Photo Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images
The Philadelphia Flyers’ Wells Fargo Center was glowing with orange on Monday night prior to the team’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The stadium honored former Flyers center and current assistant coach for the Carolina Hurricanes, Rod Brind’Amour.
Upon returning to Philadelphia, Brind’Amour was inducted to the Flyers’ Hall of Fame, and was honored with a ceremony and tribute video before the game. The stadium, including the ice, lit up with orange, displaying his jersey for the stadium to see. The assistant coach spent nine seasons with the Flyers as a center from the 1991-92 season until 2000, when he was traded to the Hurricanes.
Brind’Amour left a big imprint on the Flyers. He played in 633 regular-season games with the Flyers and ranks in their all-time top ten in goals, assists, and points with 235 goals, 366 assists and 601 points in his career wearing an orange jersey. He has also represented the team in the 1992 NHL All-Star Game and holds a Flyers franchise record for consecutive games, having played 484 games in a row. He has also made 24 goals and 51 points in 57 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the team.
Brind’Amour was praised for his dedication and work ethic, something his teammates had always admitted in him.
“He’s probably as hard a working athlete as certainly I’d ever seen,” said Ron Hextell, Flyers’ general manager and Brind’Amour’s teammate for six seasons. “On the ice, off the ice, in-season, offseason. He worked at his game after practice off the ice, after practice on the ice, before practice; he was a machine. It was phenomenal to watch as a guy and what a great example for everyone else.”
Brind’Amour put his all into his game on and off the ice and had let his time with the Flyers become a huge part of his life. Because of how much he had loved being a Flyer, Brind’Amour was disappointed when he was traded in 2000 and had to leave Philadelphia for North Carolina.
“Nobody ever wants to leave here because we play in front of the most loyal, passionate, and demanding hockey fans in all the world.” Brind’Amour said during his induction Monday night.
A broken foot had sidelined the center in 1999 and only 12 games after his return that December he was traded to the Canes, in exchange for Keith Primeau. Despite this, Brind’Amour became an important member of the Canes and had some of his best seasons with the team.
Brind’Amour’s dedicated and hard work is what led his success with the Canes, captaining them to the 2006 Stanley Cup and winning the Selke Trophy in 2006 and 2007. This success has led him to his current role, the Canes’ assistant coach, after he retired in 2010.
“I wasn’t sure you guys were going to remember me,” said Brind’Amour. “This is Philadelphia and Flyers fans never forget.”
Brind’Amour said he was honored to have made history with the franchise during the press conference on his induction, and praised the team and the organization for being so welcoming and making such an impact on him.
“Philadelphia meant so much to me as a player, playing here as long as I did. It’s still a big part of me,” he said prior to the game,
Brind’Amour thanked the stadium following his induction for always making him feel at home there.
The Flyers’ guest of honor was elated to have been honored in such a way and was happy to have made such an impact on the team that has made such an impact on him. Even now, while being such an important member of the Canes organization, and feeling so at home there, Brind’Amour will always have a special place for the Philadelphia Flyers, especially after joining their Hall of Fame.
