1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers season
The 1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 12th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).
1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers | |
---|---|
Division | 2nd Patrick |
Conference | 2nd Campbell |
1978–79 record | 40–25–15 |
Home record | 26–10–4 |
Road record | 14–15–11 |
Goals for | 281 (8th) |
Goals against | 248 (3rd) |
Team information | |
President | Joe Scott |
General Manager | Keith Allen |
Coach | Bob McCammon (fired)[lower-alpha 1] Pat Quinn[lower-alpha 1] |
Captain | Bobby Clarke |
Alternate captains | None[lower-alpha 2] |
Arena | Spectrum |
Average attendance | 17,077[2] |
Minor league affiliate(s) | Maine Mariners Milwaukee Admirals Jersey Aces |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Bill Barber (34) Reggie Leach (34) |
Assists | Bobby Clarke (57) |
Points | Bill Barber (87) |
Penalty minutes | Behn Wilson (197) |
Plus/minus | Blake Dunlop (+27) |
Wins | Wayne Stephenson (20) |
Goals against average | Robbie Moore (1.77) |
Off-season
Head coach Fred Shero, who had one more year left on his contract, submitted a letter of resignation on May 22, 1978,[3] stating that the Flyers needed a change whether they realized it or not. Flyers management had previously heard rumors about Shero wanting to leave Philadelphia and re-join the New York Rangers organization, and refused to accept his letter of resignation.[4] Shero then signed a $250,000, five-year contract with the Rangers to be their new head coach and general manager, believing he no longer had a contractual agreement to the Flyers.[5] A few weeks after signing Shero, the Rangers gave the Flyers their first-round pick (7th overall) in the 1978 draft and cash as compensation, allowing the Rangers to avoid tampering charges.[4] Bob McCammon, who had just coached the Flyers' first year American Hockey League Maine Mariners farm club to a Calder Cup title, was named Shero's replacement on July 6.[6]
The Flyers acquired the 6th overall pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins for three veterans from their Stanley Cup championship teams — Tom Bladon, Orest Kindrachuk and Ross Lonsberry — on the eve of the draft. The trade gave the Flyers three first-round picks and they selected defenseman Behn Wilson and forwards Ken Linseman and Dan Lucas.
Two other longtime Flyers also left the team during the off-season. Gary Dornhoefer retired and Joe Watson was traded to the Colorado Rockies.
Regular season
After an eight-game winless streak in January that saw the team drop to last place in the division, McCammon and assistant coach Terry Crisp were fired.[1] Replacing him was Shero's previous assistant coach Pat Quinn, who had replaced McCammon as head coach in Maine.[1] While McCammon returned to Maine and coached the Mariners to a second consecutive Calder Cup title, the Flyers rallied under Quinn and finished in 2nd place.
On February 17, 1979, Bernie Parent suffered a career-ending eye injury in a game against the New York Rangers.[7] An errant stick entered the right eye hole of his mask, causing permanent damage to his vision.[7] After hospitalization, including the complete loss of sight for two weeks, Parent recovered and eventually regained sight, although not at the level required to resume his playing career.[7]
Season standings
GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York Islanders | 80 | 51 | 15 | 14 | 358 | 214 | 116 |
Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 281 | 248 | 95 |
New York Rangers | 80 | 40 | 29 | 11 | 316 | 292 | 91 |
Atlanta Flames | 80 | 41 | 31 | 8 | 327 | 280 | 90 |
Playoffs
Matched-up against the Vancouver Canucks in the preliminary round, the Flyers won the series in three games. The Flyers' season came to an end against Shero's Rangers in a five-game quarterfinal loss.
