1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 3rd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers finished 5th in the West Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.
==Off-season==
The Flyers took a chance when they selected a 19-year-old diabetic from Flin Flon, Manitoba named Bobby Clarke with their second draft pick, 17th overall, in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft. They also drafted two other players that became significant in the team's rise, Don Saleski and Dave Schultz.
The Flyers wore the same jersey design as in the 1967-68 season.
==Regular Season==
By the time training camp came around it was clear that Bobby Clarke was NHL calibre and he quickly became a fan favorite. It took Clarke a few games to show his worth, he was -2 in his first game and didn't score until his 7th game, the tying goal during the 3-3 tie against the New York Rangers. An injury to Phil Goyette resulted in him playing in the 1970 NHL All-Star Game. Despite his 15 goals and 31 assists, the team struggled in 1969–70, recording a franchise worst in wins with 17. 
On December 11, 1969, the Flyers introduced what became one of the team's best-known traditions, playing a recording of Kate Smith singing God Bless America instead of The Star-Spangled Banner before important games. The perception was that the team was more successful on these occasions, so the tradition grew. The move was initially done by Flyers promotion director Lou Scheinfeld as a way to defray national tensions at the time of the Vietnam War. Scheinfeld noticed that people regularly left their seats to walk around during the anthem, but showed more respect and often sang along to "God Bless America". To this day, the team plays the song before major playoff games.
General manager Bud Poile was fired on December 19, 1969. Keith Allen was named his replacement on December 22.
During the second period of the January 4, 1970 game against the Minnesota North Stars, Earl Heiskala had a run-in with North Stars goalie Fern Rivard. Both swung their sticks at each other but no penalties were called. Several minutes later, tempers flared by Minnesota's bench and Hieskala and Barry Gibbs fought. Within moments, everyone on the ice was involved, including goalies Rivard and Doug Favell. Punches were traded with the North Stars bench, Hieskala and Gibbs were ejected and the Flyers won 3-1.
The Flyers were battling for a playoff spot with the Oakland Seals and Minnesota with six games left in the season. They held a 5 point lead on the Seals and 6 points on the North Stars. They went on a five game losing streak, including a loss to Oakland. Philadelphia's last game was on April 4, 1970 against Minnesota. The North Stars and Seals were tied with the Flyers with 58 points and Minnesota had a game in hand. In a very tight defensive game, goalies Bernie Parent and Gump Worsley battled with neither surrendering a goal in the first two periods. Nearly eight minutes into the third period, a soft shot from center ice by Minnesota defenseman Barry Gibbs beat a surprised Parent. Worsley made a incredible save with less than 25 seconds left and the game ended 1-0, clinching a playoff spot for the North Stars.
Oakland lost their last game but had more wins than the Flyers and gained the final playoff spot. The Flyers missed the playoffs for the first time and set an NHL record for the most ties in one season with 24.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	L 	October 11, 1969 	0-4 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)	0–1–0
2 	T 	October 15, 1969 	3-3 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) 	0–1–1
3 	T 	October 19, 1969 	1-1 	Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	0–1–2
4 	W 	October 22, 1969 	4-3 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	1–1–2
5 	T 	October 23, 1969 	2-2 	Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	1–1–3
6 	T 	October 26, 1969 	0-0 	St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	1–1–4
7 	T 	October 30, 1969 	3-3 	New York Rangers (1969–70) 	1–1–5
8 	L 	November 1, 1969 	0-8 	@ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	1–2–5
9 	W 	November 2, 1969 	6-2 	Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) 	2–2–5
10 	L 	November 6, 1969 	1-4 	Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	2–3–5
11 	T 	November 9, 1969 	2-2 	Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	2–3–6
12 	L 	November 12, 1969 	2-4 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)	2–4–6
13 	L 	November 15, 1969 	2-4 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	2–5–6
14 	W 	November 20, 1969 	3-2 	Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	3–5–6
15 	L 	November 22, 1969 	3-5 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) 	3–6–6
16 	L 	November 23, 1969 	2-3 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	3–7–6
17 	T 	November 26, 1969 	1-1 	Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	3–7–7
18 	L 	November 27, 1969 	4-6 	@ Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	3–8–7
19 	T 	November 29, 1969 	2-2 	@ New York Rangers (1969–70) 	3–8–8
