The St. Louis Blues beat the New York Rangers 4-3 in a shootout on Monday, November 3 in Madison Square Gardens. The victory was the Blues’ fifth straight. Blues’ Vladamir Tarasenko turned heads and made highlight reels across the country when he notched his goal during the second period of the game. Now, the 22-year old right-winger can relive his spectacular goal over and over again not only on video replays, but also in flipbook form, courtesy of “the flippest.” You can watch the flipbook goal above, and just in case you missed it, you can watch the replay too.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson has been suspended for three games following a hearing with NHL Player Safety. The suspension comes after Johnson’s illegal check to the head on forward Jiri Tlusty on Tuesday, November 4, when the Columbus Blue Jackets took on the Carolina Hurricanes. His suspension will be without pay.
Johnson currently leads the Blue Jackets in ice time, with almost 24 minutes per game. His suspension comes on the heels of an already battered roster that includes the loss of defenseman Ryan Murray (day-to-day), Cody Goloubef (6 weeks), and James Wisniewski (1-2 weeks); forwards Mark Letestu (2-4 weeks), Brandon Dubinsky (4-6 weeks), and Artem Anisimov (timetable TBD); and starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (1-2 weeks).
“Obviously I’m not skating through the neutral zone thinking about targeting his head. I’m just trying to finish a check,” Johnson said after the game yesterday, according to the Blue Jackets’ official Twitter. Though he did not return to play, Tlusty reported “feeling fine” after the game.
Brandon Saad was a stand-in model following Patrick Sharp‘s injury in Montreal Tuesday (Sharp will likely be out for a month.)
Blackhawks President and CEO John McDonough called the new edition an homage to the 1957 uniform seen here. The team stuck with the current logo, however, making it pretty similar to their usual road jersey.
Both the Capitals and Blackhawks now have their sweaters for sale, and here are the versions as seen on shop.nhl.com:
So the @NHLBlackhawks basically took their shoulder patch and moved it to forearms for their #winter classic jerseys?!? Yawn — Jim Nies (@BigJimSports) November 6, 2014
As for my opinion, I think they should have used a vintage Indianhead to complete the effect.
Winter classic jerseys would have been perfect had they used a throwback chief blackhawk logo. current looks out of place on retro jersey
I was walking in a vintage store the other day, and I spotted a whole wall of magnets. Most of the magnets were dated from the 70’s. Right in front of my eyes was a magnet that flooded my mind with old memories of hockey games past. I had to do a double take to make sure my eyes were not fooling me! The magnet was the TV cartoon character, Peter Puck!
If you watched the “hockey game of the week” on NBC or “hockey night in Canada” on CBC in the early 70’s, you might remember Peter Puck. As a friendly cartoon puck, he would explain all things hockey to a new generation of TV fans. Hockey on TV was new then and to get people ‘into’ it, Peter Puck was made to answer questions. He spoke about rules, players, history of the game and a lot more. There are nine episodes, plus the “Production Line” and “The Story of the Stanley Cup.” Each is around three minutes. A fast and fun way of learning everything hockey.
The goal of Peter Puck was: all on TV, all to the TV viewer, all to introduce non-hockey lovers to the game! I wonder if the plan worked?
If you google Peter Puck, the computer lights up with websites. You can still buy Peter Puck items or you can watch the cartoons. It seems odd and out-of-place to see the character after all of these years. Back then, technology was not where it is today, cartoons back then were straight forward. Peter Puck was a simple cartoon, trying to explain a game to young and old alike. He made it fun to learn!
I wonder if Peter Puck today would have the same following as of yesterday?
With his stellar performance to start the season (a 7-2-0 record, .931 save percentage, 1.89 goals against average, and three shutouts), it seemed inevitable that the Penguins would re-sign Marc-Andre Fleury. While some Penguins fans pointed to Fleury’s off-season meltdowns as reason to trade him, others said that Fleury showed marked improvement since being coached by Mike Bales and seeing a sports psychologist, and that the Penguins’ loss in the playoffs last year was largely the result of a lack of offensive prowess, not a goaltending issue.
