Violence is to Hockey as Bread is to Butter
KEVIN YORKE
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: Sports
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Historically, the Philadelphia
Flyers have been known as a hard
hitting, physical team.
In the early 1970s the team
became known throughout the
hockey world as the "Broad Street
Bullies," because of their physical
play.
Last year's Flyers team lacked
that tenacity, that intensity that the
team has always been known for.
Flyers former Coach Ken Hitchcock,
was sent packing after a miserable
start and the Flyers' lack of
spirit landed them dead last in the
Eastern Conference.
The lame duck Flyers had hit a
low point in the teams'history with
only 51 points.
As any fan can agree, there was
something missing last year.
The talent was there, but seemed
as though they lacked the intensity
or will to win games.
In hockey, when a player takes a
big hit, a teammate will usually
back him up and come to his aid.
That just wasn't the case for the
Flyers'team last year.
This year, the Flyers and General
Manager Paul Holmgren looked
to both Free Agency and trades to
bring a renewed sense of spirit to
the locker room.
The additions of center man
Daniel Briere and the acquisitions
of winger Scott Hartnell and
defenseman Kimmo Timonen,
among others, have certainly
helped the Flyers with a change of
philosophy. Not to mention the
incredible talent they bring to the
table.
The Flyers' motto this year,
"Back with a Vengeance," came to
fruition with recent hits and supposed
"cheap shots" that rendered
other teams stupefied at their brutality.
These hits have proved to the rest
of the NHL that the Flyers are not
the same team as they were last
year.
The Flyers have suffered three
player suspensions so far this season
as a result of big hits on opponents.
Showcasing his fierce ability to
level a player, Flyers' forward
Steve Downie lowered his head
and landed a huge hit Ottawa Senator's
Dean McAmmond, sending
McAmmond to the hospital.
Flyers have been known as a hard
hitting, physical team.
In the early 1970s the team
became known throughout the
hockey world as the "Broad Street
Bullies," because of their physical
play.
Last year's Flyers team lacked
that tenacity, that intensity that the
team has always been known for.
Flyers former Coach Ken Hitchcock,
was sent packing after a miserable
start and the Flyers' lack of
spirit landed them dead last in the
Eastern Conference.
The lame duck Flyers had hit a
low point in the teams'history with
only 51 points.
As any fan can agree, there was
something missing last year.
The talent was there, but seemed
as though they lacked the intensity
or will to win games.
In hockey, when a player takes a
big hit, a teammate will usually
back him up and come to his aid.
That just wasn't the case for the
Flyers'team last year.
This year, the Flyers and General
Manager Paul Holmgren looked
to both Free Agency and trades to
bring a renewed sense of spirit to
the locker room.
The additions of center man
Daniel Briere and the acquisitions
of winger Scott Hartnell and
defenseman Kimmo Timonen,
among others, have certainly
helped the Flyers with a change of
philosophy. Not to mention the
incredible talent they bring to the
table.
The Flyers' motto this year,
"Back with a Vengeance," came to
fruition with recent hits and supposed
"cheap shots" that rendered
other teams stupefied at their brutality.
These hits have proved to the rest
of the NHL that the Flyers are not
the same team as they were last
year.
The Flyers have suffered three
player suspensions so far this season
as a result of big hits on opponents.
Showcasing his fierce ability to
level a player, Flyers' forward
Steve Downie lowered his head
and landed a huge hit Ottawa Senator's
Dean McAmmond, sending
McAmmond to the hospital.
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