Flyers' alumni team begins goodwill tour in Russia
The Flyers' alumni team began a three-game goodwill tour through Russia on Tuesday, and the former players will also headline hockey clinics during their stay.
The Flyers' alumni team began a three-game goodwill tour through Russia on Tuesday, and the former players will also headline hockey clinics during their stay.
"It's been a neat thing watching it come together and all the guys are excited about it," former Flyer Brad Marsh, president of the team's alumni association, said before the team left Monday.
Marsh said that Joe Watson, a defenseman who played on the Flyers' 1974 and 1975 Stanley Cup champions, did most of the work arranging the tour.
"I was there in 1979 for the World Championships, and a lot of things have changed since then," Marsh said. "So I'm looking forward to getting back to Moscow. That's where we were, when the Red Square was heavily armed back in the day. Now we're playing a hockey game on it, so it's pretty cool."
Marsh expects the hockey clinics to be well-attended.
"The Flyers are such a worldwide brand, and we're going over there to meet hockey fans and play some games and do some clinics. It should be lot of fun," he said.
Among the former Flyers who are playing: Watson, Marsh, Terry Carkner, Jeff Chychrun, Shjon Podein, Lindsay Carson, and Al Secord. Chase Watson, the son of former Flyer Jimmy Watson, will also compete.
Several Russians who played for the Flyers may also play, including Dmitri Yushkevich, Danny Markov, and Alexei Zhamnov, and former NHL player Freddy Cassivi will be the Flyers goalie.
The alumni were slated to play games in Kazan (Tuesday), St. Petersburg (Saturday), and Moscow's Red Square (Monday). The last game will be held outdoors at night, and former NHL star Alexei Yashin will play for Russia.
There is a chance that Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, also will play in the outdoor game, although that won't be known until 24 hours before the contest because of security reasons.
"It's always neat if you get to meet a leader of some sort," Marsh said, "and I'm sure we'll be meeting our fair share when we're there."
The ex-Flyers may have a chance to throw a check or two at Putin, who has performed well in exhibitions.
"We'll wait and see if he has his bodyguards or what," Marsh said with a smile. "But you know what, if he plays, it's all in good fun and good spirit. Sports do a lot to bring barriers down, so that's how we're looking at it."
The Flyers upset Russia's Red Army in a famous 1976 game at the Spectrum. The Russians left the ice after Ed Van Impe delivered a hard check on Valeri Kharlamov, but returned when Flyers owner Ed Snider threatened not to pay them for the exhibition game.
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