Furthermore, Penguins fans on both sides of the argument had to face the grim reality of the current goalie market, which is extremely barren. A goaltender of Fleury’s caliber or an upgrade who is eligible for hire simply doesn’t exist, and certainly not at a price the Penguins could pay. Fleury stood to gain a large amount of money on the open market if the Penguins didn’t make their move – either to trade or re-sign him.
With that in mind, GM Jim Rutherford made good on an earlier verbal vote of confidence and signed the 29 year old goaltender to a four year contract with a cap hit of $5.75 million. This contract would make him the 13th-highest paid goaltender in the league. As Craig Custance for ESPN magazine noted, Fleury would be making less than many goaltenders who could be considered of comparable skill. Considering Fleury’s age and the fact that this may be his last contract (and almost certainly his last as a starting goaltender), four years would give plenty of time for current Penguins goaltending prospect Tristan Jarry to train enough to eventually replace him.
Fleury is verging on 300 wins before he’s even reached 30, an impressive statistic to be sure. With this extension, it’s likely he will reach 400 wins, all in the Penguins uniform. Here, though, is where Fleury detractors tend to lose their argument. While games won is arguably the only statistic that matters in goaltending (because who cares how many goals you let in so long as the other goalie lets in more?), many would say it’s not really about goaltending, but about the team in front of the goaltender. Which is a fine argument to make, until you consider that the selfsame people would also like to finger Fleury as a major reason for the Penguins ultimately disappointing in the playoffs. A goalie cannot simultaneously be a scapegoat as a reason a team has lost and yet irrelevant to a team winning. Fleury may not be Vezina material, but he is far more competent and reliable than most give him credit for.
The truth of the matter is, this deal benefits both parties. Fleury gets to stay in a city he’s stated many times is where he wants to play and gets a moderate increase in salary. The Penguins not only get a reliable goaltender who has shown himself to be capable of winning the Stanley Cup, but they keep a team member who is a beloved staple of their lineup and in their locker room, and for cheaper than they could hire someone of comparable skill. With power forwards – such as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin signed to long-term deals, as well as Norris-nominated defenseman Kris Letang – a more skilled goalie, while on the wishlist of some Penguins fans, is not feasible if the team wishes to remain competitive.
Coming off of a 6-5 win at the Washington Capitals on Sunday, the Arizona Coyotes came into their Tuesday night game against the Toronto Maple Leafs ready to start a win-streak. They got a taste of what it’s like to win, and they’re hungry for another.
It’s always a good night when the home team wins… Definitely makes the trek down to the locker room post-game worth it. With the Arizona Coyotes trumping the Toronto Maple Leafs, the atmosphere is just totally different. The players are excited and everyone is in a good mood. The optimism that had been lacking was there, and the team knows that they are getting closer to where they are supposed to be.
Going into the game, the team talked about “managing the game better.” Head Coach Dave Tippett brought up the game in Washington, when things just kind of got messy on their 6-3 lead, that eventually lead to the Coyotes only winning by one when talking about game management. They talked about it before the game, and there was definite improvement.
Right off of the puck drop in the first period, there was constant pressure on the Maple Leafs. A messy performance by the Leafs opened the door (and the net) for goal opportunities. Two in the first, alone put the ‘Yotes in a good place for a win. The Leafs looked like they slept walked through the first, missing chances, turning the puck over and making sloppy passes. Coach Tippet said that the first was “played very well” and they “were dictating the play” of the game.
The second period showed more signs of life from Toronto with a slapshot goal from captain Dion Phaneuf. An unassisted wraparound goal from Antoine Vermette of the Coyotes was another step up, and from there, the play of the game escalated. The most penalties of both periods were drawn, leading to six in total. Both teams wanted the “W”. Tippet said “the special teams kind of jumped in there in the second and took some rhythm out of the game” but other than that, the Coyotes kept pushing.
The third period was the Coyotes worst period, and that is only because of the bad circumstances. The first two periods, even Tippett said they “weren’t giving up much at all,” and in the third they got “a little ragged with some pucks” because of the pressure. The Leafs scoring on a power play goal lead to things getting chaotic, but the Coyotes still pushed, and defensively did what they needed to get the puck out.