Schedule and results
Regular season
1978–79 regular season | ||||||
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October: 3–4–2, 8 Points (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 1–1–2)
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November: 9–4–2, 20 Points (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 5–3–1)
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December: 7–5–2, 16 Points (Home: 6–1–0; Road: 1–4–2)
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January: 3–4–5, 11 Points (Home: 2–1–3; Road: 1–3–2)
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February: 5–2–2, 12 Points (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 2–0–2)
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March: 11–4–2, 24 Points (Home: 7–1–0; Road: 4–3–2)
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April: 2–2–0, 4 Points (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 0–1–0)
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Legend: Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Tie (1 point) |
Playoffs
1979 Stanley Cup playoffs | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preliminary Round vs. Vancouver Canucks – Flyers win 2–1
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Quarterfinals vs. New York Rangers – Rangers win 4–1
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Legend: Win Loss |
Player statistics
Scoring
- Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Player | Age | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
7 | Bill Barber | 26 | LW | 79 | 34 | 46 | 80 | 19 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −1 | 10 |
16 | Bobby Clarke | 29 | C | 80 | 16 | 57 | 73 | 12 | 68 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −8 | 8 |
10 | Mel Bridgman | 23 | C | 76 | 24 | 35 | 59 | 14 | 184 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −7 | 17 |
19 | Rick MacLeish | 29 | LW | 71 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 4 | 47 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −5 | 0 |
27 | Reggie Leach | 28 | RW | 76 | 34 | 20 | 54 | −3 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 6 | −9 | 0 |
3 | Behn Wilson | 20 | D | 80 | 13 | 36 | 49 | 13 | 197 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −6 | 8 |
32 | Blake Dunlop | 25 | C | 66 | 20 | 28 | 48 | 27 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −5 | 4 |
2 | Bob Dailey | 25 | D | 70 | 9 | 30 | 39 | 21 | 63 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
9 | Bob Kelly | 28 | LW | 77 | 7 | 31 | 38 | 15 | 132 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −5 | 10 |
17 | Paul Holmgren | 23 | RW | 57 | 19 | 10 | 29 | 2 | 168 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 22 |
26 | Ken Linseman | 20 | C | 30 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 16 | 23 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 22 |
20 | Jimmy Watson | 26 | D | 77 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 11 | 52 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −5 | 2 |
5 | Rick Lapointe | 23 | D | 77 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 15 | 53 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −4 | 14 |
22 | Tom Gorence | 21 | RW | 42 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −5 | 0 |
29 | Barry Dean | 23 | LW | 30 | 4 | 13 | 17 | −1 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
11 | Don Saleski | 29 | RW | 35 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 3 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
28, 43 | Dennis Ververgaert | 25 | RW | 37 | 9 | 7 | 16 | −4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 2 |
15, 37 | Al Hill | 23 | LW | 31 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 2 |
8 | Dave Hoyda | 21 | LW | 67 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 2 | 138 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | Andre Dupont | 29 | D | 77 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 135 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −6 | 17 |
23 | Paul Evans | 24 | C | 44 | 6 | 5 | 11 | −3 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
18 | Yves Preston | 22 | LW | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
31, 38 | Frank Bathe | 24 | D | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 76 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 12 |
28 | Drew Callander | 22 | C | 15 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
25 | Kevin McCarthy | 21 | D | 22 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | Bernie Parent | 33 | G | 36 | 0 | 2 | 2 | N/A | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
15 | Danny Lucas | 20 | LW | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
35 | Wayne Stephenson | 34 | G | 40 | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 5 |
39 | Robbie Moore | 24 | G | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A | 2 |
24 | Terry Murray | 28 | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
33 | Pete Peeters | 21 | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
30 | Rick St. Croix | 24 | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
44 | Glen Cochrane | 21 | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
25 | Norm Barnes | 25 | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
Goaltending
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Player | Age | GP | GS | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | GS | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
35 | Wayne Stephenson | 34 | 40 | 36 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 946 | 122 | 3.36 | .871 | 2 | 2,181:40 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 90 | 16 | 4.63 | .822 | 0 | 207:33 |
1 | Bernie Parent | 33 | 36 | 36 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 834 | 89 | 2.71 | .893 | 4 | 1,970:45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
33 | Pete Peeters | 21 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 109 | 16 | 3.47 | .853 | 0 | 276:41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
