Legendary Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Bernie Parent has passed away at the age of 80. He was the first starting goaltender in Flyers history, and went on to accumulate one of the most decorated careers in NHL history. His accolades included back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, two Vezina Trophies, and two Conn Smyth ’Playoff MVP’ trophies. He was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 1984, alongside Jacques Lemaire and Phil Esposito.
Parent’s prolific pro career didn’t began in Philadelphia. Instead, he joined the NHL as a member of the Boston Bruins in 1965 – and posted a disappointing .898 save percentage in 39 games of his rookie season. That poor showing pushed him to a backup role in 1966, and prompted Boston to leave Parent unprotected in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft.
That decision set up Philadelphia to make what ended up a franchise-defining pick. They leaned on Parent in their first season of operations and he quickly proved worth the trust. He posted a .926 save percentage – fourth-best in the NHL – in his first 38 games as a Flyer, despite the team slipping to a 15-17-5 record when he was in net. Parent matched that performance with a .925 Sv% in 58 games the following year, and a .921 Sv% in 62 games the year after that. It was a phenomenal start to his time with the Flyers, though the team followed it up with the questionable decision to trade their star starting goaltender to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1971. In return, the Flyers landed a top-10 draft pick (used on Pierre Plante), backup goaltender Bruce Gamble, and middle-six center Mike Walton, who they flipped to the Boston Bruins.
The trade marked an interesting lull in Parent’s career. He spent two years with the Maple Leafs, recording a .915 Sv% through 65 total games, then spent one year with Philadelphia’s WHA club during the 1972-73 season – one of multiple NHL superstars who made the surprising change in leagues. On the other side of that decision, Parent decided to return to the Flyers for the 1973-74 season.
He returned to a club much stronger than the one he left behind. The club had earned the nickname “Broad Street Bullies” in the year prior, thanks to the aggressive and physical play of club legends Bobby Clarke, Dave Schultz, and Andre Dupont – to name a few. With the addition of Parent, the Flyers added a star goalie to that bruising bunch. That proved to be their missing piece, and the Flyers blazed to back-to-back Stanley Cup wins while leaning heavily on Parent. He posted a .932 Sv% through 73 games of the 1973-74 season, then returned for a .918 Sv% in 68 games of the 1974-75 campaign. In that mix, Parent also managed an incredible .933 Sv% in 17 playoff games in 1974; and a .924 Sv% in 15 playoff games in 1975. Both performances earned him MVP-recognition when Philadelphia went to lift their first, and only, Cup wins in franchise history.
Unfortunately, Parent’s career would peak with those seasons. He missed all but 11 games of the 1975-76 campaign due to a pinched nerve in his neck that required surgery. He’d recover well enough to suit up for 61 games in 1976-77, though his .899 Sv% showed sign for concern. He bounced back with a .912 in 49 games the next year, and maintained a handle on the starter’s net in 1978-79. But Parent’s career would come to a sudden, and tragic, end in 1979 when a stick got through the eyehole of his mask – causing hospitalization, temporary loss of sight, and permanent vision damage. He retired at the age of 34, and his injury would spark a league-wide shift to modern goalie helmets soon after.
Parent’s impact on Philadelphia hockey continued well after the end of his playing days. He served as the team’s goaltending coach through three scattered seasons, and mentored future Vezina Trophy-winners Ron Hextall and Pelle Lindbergh. His coaching career didn’t last for very long, but Parent stuck around the organization as an ’Ambassador of Hockey’ through the 2024-25 season.
Chants of “Bernie, Bernie, Bernie” echoed through The Spectrum at Parent’s peak, and continued to ring loud at every fan event he attended, even late in life. He was truly a legend of the sport, and perhaps thee defining piece in Philadelphia’s first few years in the league. He played through historic NHL moments, like the 1975 ’Fog Game’ against the Buffalo Sabres. For a time after his career, he would live on a yacht he named ’The French Connection’, after the legendary Sabres line he faced in that very game. That humor, his warm spirit, and his championing of sobriety and dedication will be remembered through the Flyers family.
Only The Lord saves more. RIP to one of the best to ever don the pads.
The Philadelphia Flyers from the early 70s was my introduction to the greatest sport, And the greatest league in the world, Colorful, Beyond entertaining, And unforgettable.
Some of those Sv% stats while playing for a bad team are absurd. RIP.
This article couldn’t, nor shouldn’t, have focused too much on the stats. But a fun bit of trivia – Parent’s 0.925 Sv% in the 1968-69 season is the second-highest save percentage from a goalie w/ a losing record since ’68. The performance above him? Roberto Luongo’s 0.931 Sv% / 25-33-14 record with Florida in 2003-04. The league-wide average goals-per-game was 2.98 in 68-69, versus 2.57 in 03-04.
I don’t get it? Shouldn’t have had so many stats, but you provide stats?
I think stats are part of it as long as you include the other intangibles that he did or provided or encouraged through his career. No problem at all to include his professional accolades. It’s all part of his profile.
The biggest reason he’s honored here is because he was a goaltender for the Flyers. What’s wrong with the stats?
I guess stats are only cool if Gabriel says so.
Well… he did write the article.
I did not mean to point at your mention of stats – I mention save percentage a dozen times in this article! I only wanted to share the trivia I noticed while researching this article, that related to your comment. My focus was certainly on his legacy while writing – but the trivia was a nice addition to what you said… it’s incredible that he put up the numbers on some of the teams he did! Truly the pillar of his teams!
I love the article. Very complete write up. I think a job well done. Keep up the good work Gabriel.
R.I.P.Bernie
The fog series is a thorn in my flesh. The Sabres have had very few successful seasons, but what I do remember through the years is excellent goaltending that Buffalo had. Always my favorite position and I recognize Bernie as one of the best for a period of time.
Big-time kudos for a guy who bounced back and climbed to top of the mountain. The respect this man has achieved for his accomplishments and yet humble personality are amazing.
It’s been a bad year for Legendary Hockey Goalies. If I’m an old Goalie right now I’m heading for the Dr.’s office. RIP Bernie, Loved watching you play.
First Ken Dryden, then Ed Giacomin, and now Bernie Parent. One by one, the great goalies of the 70s are passing. (sighs heavily)
Rule of 3 strikes very specifically this time. RIP.
Doug Favell was outplaying Bernie Parent in that 1970-71 season but Keith Allen knew he would get a far better return by trading Bernie. Ironic that Bernie returned to Philly in 1973 in a Bernie for Favell trade.
Sad day, passing of an absolute legend on the ice for so many great performances, but an even better person off the ice. While in retirement he was a tremendous ambassador, always jovial and accommodating to anybody wishing for a photo, an autograph or even a conversation. RIP Bernie, you were one of one. Legend!
Bernie was truly my hero growing up. I remember getting his autograph when I was little and feeling like I was standing in front a deity (only Jesus makes more saves than Bernie Parent!). This one hits hard. :(
First Dryden, then Giacomin, now Bernie. Three of the best ever. RIP.
I met him several times. Great goalie and even greater guy. RIP Bernie.