Spectrum Memories: The Hammer Returns

[amyrose2712]

Dave Schultz spent four seasons playing for the Flyers from 1971-76. He is fifth all-time in franchise history with 1386 penalty minutes, and had 51 goals and 64 assists for 115 points in 297 games. He was a member of both Stanley Cup winning teams in 1973-74 and 1974-75.

Whenever a popular player gets traded and returns to play against his old team for the first time, the player has a little extra motivation to perform well. Usually, the home fans give their former hero a polite ovation as he steps on the ice for warm-ups and then focus on the game itself.

But when Dave “The Hammer” Schultz returned to Philadelphia for the first time after the Flyers traded him to the Los Angeles Kings, the enforcer’s presence was more than a footnote to the game. In many ways, Schultz was the player who most shaped the Broad Street Bullies’ the over-the-top brawling image that made the team the scourge of the NHL during their two successful runs to the Stanley Cup. The Flyers were the league’s top road draw and sold out the Spectrum every game.

http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=415615&page=NewsPage&service=page

It is going to be sad to see that place go. So many memories there and at the Vet.

[Condem]

1. Baby. How long? You gonna keep me in the penalty box?

Love is like an ice hockey game. Sometimes it can be rough. Classic.

[Forkboy]

2. Sad that he came out against fighting in the NHL.

His bouts with Terry O'Reilly were the stuff of legend here in Beantown. And it's sad to see the Spectrum go.

[amyrose2712]

3. That does suck...

I didn't know that. I really wasn't into hockey when they played at the spectrum, so I never really saw any games there. But, growing up I went to many a concert there. It is actually the last place I saw my brother that died in a motorcycle accident at 19. (We had different mothers so we didn't live together) I was at a Metallica concert and happened to look behind me and there he was, with a bottle of Jack in his hand. That was one of my spectrum memories. Have you lived near Philly?

[Forkboy]

5. Nope, I'm in Mass, but I did see a Flyers game there back in the 90's.

The fans were very nice to me with my Bruins shirt on. ;)

Shultz wrote a book after he retired. It was pretty good, but that's where he came out against fighting. I was rather shocked, to say the least. He's still a good guy though, and one of hockey's true characters from that era.

[Condem]

4. Saw many a show at the Spectrum, amyrose

Grew up in Washington's Crossing. Was at the infamous Boston, Foghat, James Gang show in '75(?) where three people died. ELP, Queen, Cheap Trick, too many to count. And of course, Springsteen. Plus various Flyers and Sixer games. You were a dump, but a good dump. My first post was actually a hit song in Philly recorded by the Hammer in '76. Many memories.