39 | Robbie Moore | 24 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 96 | 7 | 1.77 | .927 | 2 | 237:18 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 123 | 18 | 4.06 | .854 | 0 | 266:12 |
30 | Rick St. Croix | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 53 | 6 | 3.08 | .887 | 0 | 117:00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Awards and records
Awards
Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
League (annual) | NHL Second All-Star Team | Bill Barber (Left Wing) | [8] |
League (in-season) | Challenge Cup selection | Bill Barber | [9] |
Bobby Clarke | |||
Team | Barry Ashbee Trophy | Bob Dailey | [10] |
Class Guy Award | Bernie Parent | [10] |
Records
Individual
Record | Type | Total | Player | Date(s) | Opponent | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Penalties in minutes | Game | 55 | Frank Bathe | 3/11/1979 | Los Angeles Kings | [11] |
Points by a rookie defenseman | Season | 49 | Behn Wilson | — | — | [12] |
Team
Record | Type | Total | Date(s) | Opponent | Player(s) | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fastest three goals | Game | 0:35 | 3/1/1979 | Boston Bruins | Behn Wilson | [13] |
Blake Dunlop | ||||||
Al Hill | ||||||
Goals against | Period | 6[lower-alpha 3] | 4/24/1979 | New York Rangers | — | [14] |
Transactions
The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 26, 1978, the day after the deciding game of the 1978 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 21, 1979, the day of the deciding game of the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals.[15]
Trades
Date | Details | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|
June 2, 1978[lower-alpha 4] | To Philadelphia Flyers 1st-round pick in 1978 cash |
To New York Rangers Fred Shero |
[16] |
June 14, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers 1st-round pick in 1978 future considerations[lower-alpha 5] |
To Pittsburgh Penguins Tom Bladon Orest Kindrachuk Ross Lonsberry |
[17] |
June 15, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers 2nd-round pick in 1979 |
To Colorado Rockies 2nd-round pick in 1978 |
|
June 15, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers 10th-round pick in 1978 11th-round pick in 1978 |
To Buffalo Sabres cash |
|
June 15, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers 12th-round pick in 1978 |
To Chicago Black Hawks cash |
|
August 31, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers cash |
To Colorado Rockies Joe Watson |
[18] |
December 29, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers Dennis Ververgaert |
To Vancouver Canucks Drew Callander Kevin McCarthy |
[19] |
March 3, 1979 | To Philadelphia Flyers future considerations |
To Colorado Rockies Don Saleski |
[20] |
Signings
Free agency
The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.
Date | Player | Previous team (league) | Term | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 1978 | M. F. Schurman | Spokane Flyers (WIHL) | [21] | |
October 9, 1978 | Yves Preston | Milwaukee Admirals (IHL) | [22] | |
November 7, 1978 | Robbie Moore | University of Western Ontario (OUAA) | [23] | |
November 20, 1978 | Reid Bailey | Port Huron Flags (IHL) | [24] |
Waivers
The Flyers were not involved in any waivers transactions. The 1978 NHL Waiver Draft was held on October 9, 1978.[25] The Flyers protected the following players: goaltenders Bernie Parent and Wayne Stephenson, defensemen Bob Dailey, Andre Dupont, Rick Lapointe, Kevin McCarthy, Terry Murray, and Jimmy Watson, and forwards Bill Barber, Mel Bridgman, Drew Callander, Bobby Clarke, Barry Dean, Blake Dunlop, Paul Holmgren, Dave Hoyda, Bob Kelly, Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish, and Don Saleski.[26]
Departures
The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk (*).
Date | Player | New team (league) | Via | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | Gary Dornhoefer | — | Retirement | [27] |
July 19, 1978 | Brian Burke | — | Retirement | |
July 22, 1978 | Mike Korney | St. Louis Blues | Free agency | [28] |
Draft picks
Philadelphia's picks at the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, on June 15, 1978.[29]
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team (league) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | Behn Wilson | Defense | Kingston Canadians (OHA) | [lower-alpha 6] | |
1 | 7 | Ken Linseman | Forward | Birmingham Bulls (WHA) | [lower-alpha 7] | |
1 | 14 | Dan Lucas | Wing | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) | ||
2 | 33 | Mike Simurda | Right Wing | Kingston Canadians (OHA) | ||
3 | 37 | Gord Salt | Right Wing | Michigan Tech University (WCHA) | [lower-alpha 8] | |
3 | 50 | Glen Cochrane | Defense | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) | ||
4 | 67 | Russ Wilderman | Center | Seattle Breakers (WCHL) | ||
5 | 83 | Brad Tamblyn | Defense | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) | ||
6 | 100 | Mark Taylor | Forward | University of North Dakota (WCHA) | ||
7 | 117 | Mike Ewanouski | Right Wing | Boston College (HE) | ||
8 | 126 | Jerry Price | Goaltender | Portland Winter Hawks (WCHL) | [lower-alpha 6] | |
8 | 134 | Darre Switzer | Left Wing | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) | ||
9 | 151 | Greg Francis | Defense | St. Lawrence University (ECAC) | ||
10 | 167 | Rick Berard | Defense | Saint Mary's University (CIAU) | [lower-alpha 9] | |
10 | 168 | Don Lucia | Defense | University of Notre Dame (CCHA) | ||
11 | 182 | Mike Berge | Forward | University of North Dakota (WCHA) | [lower-alpha 9] | |
11 | 183 | Ken Moore | Goaltender | Clarkson University (ECAC) | ||
12 | 195 | Jim Olson | Right Wing | St. Paul Vulcans (USHL) | [lower-alpha 10] | |
12 | 198 | Anton Stastny | Forward | Slovan ChZJD Bratislava (CFIHL) | [lower-alpha 11] |
Farm teams
The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL,[32][33] the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL,[34] and the Jersey Aces of the NEHL.[34]
Notes
- McCammon was fired on January 30 and replaced by Quinn. Crisp was also fired.[1]
- The alternate captain position was abolished from the 1975–76 season through the 1984–85 season.
