Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club

THE PUCK Volume 25, Issue 4 February 2016

In this issue of A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT… THE PUCK Hi Everyone, President’s Column 1

I hope things are going well. I’m sure most hockey fans like us watched the revamped From the Editor 2 All Star Weekend in Nashville this year. In my opinion I think the NHL had a hat trick. Trip List 3 First of all the city of Nashville was great. If anyone has ever had the opportunity to visit Nashville, it is a great time. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Music row are just a few places to visit. The Bridgestone Arena is right down town near Broadway Wine and Hound 4-5 where all the music clubs and bars are located. PFFC News 6 Second was the new format. The new format divided the All-Star Game on Sunday into three 20-minute games with a three on three single elimination tournament. Star players from each Division made up the four All-Star teams: Pacific, Central, Atlantic, Advertising 7 and Metropolitan. Players faced off in a winner-take-all $1 million inter-division tournament. Game 1 was the Atlantic division winning over the Metropolitan division 2015-16 Application 8 and Game 2 was the Pacific division winning versus the Central Division. The Final game resulted in the All-Stars from the Pacific Division dividing up the $1 million prize. Raffle Tickets on

Third was the Skills Competition, a matchup between the Eastern Conference and Sale Now!! Western Conference All-Stars on Saturday evening. The Eastern Conference was the winning conference and earned the right to select when their semi-final matchup was Win an autographed played; first or second on Sunday. Highlights of the skills competition was the fastest Shayne Gostisbehere skater, Dylan Larkin from the Red Wings, who broke the record set by Mike Gartner Jersey in 1996 and P.K. Subban dressing like 43 year-old Jaromir Jagr in the breakaway competition. Tickets are $5.00 each or 3 for $10.00 I hope this is a sign of a great future for the sport we all love. and will be available at Flyers home Joe Fisher, President games, PFFC meetings and PFFC MEETING REMINDER other events.

Next Meeting date: Monday, February 22, 2016 Drawing will be on 7PM at the Wingate Hotel in Voorhees, NJ April 9, 2016 Tentative: Thursday, March 17, 2016 venue TBD Proceeds will benefit Please visit our website at www.flyersfanclub.org or the favorite charity of check our Facebook page for the latest PFFC news, this season’s Gene Hart information and updates. Memorial Award winner

Page 2 The Puck - February 2016

2015-2016 PFFC OFFICERS FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

PRESIDENT Joe Fisher After the Storm by Lois Witulski

VICE PRESIDENT Our January meeting was held at the Wingate Hotel in Voorhees on Tuesday th Theresa Carney-Kestenholz the 26 , just a few days after the Blizzard of 2016 blanketed the Philadelphia area. Due to weather conditions in the aftermath of the storm, a smaller TREASURER than usual crowd gathered to hear our guest, former Flyers defenseman Brad Tricia Walter Marsh. If you missed it, here are some of the highlights: RECORDING SECRETARY Stacey Squilla Brad was an excellent speaker and spent over an hour taking us through the years of his great NHL career. After being drafted 1st round, 11th overall in CORRESPONDING the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft, Marsh began his career with the Atlanta/ SECRETARY Calgary Flames organization before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers Randee Rubin in 1981. Brad spent 7 seasons with the Flyers and finished his career with Toronto, Detroit and finally Ottawa. After retirement Marsh and his family ONE YEAR TRUSTEE made their home in Ottawa, working in the Senators organization and Josh Ash opening two sports bars in the Ottawa area. Brad also coached some minor

TWO YEAR TRUSTEE league hockey and Canadian women’s hockey over the years.

Lisa Bustard Now that his children are all grown and out of the house, Brad and his wife MEMBERS AT LARGE Patti decided to return back to our area (Patti is originally from Philadelphia), Cathy Boone and in October 2015 began his new job working for the Flyers Marketing Patty Encarnado Department as Director of Community Development. Brad is also the th Natalie Young President of the Flyers Alumni and is excited about the upcoming 50 Anniversary of the team and was looking forward to the Alumni game in SERGEANT AT ARMS Reading, PA played on February 5, 2016 and future events planned for next Alan Ellis season.

PAST PRESIDENT Palma Maglio Thank you to Brad Marsh for taking the time to speak with us.

WEBSITE COORDINATOR PUCK ADVERTISING AVAILABLE

Josh Ash If you would like your business to reach potential new customers, try advertising here in TRIPS COORDINATOR the official Flyers Fan Club newsletter, The Puck. The Puck is mailed to all Flyers Fan Club Lou Milano members and available at all the Flyers home games. The following prices include advertising in 8 issues of the Puck: Full Page Ad $200.00, Half Page Ad $105.00, Quarter Page Ad $55.00 PUCK EDITOR and Business Card Ad $35.00. If interested, please contact Lois Witulski at (215) 551-7998 or email [email protected]. Disclaimer: Ads published in the Puck do not indicate Lois Witulski endorsement of items advertised.