Coach Tippet was optimistic about the game stating “it was an improvement and there’s still improvement needed, but moving in the right direction.” They still have a ways to go, but the improvements that they have said that they need to make are getting there, and they know what they need to fix. The fact that they scored all of their goals on 5-on-5 play was a step up, considering the struggle they have faced with producing when at even strength.
The fore-check was good, it brought about mistakes from the Leafs. That was a huge factor the first periods. Toronto’s James van Riemsdyk commented on the fore-check tonight saying that
“[It’s] one of the staples for their [the Coyotes] team, we know that they fore-check hard and they are strong on pucks offensively and that is something we knew coming in.”
Martin Erat said that the energy that they had in the first period, they had “found it in Washington, a lot of energy, and we finally decided to put some pucks in the net.” Ultimately, the energy that they had throughout the whole game was what lead to them getting on the board first and ultimately winning the game.
The Coyotes start of the season was surely rough, and that lead to frustration and disappointment in the locker room. The start for goaltender Mike Smith was one of the most talked about things for the Coyotes. Within his first four games, he had around 16 goals against him, and this lead to lots of questions. Coach Dave Tippett was confident the whole while that Smith was the one meant to be in that net. When backup goalie Devan Dubnyk is winning games, and Smith just isn’t, you really are going to question the coach’s sanity.
Tonight was a whole different story, the struggling Smith came out with 28 saves on 30 shots and proved to everyone that he was there to stay. The two goals against were difficult to get, and so Smith’s appearance in goal was actually rather incredible. Fans cringed at several points on mistakes in the back, but Smith made the stops he needed to, and got the puck out. Through difficult 5-on-3 penalty kills (something that Smith stated “you gain momentum” from) and a strong offensive push, Smith said that “You play the right way and you get those bounces and as a group we understood that.”
The Coyotes starting line stayed out on that ice for a good chunk of the game. Defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson had the most ice time out of all of the skaters coming in with 31:31. His presence was strong out there, and he had some incredible hits to contribute. Keith Yandle didn’t fall far behind with 28:25 TOI, and he was throwing himself around out there doing whatever he could to keep the puck out of their defensive zone, it worked, and he played it up in their offensive zone quite a bit.
Overall, the game was a big step up after a really rough start to the season. The mistakes that they were making before aren’t as prevalent, and things are getting fixed. Tippett said now it’s not a matter of “execution” of the game. It’s “playing smart but it’s also executing smart.” The execution is getting there, but it’s not quite there yet.
“There’s times when I think that we think the game well, we just can’t get it done. It’s more about getting it done” – Coach Dave Tippett
When Terry Pegula bought the Buffalo Sabres in 2011, he had one dream in mind: to make Buffalo, NY a hockey destination.
In 2013 he decided that he wanted to build a multi-level, multi-use facility across from First Niagara Center, home of the Sabres, that would allow Buffalo to gain more credibility as the hockey destination he envisioned. Within this facility would be 2 rinks, a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a hotel. The idea behind the facility was to bring the city together through hockey and also draw some new activity into the area. Buffalo is now hosting two major world championships in 2015, the International Ice Hockey Federation Under 18 Women’s Worlds and the International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey Worlds. Buffalo is also the proud host of the 2015 and 2016 NHL Combine and the 2016 NHL Draft. With the opening of the HarborCenter, Buffalo can proudly say that it has the first 3-rink complex, as the facility is connected to the First Niagara Center.
2 NHL Size Rinks
(Photo Courtesy of HarborCenter)
The HarborCenter boasts two NHL size rinks that will be home to the Canisius College Griffins Hockey team, the Erie Community College Kats Hockey team, the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, as well as used for various tournaments, practices, and championship games. Rink 1 has a seating capacity of 1,800 or more people and will be the primary rink for all major events. This rink is also outfitted for sledge hockey and will be the primary rink for that championship. Rink 2 had a seating capacity of roughly 135 people and will be used mainly for the smaller events and the Academy of Hockey. The rink area also houses 9 player locker rooms and 2 referee locker rooms. There are also two concessions areas, a classroom, and a theater.
