Bernie Parent, Hall of Fame goaltender who powered Flyers to two Stanley Cups, dies at 80

BERNIE Parent, a Hall of Fame goaltender who backstopped the Flyers to their first two Stanley Cup titles, has died at age 80, the team announced on Sunday. Former teammate Joe Watson said Parent died in his sleep overnight, adding that he had been in noticeable pain in recent years due to back problems. Watson recalled, "Bernie was in such pain, he could hardly walk," and said the news was deeply sad for those who knew him.

The Flyers described Parent as a cornerstone of the franchise’s most storied era and an ambassador off the ice. In a statement, the team noted his deep love for Philadelphia and for Flyers fans, and highlighted his work to grow the game and give back to the community through youth hockey programs. Parent’s influence extended far beyond his on-ice exploits, with the organization emphasizing his role as an ambassador for Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education and his ability to inspire generations of fans.

Parent’s career began in Boston in 1965, but he was left unprotected in the 1967 expansion draft, when Philadelphia selected him. His first stint with the Flyers lasted three-and-a-half seasons before a trade sent him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He returned to Philadelphia for the 1973-74 season, and the rest, for a time, belonged to hockey history. The Flyers surged to the league’s best record in 1973-74 with 47 wins and again led the NHL with 44 wins the following year, as Parent established himself as the league’s most trusted big-game performer.

"On the ice, he was unbeatable, unflappable when the stakes were highest; off the ice, he was warm, gregarious and genuinely loved by the city of Philadelphia and hockey fans everywhere," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. Bettman added that the hockey family mourns the loss of a beloved icon, offering condolences to Parent’s wife, Gini, and his family.

Parent’s accolades matched the breadth of his impact. He helped the Flyers win their two Stanley Cups during the 1974 and 1975 seasons, a feat that made the upstart expansion club the first to claim hockey’s ultimate prize. In those titles, he also captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender, achieving both honors in each championship year. His performance in those campaigns cemented him as one of the era’s defining players.

After his return to Philadelphia, Parent’s influence persisted beyond his playing days. He remained a recognizable and beloved figure in Philadelphia sports culture, and in 1984 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was honored as one of the NHL’s Top 100 Players for the league’s centennial celebration.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage for updates and more on Bernie Parent’s legacy.