LIFETIME MEMBER We’d like to hear from you! Evelyn Gross The PFFC welcomes all ideas and comments. You can submit your articles to: Lois Witulski, Lou Milano c/o PFFC, 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148 or email to: [email protected].

FAN CLUB LOGO DESIGN Please note: All materials sent for publication are subject to approval. We reserve the right to edit any portion of any article to better suit the needs of this publication. Articles printed strictly represent the opinion of the author Bert Fox and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Philadelphia Flyers, its Fan Club or the editor of this newsletter.

Volume 25, Issue 4 Page 3

PFFC ROAD TRIPS 2015-16 SEASON by Lou Milano (updated 2/1/16)

We all know winter weather conditions can wreak havoc on planned hockey trips. Fortunately, this hasn't happened to us much over the years. However the 1/23/16 NYI trip was a BIG exception. What an ordeal.... It was quite a week. We, Joe DiBiaggio from Phans of Philly and myself, were in CONSTANT CONTACT with the Islanders, Perkiomen Bus Co., and MANY people constantly monitoring, getting updates, etc. the week prior (night, day, overnight...). In fact we were receiving weather updates every half hour. It was almost comical but also very nerve racking… However, this all came to a head when PA was declaring a State Of Emergency for 1/23/16 the day before and we all knew NJ wasn't far behind. Then there was NY who actually got hit by the storm worse than us. As you all know by now the game was postponed. Could you have imagined us trekking up to Brooklyn in the bad weather and no game played.... I want to thank everyone for hanging in there with us regarding the trip.

As you all probably know both the Islanders and Perkiomen Bus Co. were gracious enough to let us move the tickets and bus transportation to the 3/21/16 game. Even though this is a Monday we felt two months would be enough time to people to change their schedules. And, once hockey tickets are paid there is no refund so there wasn't really a choice but to move the trip to March. It’s the first day of spring so I'm assuming the weather will be much better. Hopefully we'll see you all there. We've reopened the trip so if you cannot make it, hopefully your spot will be replaced. Thanks again for hanging in there with us. I wonder if baseball fans go through this!!!

NY ISLANDERS: 3/21/16: This game will replace the “snowed out” game from 1/23/16. Same details except our seats are NOW LOCATED in the LOWER LEVEL (original seats were located in the Upper level). Due to the game being in late March we're going to re-open the trip in hopes of filling a 3rd bus. If interested contact Lou Milano, cell/text 609.922.2234 or email [email protected]. This is our first trip to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and it will be a blast! For this trip we're teaming up with Phans of Philly to combine one GREAT Trip. There will be surprises, happy hour specials and a free buffet at an establishment named 200 Fifth located down the street from the Barclays Center. It should be a blast as we mingle with Islander fans. The bus will depart Philadelphia approximately 2:00 PM and return after the game. Price includes: Roundtrip Motor coach, happy hour specials, buffet, game ticket (LOWER LEVEL), drivers gratuity and snacks on the bus. Price per person: $165.00

PITTSBURGH: (4/1 to 4/3/16). Pittsburgh is always a fun place to visit with all the places to view (Station Square, the Incline, and if the Pirates are home, PNC Park) as well as MANY restaurants and bars. Plus our hotel will be the Doubletree located within footsteps of the Console Energy Center. You know how games between the Flyers and Penguins are in Pittsburgh!! With the game a week before the season ends, it should have major implications in the Met Division and maybe Wild Card!! This will be a “Provide Your Own Transportation” trip with the option of one or two nights but if there’s interest in a bus trip we’ll do it. Prices as follows: One Night Lodging (4/2 to 4/3/16), taxes, game ticket, breakfast (4/3/16) Q-$199.00, T-$215.00 D-$239.00 S-310.00 Two Nights (4/1 to 4/3/16), taxes, game ticket, breakfast (4/2 & 4/3/16) Q-$245.00 T-$265.00 D-$299.00 S-$479.00

For more info, contact Lou Milano, 609.922.2234 (cell/text), [email protected] Please visit our website www.flyersfanclub.org for important trip notes and information!

Page 4 The Puck - February 2016

I have been forever promising a story about the Philadelphia Flyers involvement with PAWS (Philadelphia Area Welfare Society). Well, this story does have a HOUND in it…

Wine, Hound, Maria and Me by Deborah Robb

Anyone who has ever been on a road trip or at convention with my sister Maria and I knows that there is not a wine tasting or brewery/distillery tour that we can pass up. So when Maria received an email from Chaddsford Winery announcing that Bob “The Hound” Kelly would be signing bottles of their Flyers wines at The Christmas Village in early December, I was the first person she forwarded the message to.