Impact Sports Performance
(Photo Courtesy of HarborCenter)
(Photo Courtesy of rapidshot.com)
Also located near the 2 rinks is Impact Sports Performance, a state of the art training facility. There is a 3 lane track, cardio machines, bikes, weights, slide boards, as well as on-site rehabilitation. This portion of the facility is mainly geared towards the professional athlete, such as Sabres players and Buffalo’s Lacrosse team the Bandits players, as well as Canisius and Erie athletes. However, any athlete that is looking for training, whether you are a professional or a youth looking for ways to further your athletic career, may train at the facility. Ever wish there was a batting cage for hockey? Well they have one of those in the HarborCenter too, called the Rapid Shot. This system passes you the puck and measures your accuracy, shot speed and reaction time.
Academy of Hockey
The Academy of Hockey, under the direction of former NHL player Kevyn Adams, is a program that is dedicated to bringing specific, structured programs that will help bring out the highest potential for each player, no matter the age or skill level. You can participate during or after your hockey season and will be placed with players according to age and skill so that are able to get the most out of the program. Among the staff are former Buffalo Sabres Martin Biron and Adam Mair, as well as several former collegiate players. Under their supervision, you know that you will get quality programs and instruction.
Tim Hortons
(Photo Courtesy of HarborCenter)
A unique, one of a kind Tim Hortons is also on the premise. When the man himself, Miles Gilbert “Tim” Horton lost his life, he was a member of the Buffalo Sabres and his number “2” will always be a fixture in our rafters. When the idea for this specific Tim Hortons came up, the decorators wanted to make sure to pay homage to the man behind this coffee shop. Throughout the store you will find tributes to the life and career of Tim Horton, as well as some history of the surrounding Buffalo area. You will also find Sabres themed donuts and coffee cups.
(716) Food and Sport
(Photo Courtesy of HarborCenter)
For the hungry, the HarborCenter is proud to bring the (716) Food and Sport restaurant (with 716 referring to the Buffalo area code). Set to open this upcoming Friday, the restaurant is a first of its kind in the Buffalo area. It’s a two-story restaurant with a 38 foot screen located over the bar that will allow anyone wanting to watch a hockey or football game to see no matter where they are sitting. There are also another 50+ screens located throughout the restaurant. The bar top itself was made to replicate that of an ice surface complete with skate marks and will be able to seat 135 people comfortably. There are also two other “island” bars located on the two floors to make it easier for customers to get those drinks they have been craving. With a nice variety of foods, and some hometown favorites, there should be something on the menu for every taste bud.
Marriott Hotel
(Photo Courtesy of HarborCenter)
While still under construction, the HarborCenter will also have a Mariott hotel attached that will allow out of town guests to stay in comfort and never have to step foot outside in the middle of our cold winters. The hotel will have 205 guest rooms, an event space, a fitness center and business center. The hotel is set to open around Spring, 2015.
If you find yourself in the Buffalo area, whether just taking in the sites or in town for a big game, stop on by the HarborCenter and take in the atmosphere. Have some coffee from Tim Hortons, grab lunch from (716), and head over to the First Niagara Center and cheer on your team. There are also many other sites to take in along the Buffalo waterfront for those out of town guests to explore. Come on out and experience the new, improved, and updated Buffalo Outer Harbor and the HarborCenter.
Every fantasy hockey roster has them. Yours does too.
These guys are the bottom-dwellers; typically your worst players who makeup the bottom portion of your roster.
You figure they won’t make much of a difference in your matchup, but that’s where you’re wrong- and have been all along. Most of those players produce at a much higher clip than you’d expect, contribute in more categories than one, and can make a huge difference from one head-to-head matchup to the next.
One of my most stressed, most successful and consistently most beneficial fantasy hockey strategies is to simply keep up with NHL line changes.
From the Anaheim Ducks to the Winnipeg Jets, line juggling is a common practice of each and every NHL team, with many of those bottom-roster players reaping the benefits. A guy’s skillset is one thing, but his actual production could skyrocket or suffer based simply on lineup positioning.
