his old teammates gathered to discuss the possibility of organizing the Delaware i in and around the valley barnstorming games to raise money for local charities or those in need. Watson volunteered to take care of booking events, securing uniforms and building game names.
Thus was born the Flyers Alumni Association and the Flyers Alumni Team – originally the Philadelphia Legends team. Before that, alumni played in some “old games” at the Spectrum, but by the mid-1980s, alumni organized themselves more into fraternities and charities.
“At first, we had trouble getting uniforms,” Watson remembered. “Finally we asked Ed Snider and he offered to help.”
The alumni matches were originally organized on a small, local scale. Within a few years, the number of games, the number of roads and geographical area covered, the number of alumni participating and the funds raised each year began to grow.
In addition to Community Frontcourt and larger venue games – such as games played at the Spectrum against the Boston Bruins Alumni, New York Islanders Alumni, Buffalo Sabers Alumni, Lake Place 1980 Team USA Olympian Alumni and the traveling Hollywood All. -Stars Celebrity Team – The Flyers Alumni Team also began traveling around the United States, Canada and Europe.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Flyers Alumni Team participated in international senior hockey tournaments in places as far away as Finland. . , in Norway, Germany and Switzerland. Years later, in 2016, alumni did a three-city goodwill tour of Russia (Kazan, St. Petersburg, and Moscow).
Meanwhile the Flyers Alumni Association began organizing various off-ice fundraisers; the oldest and most enduring of these is the annual Flyers Alumni Golf Invitational (currently held each June at Wilmington’s Dupont Country Club).
2014. In 2010, longtime official of the alumni association and Flyers community, Bob “The Hound” Kelly, took a key leadership role in creating the Flyers Alumni Fantasy Camp. Since the first year, all registration places have been sold out. Alumni soon began a tradition of hosting an annual free registration for a deserving recipient. In 2024, the alumni will organize the 10th Fantasy Camp. Camp activities take place in and around the Class of 1923 Arena on the University of Pennsylvania campus.
In 2015-16, when longtime Flyers defenseman Brad Marsh returned from Ottawa to work in community development within the Flyers organization, he also assumed the role of president of the Flyers Alumni Association. One of the first big steps: a direct gift of $2 million to Snider Hockey and Education.
“Alumni wanted to thank Mr. Snider for all he has done for us and our families, and it was an easy decision to support this that work. . Snider Hockey is a key focus of our fundraising.” Marsh recalls.
Snider Youth Hockey and Education is by no means the only organization that alumni have worked tirelessly to support — the list includes dozens of charities of all sizes and grows every year — but their relationship with Flyers Alumni has grown in family. – as a bond over the years.
“Marshy has done an incredible job with the Flyers alumni community,” Watson said. “When you look at all the money raised by alumni, all the events that alumni put on each year, and the programs that alumni have started for the community and our members, it’s incredible.”
In addition to the annual golf tournament and fantasy camp, the Friday Night Battles” has become a March tradition since 2019. A celebration of old-time hockey and the sport’s tough guys will feature guest speakers, highlight videos and a catered dinner at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. The annual calendar also features many other one-time or planned annual events.
Earlier this year, Flyers Alumni, along with Flyers Charities, planned and hosted an alumni hockey game against Boston Bruins alumni at Wells Fargo to raise funds. Center on January 26, 2024. The event attracted more than 15,000 visitors to the arena, and the VIP meet-and-greet event with alumni sold out all available tickets. Proceeds benefited Flyers Charities and the Flyers Alumni Association.
For the past five years, the Flyers Alumni Association has partnered with Help Hope Live as part of the Every Child Deserves a Bike alumni program. The program funds, builds and donates fully customized adaptive bicycles to children with special needs in the Delaware Valley.
In April 2023, Flyers Alumni/Help received the Every Child Deserves a Bicycle Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal for its success. Hope Live Partnership. In addition, the Flyers alumni association received a Rainey Award from Help Hope Live.
Another Flyers alumni campaign: Launched in 2019, the 12 Days of Christmas holiday donation program. Alumni make annual financial donations and/or volunteer work to local charities, community groups, schools and individuals/families in need. Every year, the program exceeded the donation amounts of each previous year, and another record year was born in 2023.
Here are just some of the most important events and programs: others are still in development. In honor of the Flyers Alumni Association’s 40th anniversary, a new addition to the list of annual institutions is coming soon.
“We’re proud of our 40-year history, but we’re even more proud and excited about what’s ahead,” Marsh said..