On a very rainy Wednesday December 2nd, we made plans to meet at the Village in Love Park after work. Maria ran straight over from City Hall, the first to arrive, only to find out from the Chaddsford representative that the event was postponed until the following Wednesday due to the continuing heavy rain. As Maria texted me to head straight home from work, the Chaddsford rep gave her a FREE cup of mulled wine AND the Christmas Village Souvenir mug.

On Wednesday December 9th, we made plans to meet up again but this time Maria said she had to leave early due to another holiday party. She arrived, made her purchases and began texting me but the Route 15 trolley was proceeding slowly eastbound.

Finally, I arrived but Maria was already gone. As I walked up to Chaddsford’s booth, I heard a cheerful voice say, “Hey, I know you”. Yes, Bob, you do. You and Dave Schultz spoke to me just the other night at the Flyers Fan Club table. As I thought over my purchases, Bob said that there had just been a Fan Club member there who made a large purchase. I said it was probably my sister and the Chaddsford Winery Representative turned, looked at me and said “I think you’re right”. We all laughed and I decided on the three bottle special. I chose the 2015-16 Season Flyers Red Wine, the 2015-16 Season Flyers White Wine, and the 2014 Club Series Phillies Red Wine.

Volume 25 Issue 4 Page 5

Bob mentioned Fan Club members Jerry Callahan (a good man), Alan Ellis (familiar presence at the table) and Lou Milano (best trips ever) by name. I told him that it was the trips that had drawn me to the concept of the fan/booster club. It’s always great to meet people from all over North America with whom you have an immediate connection albeit some do cheer for the incorrect team. But Fan Club membership is an excellent conversation starter.

As Bob graciously signed the two Flyers wines, the very first thing he said to me was that he didn’t think the Fan Club knew how deeply the Flyers organization appreciated our unwavering support. He said they had just spoken recently about how many times over the years we could have thrown in the towel and channeled our time and efforts somewhere else yet we never gave up. I thanked him for sharing those sentiments with me and told him I would be writing an article for The Puck. Then he asked how long had I been coming to the games (since 1969) and if I still have a ticket plan (not since they moved out of the Spectrum).

The Hound & I shared a wine tasting. He preferred the red. I liked them both. Pictures were taken. He was headed out to his youngest child’s Christmas pageant and I had to get on the Route 12 bus with three bottles of wine (Chaddsford did provide a cardboard carrier).

But wait, the fun wasn’t over, the next day Chaddsford Winery called Maria. She had won one of the Baskets of Cheer. She got two more Flyers wines and a bottle of Holiday Spirit.

Some of the bottles of wines will be raffled off during 2016 to help support the efforts of the various organizations we work with such as PAWS and Spay-n-Save of Montgomery County.

Page 6 The Puck - February 2016

Flyers Watch Party December 11, 2015 Chickie’s and Pete’s South Philadelphia

A great time was had by all! Photo submitted by Terri Dziomba

2016 NHLBC Convention hosted by: NY Islanders Booster Club August 12–14, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Long Island For more information follow the link on the PFFC website, www.flyerfanclub.org

Prices per person are $570 single; $410 double; $370 triple; $340 quad; children under 16 staying in a parent’s room $175. Extra night room rate is $139 plus tax per night for stays beginning Sunday 8/4 through Thursday 8/8 & Sunday 8/11, see convention packet for details.

Payment schedule is as follows: (please send payment to Al Eschert 1 week prior to due date) 1/15/16 $100 deposit 2/15/16 $100 plus pre-convention trips 4/1/16 $100 payment 5/1/16 Remaining balance due

Checks are payable to Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club and should be mailed along with the registration form, waiver form and pre-convention trip form to: Al Eschert, 2456 Brandon Court, Bensalem, PA 19020 Volume 25, Issue 4 Page 7

February Birthdays POPPEL SPORTS MEMORABILIA Happy Birthday to PFFC members

celebrating this month! NOW AT BUCKS COUNTY ICE SPORTS

1185 York Rd — Warminster, PA 18974

Jeremy Berlin Al Neher (located in the lobby across from the Pro Shop). For more information visit our website: David Cherubini Ronald S. Pollak www.poppel.com or call (215) 579-0731

MaryAnn Corner Stacey Squilla

Brooke Greenberg Christine Straka

Carol Maher

Birthday List Complied by PFFC Corresponding Secretary Randee Rubin (current as of 2-1-16)

The Puck An Official Publication of The Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club Wells Fargo Center 3601 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19148