Now, I don’t want to do your job for you; but with the help of Brock Seguin and www.dailyfaceoff.com (a needed asset for any true fantasy hockey guru) lets take a look at some waiver wire studs that could give you fantastic depth and an edge over the competition.
ANAHEIM DUCKS:
Patrick Maroon (LW) Devante Smith-Pelley (RW):
While Smith-Pelley initially got the fantasy boost, previously replacing Dany Heatley on Anaheim’s top line and playing alongside Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, he’s since been demoted. Patrick Maroon (who recently came back from a knee injury,) is now slated to skate on that top line, with Smith-Pelley moving to Ryan Kesler’s wing on the second line. Both players played phenomenal for Anaheim down the stretch last season, and are viable fantasy assets widely available in most fantasy formats. The Ducks are true Stanley Cup contenders, which only boosts these two player’s value. Keep in mind that Maroon (penalty minutes, hits) and Smith-Pelley (hits) can help you in more ways than one as well.
BOSTON BRUINS:
Reilly Smith (RW) Seth Griffith (RW, C):
If Smith is available for pickup, I’d jump on him now. While Boston’s second line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and smith struggled mightily out of the gate, they’ve looked much better of late and closer to regaining that dominant form. When this line is clicking its one of the NHL’s best, and Smith, who surprised many with his outstanding first half performance last year, has shown he can bury the puck. With Boston’s lack of finishers imminent, he will continue to be relied on to score goals for this potential Stanley Cup contender. He’s also showed great power play chemistry with Carl Soderberg and the rest of that second unit, only adding to his value. In much deeper pools, Seth Griffith is another player you could target. He’s solidified his spot on the first line for now, and is seeing power play time as well. If Griffith continues producing the Bruins wont look elsewhere, and an extended gig as Boston’s first line right-winger is a very intriguing situation.
BUFFALO SABRES:
Tyler Ennis (C, LW):
I know. I know. You’re probably reading this and saying “Tyler Ennis?! On the Buffalo Sabres, the worst team in the NHL, are you kidding me?!” Hold off on the commentary though please, at least for now. In deeper pools, Ennis is absolutely someone to keep an eye on. Any first line center in the NHL possesses some, at least for the time being, fantasy value, and that’s where Ennis finds himself right now. A highly skilled forward who some even predicted as this year’s breakout star, Ennis as a first line center and top power play center is someone you need to watch. It could only be a matter of time before he starts piling up points.
CALGARY FLAMES:
Curtis Glencross (LW):
A guys who’s scored 15 + goals four times in his career, and is currently manning the top left wing spot on a surprisingly decent Calgary team, Glencross could be the guy for you. A combination of points, hits, PIM and power play production, Glencross is off to a decent start this season and looks to be heating up recently. Surrounded by an abundance of youth, Glencross is a fairly consistent veteran forward I expect the Flames to rely on somewhat heavily moving forward.
CAROLINA HURRICANES:
Jiri Tlusty (LW):
The former 13th overall pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tlusty has found a home on Carolina’s top line. A fantasy breakout performer when he scored 23 goals just a couple of years ago, Tlusty, who has six tallies already on the young season, could give your team an offensive boost. Seeing power play time as well, Tlusty has a sniper’s shot and all the opportunity in the world to produce. If you need scoring help, this is a guy I would jump on.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS:
Andrew Shaw (C):
If you’re a big NHL fan you know Shaw’s game by now: Gritty, nasty, grinder, the dirty areas, all of it. One thing you may not know is that he’s currently skating alongside Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp, two highly skilled players. Shaw, who hasn’t produced much in the early goings of the season, is racking up his usual hits and using his net-front presence on the power play. While he might not be that intriguing at first, Shaw has the speed/skill to score 20 goals at the NHL level; he could easily find himself there by season’s end, centering the second line on a powerhouse of a Chicago team.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS:
Nick Foligno (LW):
Career highs of 18 goals and 210 hits last season, if Foligno is still available in your league grab him now. A jump in early season production due to injuries to both Brandon Dubinsky and Boone Jenner, Foligno’s found himself in position to produce and taken off with the opportunity. A mix of both tenacity and skill, on a team with an almost unmatched work ethic, Foligno should be a fantasy asset all season long; and is one of the best waiver wire pickups to date. Go get him now.
