Legendary Goalie Bernie Parent Passes Away at 80

Bernie Parent, the Hall of Fame goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers, who led the team to two Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and 1975, has died at his home in Avalon, New Jersey. He was 80 years old. Parent was beloved in Philadelphia for his upbeat personality, broad smile, and his signature white fiberglass mask that protected his face. He was known for his incredible goaltending skills, earning him the nickname "Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent."

Key Takeaways:

• Parent won 47 games in the 1973-74 season, a single-season NHL record that stood for 33 years, and led the league with a 1.89 goals-against average and 12 shutouts.
• He won the Vezina Trophy in 1974 for the league's top goalie and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1974 and 1975 for the most valuable player in the playoffs.
• Parent was a top goalie until February 1979, when an errant stick struck his right eye during a game against the New York Rangers, leading to a permanent vision loss.
• After his playing career, Parent struggled with depression and substance abuse but eventually become sober through Alcoholics Anonymous and went on to help other recovering addicts.
• Parent worked as a team ambassador for the Flyers, a spokesman for an insurance company, and a motivational speaker, and helped other recovering addicts.

Statistics:

• Parent played in the NHL for 11 seasons, from 1967-1979.
• He won two Stanley Cup championships with the Flyers in 1974 and 1975.
• Parent won the Vezina Trophy in 1974 and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1974 and 1975.
• He was ranked 63rd on Hockey News' list of the 100 greatest NHL players of all time in 1988.
• Parent lost his peripheral vision permanently after being struck by an errant stick in 1979.

Sources:

• "Bernie Parent, Hall of Fame Goalie, Dies at 80" (The New York Times)
• "Bernie Parent, legendary Flyers goalie, dies at 80" (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• "Bernie Parent, Broad Street Bullies' legendary goalie, dies at 80" (NBC Sports)