20 	T 	November 30, 1969 	3-3 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) 	3–8–9
21 	W 	December 3, 1969 	7-1 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	4–8–9
22 	T 	December 5, 1969 	2-2 	@ Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	4–8–10
23 	L 	December 7, 1969 	1-4 	St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	4–9–10
24 	W 	December 11, 1969 	6-3 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	5–9–10
25 	L 	December 13, 1969 	3-5 	Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	5–10–10
26 	L 	December 14, 1969 	1-4 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	5–11–10
27 	T 	December 17, 1969 	2-2 	@ New York Rangers (1969–70) 	5–11–11
28 	L 	December 20, 1969 	0-3 	@ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	5–12–11
29 	W 	December 21, 1969 	4-0 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) 	6–12–11
30 	W 	December 25, 1969 	3-1 	Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	7–12–11
31 	T 	December 27, 1969 	2-2 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	7–12–12
32 	L 	December 28, 1969 	4-5 	Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	7–13–12
33 	L 	January 1, 1970 	3-4 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	7–14–12
34 	L 	January 3, 1970 	1-6 	Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	7–15–12
35 	W 	January 4, 1970 	3-1 	Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) 	8–15–12
36 	T 	January 7, 1970 	2-2 	@ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	8–15–13
37 	W 	January 8, 1970 	4-1 	Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	9–15–13
38 	T 	January 10, 1970 	2-2 	Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	9–15–14
39 	W 	January 13, 1970 	3-1 	@ Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	10–15–14
40 	T 	January 15, 1970 	4-4 	New York Rangers (1969–70) 	10–15–15
41 	L 	January 17, 1970 	3-5 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	10–16–15
42 	L 	January 18, 1970 	4-6 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) 	10–17–15
43 	T 	January 22, 1970 	3-3 	@ Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	10–17–16
44 	W 	January 24, 1970 	6-0 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)	11–17–16
45 	W 	January 25, 1970 	2-0 	St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	12–17–16
46 	T 	January 28, 1970 	2-2 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	12–17–17
47 	L 	January 29, 1970 	3-4 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	12–18–17
48 	L 	January 31, 1970 	0-5 	Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	12–19–17
49 	L 	February 1, 1970 	2-5 	Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	12–20–17
50 	L 	February 5, 1970 	1-5 	@ Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	12–21–17
51 	T 	February 7, 1970 	4-4 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	12–21–18
52 	W 	February 8, 1970 	5-3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	13–21–18
53 	T 	February 12, 1970 	3-3 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	13–21–19
54 	L 	February 14, 1970 	3-4 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	13–22–19
55 	W 	February 15, 1970 	7-1 	Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	14–22–19
56 	L 	February 17, 1970 	2-4 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) 	14–23–19
57 	T 	February 18, 1970 	3-3 	@ New York Rangers (1969–70) 	14–23–20
58 	L 	February 21, 1970 	3-5 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	14–24–20
59 	L 	February 26, 1970 	2-3 	Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	14–25–20
60 	W 	February 28, 1970 	6-2 	Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) 	15–25–20
61 	T 	March 1, 1970 	4-4 	Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	15–25–21
62 	T 	March 4, 1970 	2-2 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)	15–25–22
63 	T 	March 7, 1970 	5-5 	Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	15–25–23
64 	L 	March 8, 1970 	2-3 	Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	15–26–23
65 	L 	March 12, 1970 	2-4 	@ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	15–27–23
66 	W 	March 14, 1970 	5-3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	16–27–23
67 	L 	March 15, 1970 	1-2 	@ Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	16–28–23
68 	T 	March 19, 1970 	2-2 	New York Rangers (1969–70) 	16–28–24
69 	L 	March 21, 1970 	0-2 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	16–29–24
70 	W 	March 22, 1970 	3-2 	Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	17–29–24
71 	L 	March 25, 1970 	2-3 	@ Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	17–30–24
72 	L 	March 26, 1970 	2-3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	17–31–24
73 	L 	March 28, 1970 	1-2 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) 	17–32–24
74 	L 	April 1, 1970 	1-4 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) 	17–33–24
75 	L 	April 2, 1970 	0-1 	St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	17–34–24
76 	L 	April 4, 1970 	0-1 	Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) 	17–35–24
==Playoffs==
*The Flyers did not qualify for the post season.