DETROIT RED WINGS:
Justin Abdelkader (LW, RW):
With five goals, ten points, and 28 hits in just 11 games played, Abdelkader is shaping up to be a fantasy stud in his eighth NHL season. A Ryan Callahan do-it-all type, Abdelkader, playing with the ageless wonders of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, is must-own in all fantasy hockey formats. A stat/category filler to say the least, Abdelkader is the perfect guy to make up the bottom portion of your roster. Even if the scoring slows down, he will provide good +/- numbers and hits as well. If Abdelkader is still available in your league pick him up immediately.
MINNESOTA WILD:
Nino Niederreiter (LW, RW) Charlie Coyle (C, RW):
The Minnesota Wild have a very deep lineup. At least one highly skilled forward on each of the top three lines gives a number of players increased fantasy value. I left Jason Zucker off this list, and instead went with the more proven Niederreiter and Coyle. We all saw how well “el Niño” produced in the playoffs last year, and the season as a whole after the New York Islanders gave up on him way too soon. Coyle, on the other hand, has improved with each and every NHL season, steadily becoming a great all-around player. Both guys are off to decent starts production wise, but providing hits as well. Jump on either of these wingers if you’re looking for help, they should only continue to get better. Niederreiter in particular really turned it on down the stretch last season.
MONTREAL CANADIENS:
David Desharnais:
The top line center in Montreal, Desharnais is currently a must own in all fantasy formats. Playing alongside the stellar Max Pacioretty, a duo that also makes up Montreal’s top power play unit, Desharnais’ stellar vision/hands makes him a dynamite waiver wire pickup. He’s well on his way to another 50 plus point season, and his improved chemistry with Pacioretty and power play minutes could only add to that number. If offensive production is what you need, jump on Desharnais as soon as you can.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS:
Craig Smith (C, RW):
The Nashville Predators are hot and so is the former Wisconsin Badger star. Smith, who notched career high’s in both goals/assist last year, scores in bunches and is on a roll right now. Smith is someone you might not hold onto the full season, but if you grab him now you may very well ride one of his impressive hot streaks. Playing with Derek Roy and Matt Cullen, seeing power play time as well, Smith has thrived and is someone you might want to take a chance on.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS:
Adam Henrique (C):
With nine total points, and four coming on the power play, Henrique is off to a sneaky good fantasy start this season. After setting a career high in goals last year with 25, Henrique’s second line center status and first unit power play time should continue to prove dividends in regards to his production. A streaky player, be prepared to drop Henrique if he hits one of his extended point-less streaks. That being said, he’s one of the most highly skilled players on that New Jersey team, and should be targeted if you need offense and need it now.
Another day, another game, another outfit post. Tonight’s win against the Toronto Maple Leafs was a good one.
Today was a rough one getting down to the arena, and as of lately, it has seemed like each game ends up being a struggle. When class doesn’t get out until almost 5:00 and you need to leave around 5:15 to get to the rink, the challenge of getting dressed, made up and ready to go is almost impossible. Between the major reaction my skin decided to have, and the knots in my hair, there was no way that I would be able to stop for pre-game Starbucks.
5:23 was the official time that I was in my car and headed out. After several stops along the way (just the usual, shoe inserts and Subway), I arrived at Gila River Arena at 6:05… phew. A lipstick application, and gel pad insert later, I was on my way down (and then up) to Press Level.
I honestly had no idea what to wear tonight. I didn’t really want to wear a skirt, because it’s chilly, but you know, why not? I did know one thing, and that was that I had to break out my oxblood tights at some point. Tonight was the perfect night to do so, considering Saturday’s game I will be rocking the lavender for Hockey Fights Cancer night for the Arizona Coyotes.
Press Level Tip: Try adding a mini microphone to your media bag. You can find them on Amazon, and they just plug into the headphone jack on your phone. It will make your recordings so much more clear, and will save you time when it comes to transcribing quotes post-game.
