Seeing a Future That Works

Inspired by the Soviets, the Flyers are leading the N.H.L.

They were known as the Broad Street Bullies, a roughhouse squad more adept at manhandling than stickhandling. Their street-gang tactics earned them an eight-year stretch as the champs of the National Hockey League penalty box, including a record 33 hours in 1975-76. For a while it paid off. The Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975, then began to fade. This year the Flyers still lead the league in penalty minutes--old habits die hard--but something new has been added: the elegant, almost choreographed blend of skating and passing precision developed by the Soviet national teams and the champion Montreal Canadiens.

The new Flyers are playing the most successful hockey in the pros. By defeating the Boston Bruins 5-2, they broke the record of 28 games without a loss held by the Canadiens, and last week they extended their string to 32 by beating Winnipeg. "It might have taken us five years to learn," says Bobby Clarke, 30, the star center and assistant coach, "but even dummies like us catch on after a while."

The man who has changed the image and style of the Flyers is Coach Pat Quinn, 36, who last January inherited a dispirited team holed up in the cellar of the Patrick Division and dreaming of past victories. Though he had played a plodding but physical game of hockey in his own nine-year career as a defenseman--he is best remembered for leveling Boston Superstar Bobby Orr in 1970--Quinn turned the team toward more Soviet-style passing and skating. Says he: "Some people are amazed that I can coach a system like this. Well, just because I couldn't play it doesn't mean I can't coach it or don't understand it. Sometimes the least talented players notice the most about the game."

The old-style Flyers, like many other teams playing in the league today, built their offense around the simple tactic of stationing a man in front of the net and trying to force the puck to him through the melee after digging it out of the corners. The attack was as static as it was predictable: players stuck to their assigned roles instead of improvising. Under Quinn's system the forwards bring the puck up the ice, crisscrossing like the Soviets as they come, and defensemen, spotting an opportunity, may join in the attack.

But there is much more to the Flyers' success than a new strategy. Says Center Peter McNab of the Boston Bruins: "They have a lot of talent, but they don't have a lot of superstars. What they do have is a lot of guys with the most important talent of all--the talent to work hard."

Philadelphia grew some of its diligent talent on its farm club, the Maine Mariners of the American Hockey League, established at the end of the 1977 season. Says Flyer Owner Edward M. Snider: "Purchasing the Maine team has been the single most important step we've made in the past several years. I know we wouldn't be where we are today without it." From the Mariners, who play in Portland, Me., the Flyers got not only Coach Quinn but a flock of nine flashy rookies, including Goaltender Pete Peeters, 22 (who shares the nets with Phil Myre); Center Kenny Linseman, 21; Right Wing Tom Gorence, 22; and Left Wing Al Hill, 24.

What was more, the Flyers this year shrewdly chose Left Wing Brian Propp, 20, as one of their first-round draft picks from the Canadian junior league, and he has become the league-leading rookie scorer, with 18 goals and 18 assists. Says Clarke with admiration: "He's like a little rat. He takes those short little strides when he skates--really cutting into the ice. He skates just like a Russian."

Propp is too small (5 ft. 9 in., 185 Ibs.) to play the old Flyer game, but he fits in well on the first line with Center Clarke, who is playing better than he has in years, and another rejuvenated veteran, Right Wing Reggie Leach, 29, who scored 61 goals in the 1975-76 season but slipped to 34 last year. By last week, with more than half of the season to go, Leach already had 24 goals.

Which is not to say that the Flyers are above putting a shoulder into an opponent for old time's sake, and Right Wing Paul Holmgren, 24, is still around to act as the team's policeman. Says Quinn: "I still believe there's a place in this game for hitting." But Quinn emphasizes team play so much that on off days he sometimes divvies up his squad and has his players compete in softball, touch football or even soccer. Hardly shades of the old Philadelphia Flyers. The only sport they played besides hockey was boxing.

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