How to Be a Philadelphia Flyers Fan

The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team. With a dedicated fan base and a solid history, the team has been a vital part of the National Hockey League. If you'd like to become a Philadelphia Flyers fan, just follow these simple steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Learn how the team began. The Philadelphia Flyers started as an expansion franchise in 1967 after the NHL decided to add more teams to the group. It took the Flyers about five years to shed the mediocre expansion team label. They were the first of the 1967 expansion teams to win the Stanley Cup. In early seasons the Flyers were physically outmatched, leading to a team mandate that players be bigger and tougher. The Flyers earned the nickname the Broad Street Bullies during the 1972-73 season, due to the team's rough play and penchant for fighting.
2. Get familiar with the Flyers' foes. The Flyers are part of the Atlantic Division of the National Hockey League's Eastern Conference. Other Atlantic Division members include the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders, the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
3. Find out about one of the Flyers' biggest stars, Bobby Clarke. The franchise acquired him in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft and he quickly became the best player on the team. He went on to play 15 seasons for the Flyers, winning the Hart Trophy three times and being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987. Clarke had three 100-point seasons and played in numerous NHL All-Star Games during his career.
4. Recognize the nickname, "The Hammer." Dave Schultz, known as "The Hammer," was one of the Flyer's most prolific enforcers and a mainstay of the Broadstreet Bullies. He holds the NHL record for the most penalty minutes in a single season, 472. Drafted by the Flyers in 1969, Schultz played for the franchise until 1976. His trade to the Los Angeles Kings signaled an end to the Broad Street Bullies.
5. Celebrate the Flyers' history. The Flyers won the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975 behind tough, physical play from talented players. During the 1975-76 season the Flyers played and won an exhibition game against the Soviet Union's Central Red Army team. Several Flyers have also been awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy, a prestigious honor bestowed upon the most valuable player in the NHL every year. Hart Memorial winners include Bobby Clark from the 1972-73, 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons and Eric Lindros from the 1994-95 season.
6. Attend a Flyers game. The team plays at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. There are a variety of ticket packages available, including season tickets, single tickets, group tickets and packages.
7. Wear a lot of orange, black and white. These have been the team's colors since the beginning of the franchise. Look for clothing with the Flyers' logo, the "Flying P" with an orange hockey puck and four wings extending from the back.