The beginning of every hockey game starts with a playing of the national anthem. If you’re in America you will hear the “Star Spangled Banner” and maybe “Oh, Canada.” If you are in Canada you will hear “Oh, Canada” sung in either English or French. If you’re in Philadelphia, you may hear “God Bless America” sung by opera star Kate Smith.
Kate Smith is one of the Flyers’ greatest superstitions. She is known as one of the Flyers’ greatest luck charms as whenever she would sing “God Bless America” at the beginning of a game, the team typically won. Even today when a video of her singing during the 1974 Stanley Cup Final series is played, the luck continues. Although she has not lead the Flyers to winning every single game she has sung at, she has an outstanding record of 96 wins to 28 loses and 4 ties.
It was late 1969 when Flyers’ Vice President Lou Schienfield noticed that many fans were not standing for the playing of the National Anthem. Disheartened by the fans’ lack of respect for both the country and those who have fought, Lou set out to find a patriotic song to play to inspire the fans and get them on their feet. He chose Kate Smith’s rendition of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”
According to Flyershistory.com, on December 11th, 1969, Smith’s version of “God Bless America” was first played in place of the “Star Spangled Banner.” The Flyers won 6-3 over the Toronto Maple Leafs that night. The following game did not feature the playing of the “God Bless America” and the Flyers lost. Giving Smith a another shot, the song was played on the Flyers’ Dec. 21st home game and the Flyers once again won 4-0 over Pittsburgh. From that point on, Kate Smith became a tradition of the Flyers.
President Ed Snider recalls, “We had a Vice President by the name Lou Schienfield, and on his own, without really talking to anybody, he noticed that there were people that were not standing for the National Anthem. So, he decided to play ‘God Bless America,’ Kate Smith’s recording, and everybody stood up. And of course we went on to win the game. So, I said to Lou, ‘Look, we won the game, so I never want to know when you’re doing it; just do it when you think you should.’ And he would pick specific games, play “God Bless America,” and our record was outstanding.”
Throughout the years, opposing teams came to learn that when Kate Smith sang, they were in trouble. Some even tried to jinx her. In 1974, the Broad Street Bullies (Flyers) finally made it to the Stanley Cup finals. It was game 6, and the Flyers knew that if they didn’t bring home the cup that night, they would have a terrible chance of winning up in Boston for a game 7. They pulled out all of the stops. They rolled out the red carpet for Smith as she sang before thousands of adoring fans.
Boston’s Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito weren’t ready to let the tradition continue though. They tried to jinx Smith by giving her flowers and shaking her hand, but nothing could stop the Flyers’ good luck charm. Even if it wasn’t pure luck, Kate’s voice sent more chills through her audience than the ice surface and roweled up both the team and the fans to create a winning atmosphere. The Flyers went on to beat Boston that night 1-0, and even the fans waiting outside swarmed the ice and refused to leave the building. Kate Smith had inspired the Flyers to victory once again.
In the following season, Kate Smith sang live again for game 7 of the semifinals against the New York Islanders. The Flyers won that game and went on to beat Buffalo in the finals. This was their second Stanley Cup win in a row. Later in life Smith went on to win the U.S. Medal of Freedom in 1982. Unfortunately, she began having trouble with diabetes and could not appear as often. In her last days, fans would visit her and sing “God Bless America” to honor her. Eventually she passed away on June 17, 1986.
One year later on October 8th, a statue of Smith was erected outside of the Spectrum. The statue was and 8-foot masterpiece made of bronze and created by New York sculptor Marc Mellon. Before important games, a video of Smith singing accompanies Lauren Hart in singing “God Bless America.” Hart is the daughter of Gene Hart, a famed radio and television announcer for the Flyer’s for 29 years. Gene Hart was also an opera expert who taught Lauren to use her voice. With Flyers’ hockey and opera running through her veins, Hart was born to continue Kate Smith’s tradition and help lead the Flyers onto victory. Still, no one will ever replace the legend that is Kate Smith as fans continue to cheer whenever her video appears on the scoreboard.
Prev