- Tied during 1988–89 season.
- The Flyers received the draft pick and cash as compensation for the Rangers hiring Shero as general manager and head coach.[16]
- The Flyers later received the Penguins' 1978 8th-round pick.
- The Flyers acquired the 6th overall pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins along with future considerations (Penguins' eighth-round pick, 126th overall) for Tom Bladon, Ross Lonsberry and Orest Kindrachuk on June 14, 1978.[30]
- The Flyers received the 7th overall pick from the New York Rangers in exchange for the right to hire head coach Fred Shero on June 2, 1978.[30]
- The Flyers traded Harvey Bennett to the Minnesota North Stars for Blake Dunlop and the North Stars' third-round pick, 37th overall, on October 28, 1977.[30]
- The Flyers traded cash to the Buffalo Sabres for the Sabres' tenth and eleventh-round picks on June 15, 1978.[30]
- The Flyers traded cash to the Chicago Black Hawks for the Black Hawks' twelfth-round pick, 195th overall, on June 15, 1978.[30]
- Draft pick was ruled invalid after it was determined Stastny was too young to be drafted.[31]
References
- General
- hockeyDB.com: Roster and player statistics · Results and Schedule
- hockey-reference.com: Roster and Statistics · Schedule and Results
- Flyers History: Season Overview · Game Scores & Results · Playoff Results
- Specific
- "Flyers Ax Coach McCammon, Name Quinn as Replacement". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 31, 1979. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- "All Time Team Attendance". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- Juliano, Joe (November 25, 1990). "Fred Shero, Ex-flyers Coach, Dead". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
he announced his resignation on May 22, 1978
- Karabell, Eric (2008), The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments: The 100 Most Controversial, debatable questions for die-hard fans, Sourcebooks Inc., pp. 235, ISBN 978-1-4022-1412-7
- Kirshenbaum, Jerry (1978-11-20). "A Revival Is A Smash Off Broadway". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
- "Flyers hire McCammon". AP. The Free Lance–Star. July 7, 1978. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- "Parent's eye injury forces his retirement". AP. Lakeland Ledger. June 1, 1979. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- 2014–15 NHL Official Guide & Record Book, p. 230–32
- "Legends of Hockey – Time Capsule – Pro Classics: Challenge Cup 1979 NHL All-Star Team Roster". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- "Flyers History – Team Awards". P.Anson. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 264
- 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 263
- 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 262
- 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 349
- "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- "Rangers hire Shero for reported $200,000". AP. Chicago Tribune. June 2, 1978. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- "Flyers Trade Three Veterans to Penguins". AP. Kane Republican. June 15, 1978. Retrieved December 14, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Joe Watson – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- "Dennis Ververgaert – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- "Donald Saleski – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- "Maynard Schurman – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- "Yves Preston – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- "Robert Moore – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- "Reid Bailey – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- Parsons, Mark (November 8, 2013). "1978 NHL Waiver Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- "Winnipeg Free Press, Oct 7, 1978, p.189". October 7, 1978. Retrieved April 4, 2019 – via newspaperarchive.com.
- Gary Dornhoefer biography at Legends of Hockey, retrieved December 14, 2014
- "Mike Korney – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- "1978 NHL Amateur Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- "1978 NHL Amateur Draft Pick Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- "1978 NHL Amateur Draft – Anton Stastny". Hockey Draft Central. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
- "AHL Franchise Statistics". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- "AHL Season Overview: 1978–79". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- "Non-AHL Affiliates". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.