Sometimes sports teams take on the identity of the cities that host them. Such was and is the case of the Philadelphia Flyers, a National Hockey League (NHL) team that came into existence in the 1967 expansion of the league from six to twelve teams. From their inception the Flyers have been a hard working team. After disappointing playoff defeats in their first two seasons, Flyers management was determined to no longer field a roster that could be intimidated by more aggressive opponents. The result was a hard hitting and intense style of play the culminated in back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in the mid-1970s. Known as the Broad Street Bullies for their fearsome approach to hockey, the Flyers of the 1970s were a raucous band of players who were as comfortable dropping their gloves to fight as they were handling the puck. Over the years the Flyers have consistently played a tough, no-holds-barred style that has endeared them to their fans. Playing in a blue collar, and hardworking community, the Flyers’ reliance on those same qualities on the ice has created a bond with the fans that is second to none in the NHL. The Flyers, the team’s history, and the stories of the men who helped make the team such a success is well told in this chapter in the illustrated “Team Spirit” series. Author Mark Stewart captures the spirit and intensity that are part and parcel of Flyers hockey. By recounting the highs and lows of this colorful franchise Stewart has crafted a book that will greatly appeal to sports fans of all ages. Updated and revised. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck; Ages 10 to 14.