==Player Stats==
===Skaters===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
 	 	 	 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season
 	Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
7 	 	24	C 	74 	22 	36 	58 	−6 	14
12	 	26	RW	65 	26 	29 	55 	2 	96
20	 	27	C 	72 	18 	30 	48 	1 	17
16	 	20	C 	76 	15 	31 	46 	1 	68
11	 	35	LW	71 	23 	21 	44 	8 	54
17	 	28	RW	56 	22 	22 	44 	12 	36
10	 	35	LW	51 	15 	17 	32 	−2 	30
3 	 	32	D 	76 	5 	26 	31 	−9 	73
9 	 	33	LW	65 	9 	18 	27 	−4 	134
24	 	25	D 	61 	7 	18 	25 	−7 	20
8 	 	21	RW	66 	9 	10 	19 	−3 	19
15	 	27	C 	59 	6 	10 	16 	−9 	69
19	 	27	LW	65 	8 	7 	15 	−15 	171
14	 	26	D 	54 	3 	11 	14 	0 	28
23	 	28	D 	53 	1 	9 	10 	−4 	28
2 	 	29	D 	65 	0 	10 	10 	−1 	117
6 	 	31	D 	68 	3 	5 	8 	−9 	69
5 	 	32	D 	68 	3 	4 	7 	−24 	23
30	 	24	G 	62 	0 	3 	3 	 	14
21	 	24	RW	18 	1 	1 	2 	−2 	4
18	 	24	RW	9 	1 	1 	2 	−2 	4
21	 	22	C 	1 	0 	1 	1 	−1 	0
 	 	27	D 	17 	0 	0 	0 	−7 	4
21	 	24	D 	2 	0 	0 	0 	−1 	6
1 	 	21	G 	1 	0 	0 	0 	 	0
1 	 	24	G 	15 	0 	0 	0 	 	2
===Goaltenders===
 	 	 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season
 	Player 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
30	Bernie Parent	24	62 	62 	13 	29 	20 	2159 	171 	2.80 	.921 	3 	3,668:19
1 	Doug Favell 	24	15 	13 	4 	5 	4 	516 	43 	3.15 	.917 	1 	818:00
1 	Dunc Wilson 	21	1 	1 	0 	1 	0 	26 	3 	3.02 	.885 	0 	59:35
==Awards and Records==
===Awards===
NHL 	NHL 	NHL	NHL	NHL	NHL	NHL	NHL	NHL	NHL
Award 	Recipient 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
All-Star Game representative	Bobby ClarkeBernie Parent	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===Records===
Flyers player	Flyers player 	Flyers player 	Flyers player	Flyers player	Flyers player	Flyers player	Flyers player	Flyers player	Flyers player
Player 	Record 	Mark 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Bernie Parent	Losses, one season	29Tied in 2006–07 by Antero Niittymaki.	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Transactions==
The Flyers were involved in the following transactions before/during the 1969–70 season.
===Trades===
May 14, 1969 	To Philadelphia Flyerscash 	To St. Louis Blues Ron Buchanan
May 14, 1969 	To Philadelphia FlyersWayne Hillman 	To Minnesota North StarsJohn Miszuk
June 6, 1969 	To Philadelphia FlyersReg Fleming 	To New York Rangers Don BlackburnLeon Rochefort
June 10, 1969	To Philadelphia Flyerscash 	To Minnesota North StarsBob Barlow
June 12, 1969	To Philadelphia FlyersJean-Guy Gendron	To Montreal Canadiens cash
===Additions and Subtractions===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"	Additions 	Additions 	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions
Player 	Former team 	Via 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Vic Stasiuk 	Quebec (AHL) 	signed as Coach (5/19) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Bob Barlow 	Vancouver (WHL)	intra-league draft (6/10)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Larry Hillman	Montreal 	intra-league draft (6/11)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Jim Mair 	Johnstown (EHL)	free agency (9/29) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Keith Allen 	— 	promoted to GM (12/18) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Draft Picks==
Philadelphia's picks at the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft in Montreal, Quebec.hockeydb.com, 1969 NHL Amateur Draft
Rnd	# 	Player 	Position 	Nationality	Drafted From
1 	6 	Bob Currier 	Center 	 	Cornwall Royals (CJAHL)
2 	17	Bobby Clarke 	Center 	 	Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
3 	28	Willie Brossart 	Defenseman	 	Estevan Bruins (WCHL)
4 	40	Michel Belhumeur	Goaltender	 	Drummondville Rangers (QJHL)
5 	52	Dave Schultz 	Left Wing 	 	Sorel Eperviers (QJHL)
6 	64	Don Saleski 	Right Wing	 	Regina Pats (SJHL)
8 	81	Claude Chartre 	Center 	 	Drummondville Rangers (QJHL)
==Farm Teams==
The Flyers were affiliated with the Quebec Aces of the AHL, the Flint Generals of the IHL, and the Jersey Devils of the EHL.FlyersHistory.net, Non-AHL AffiliatesFlyersHistory.net, AHL Season Overview: 1969–70
==Trivia==
*Flyers who recorded a hat trick this season include:
**Andre Lacroix during the 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 22, 1969.
**Jim Johnson during the 7-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on December 3, 1969.
**Andre Lacroix during the 6-3 win over Toronto on December 11, 1969.
**Gary Dornhoefer during the 4-1 win over Los Angeles on January 8, 1970.
**Simon Nolet during the 5-5 tie with the Boston Bruins on March 7, 1970.
==Gallery==
1969-Oct11-Barlow goal.gif|Bob Barlow's 1st NHL goal, October 11, 1969.
Sanderson_goal-28Dec1969.gif|Bobby Orr sets up Derek Sanderson for the game winner, December 28, 1969.
69-70NHLPhilaExhQuebecGameAd.jpg|Pre-season @ Quebec City
==See Also==
*1969–70 NHL season
==References==
*General: 1969–70 Flyers season on FlyersHistory.net
1969
Category:1969 in hockey
Category:1970 in hockey