Established
1967
City
Philadelphia
League History
1967 – Present / National Hockey League
Team History
1967 – Present / Philadelphia Flyers
Nickname
Flyers – The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the most iconic teams in the National Hockey League. They have become synonymous with hockey success because they are known for their tenacity and passionate fans. But where did their nickname come from? As it turns out, there is an interesting story behind how “the Flyers” got its start.
It all began when Ed Snider founded a team to represent Philadelphia in 1967 as part of an expansion into what was then known as The Original Six (Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Rangers). Wanting to create a unique name that would capture both his city’s spirit and commitment to excellence on the ice, he chose “Flyers” – inspired by another great Philadelphian, Benjamin Franklin, who had famously said: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither." This phrase resonated deeply with Snider's vision for his team so much that he adopted it as their official moniker - thus becoming one of only two NHL franchises (alongside Calgary Flames) whose names do not end with 'S.'
In addition to being symbolic of freedom and independence, which were essential values during this period, many believe that Snider also wanted something distinctive enough from other sports teams already playing in Philly, such as Phillies or Eagles, which made him settle upon ‘The Flyers.' With its catchy four-letter abbreviation and memorable mascot, Gritty added later on, this simple yet powerful choice had been embraced by generations since then, making them arguably one of the most recognizable brands within professional hockey today!
Championship
Stanley Cup 2
1975, 1974
Arena
2011 – Present / Wells Fargo Center
2003 – 2010 / Wachovia Center
1998 – 2003 / First Union Center
1996 – 1998 / CoreStates Center
1967 – 1996 / Spectrum
Owner
1996 – Present / Comcast Spectacor and Ed Snider
1967 – 1996 / Ed Snider
- 1967
- 1974
- 1975
- 1996
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Philadelphia Flyers Team Formation
While attending a basketball game on November 29, 1964, at the Boston Garden, Ed Snider, the then vice-president of the Philadelphia Eagles, observed a crowd of Boston Bruins fans lining up to purchase tickets to see a last-place ice hockey team. He began making plans for a new arena upon hearing the NHL was looking to expand due to fears ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1974
The 1974 Stanley Cup Final was contested by the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers made their first Final appearance and the Bruins returned to the Finals after having won the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals. The Flyers won the best-of-seven series four games to two and became the first team from the 1967 Expansion to win the Stanley ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1975
The 1975 Stanley Cup Final championship series was played by the Buffalo Sabres, making their first Finals appearance and the defending champion Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers would win the best-of-seven series four games to two. This was the first Final to have two non-“Original Six” teams since the 1967 expansion. The 1975 Flyers are the last Stanley Cup championship team ... -
Wells Fargo Center Opens
The Flyers said goodbye to the Spectrum and prepared to open a new arena the CoreStates Center for the next season. The Wells Fargo Center (Spectrum II (prior to construction), formerly the CoreStates Center, First Union Center, and Wachovia Center) is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Wells Fargo Center lies at the southwest corner of the ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s most iconic teams. They have a long and storied past, with many memorable moments that make them beloved by fans worldwide. The team was founded in 1967 as part of an expansion into the NHL from its original six teams. Since then, they have won two Stanley Cups and been to eight Finals series over their fifty-three-year existence, and they have developed a notable rivalry with the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Flyers have had some legendary players on their roster throughout their history, including Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent, Mark Howe, and Eric Lindros, to name a few. These players helped lead the team to several successful seasons. They made it deep into playoffs multiple times, winning division titles and those two Stanley Cup championships mentioned earlier in 1974 & 1975, respectively. In addition, the Broad Street Bullies era saw them become known for their aggressive style of play, which earned them respect around the league but also led to some controversy due, mainly because this strategy resulted in numerous penalties being called against the team when playing against other opponents.
In recent years, the Flyers have continued to build upon the success achieved by previous generations while still maintaining the same level of high intensity that has become a trademark franchise over decades. This includes making it the way to finals again in 2009 before ultimately falling short of Chicago Blackhawks, who went on to win the championship that season despite the valiant effort put forth Philly squad during an entire series matchup between these rivals will never forget fondly amongst both fan bases alike even today continues to be talked about whenever topic hockey comes up a conversation no matter where you go!
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
1 / Bernie Parent
2 / Mark Howe
4 / Barry Ashbee
7 / Bill Barber
16 / Bobby Clarke
88 / Eric Lindros
99 / Wayne Gretzky
*Blue is this team’s history