Flyers owner Snider named to Hockey Hall of Fame

Ed Snider recalled reading about his Flyers being pigeonholed to be the least likeliest to succeed of the six expansion franchises entering the NHL in 1967.

On the surface, the city didn't appear to be a budding hockey town, but Snider took the risk. Yet, over four decades later, the 78-year-old remains the franchise's only owner.

On, Monday, Snider was rewarded for his contributions to the sport as he was named to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Along with presiding over the Flyers and their 16 division titles, eight conference championships, and two Stanley Cup titles, Snider serves as chairman of Comcast-Spectator. He also owned the 76ers for 15 years before selling the franchise this summer.

"I have seen our city grow from a very few people knowing what a puck was to 2 million people at each of our Stanley Cup parades," Snider said. "Philadelphia now, in my opinion, is a top-notch hockey town."

Along with his success inside the arena, Snider also has been adamant in spreading the sport to inner-city youth. Established in 2005, the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation supplies over 3,000 children with coaching, equipment and ice time.

In November 2008, Snider salvaged three public ice rinks that were targeted for closure by the city. A year later, Snider gained control of each of the city's five rinks.

This summer, renovations on three of the rinks that will transform them from open-air, bi-yearly rinks to fully operational, year-round rinks was started. Renovations are set to be completed in November.

"These kids are showing tremendous progress, and it gives me a great deal of satisfaction just to help these inner-city kids out," Snider said.

Joining Snider in the Hall are players Chris Chelios, Gary Suter and Keith Tkacuk and announcer Mike "Doc" Emrick.

Chelios, Suter and Tkachuk were teammates on the 2002 U.S. Olympic team, which earned a silver medal.

During his 26-year career Chelios played for Montreal, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta before retiring last August.

He set the league's all-time record for games played by a defenseman with 1,651 and is a three-time recipient of the Norris Trophy, given yearly to the league's top defenseman.

Suter retired in 2002 after a 17-year career that included stops in Calgary, Chicago and St. Jose. He is ranked fourth in points among American-born defenseman.

A five-time all-star, Tkacuk scored a league-leading 52 goals in 1996-1997 while with Phoenix. He also played for Winnipeg and St. Louis during his 19-year career.

Tkacuk said he wished he had the chance to play for Snider, as "you hear great things about him as an owner."

Emrick is currently the lead announcer for national telecasts on NBC and Versus. From 1983-1993, Emrick worked as a broadcaster for the Flyers before becoming the voice of the New Jersey Devils until leaving that post this summer.