THE PUCK. Raffle Tickets on Sale Now!! Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club Volume 27, Issue 2 Winter 2018

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1 A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT Happy 2018 Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season! I want to send out a big Thank You to our November guest Flyers President Paul Holmgren. He graciously spent his time with us telling stories, answering questions, taking pictures, and signing autographs. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. As I sit here and write this, the Flyers are right there in the playoff hunt due to the entire team playing with grit and determination. Let s hope they keep this up! Starting in February, we will be accepting nominations for our officers for next year. If you want to run or if you want to nominate someone, please let me or someone in the nomination committee know. Stay warm and safe during these winter months. As always, Go Flyers! Theresa Carney-Kestenholz THE PUCK Upcoming PFFC Events you won t want to miss Please note: The meeting dates listed below are subject to change. Please visit our website or Facebook page for more information and updates. January 24, January meeting 7pm Wingate Hotel Voorhees NJ February 21, Tentative February meeting - Venue TBD March 14, Tentative March meeting - Venue TBD March 25, Flyers Watch Party Miller s, South Philly April 7, Beef & Bowl The Big Event, Cherry Hill, NJ For more details about our Watch Parties or Beef and Bowl, please contact Lou Milano at or lmstut@comcast.net Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club Volume 27, Issue 2 Winter 2018 In this issue of THE PUCK... President s Column From the Editor Road Trip List Holiday Donation Kid s Corner Carnival Fun Application Advertising 2018 NHLBCC info Raffle Tickets on Sale Now!! Win an Autographed Sean Couturier Jersey or 4 Tickets to the Flyers Home Opener next season! Tickets are $5.00 each or 3 for $10.00 and will be available at all home games, PFFC meetings and other events. Proceeds go towards the donation for the Gene Hart award winner s favorite charity. Drawing will be held on April 7, 2018

2 PFFC OFFICERS PRESIDENT Theresa Carney-Kestenholz VICE PRESIDENT Lou Milano TREASURER Bryan Nardone RECORDING SECRETARY Rosemarie Sheetz CORRESPONDING SECRETARY Paul Dziomba ONE YEAR TRUSTEE Terri Dziomba TWO YEAR TRUSTEE Misti Love MEMBERS AT LARGE Cathy Boone Alan Ellis Patty Encarnado SERGEANT AT ARMS Alan Ellis PAST PRESIDENT Joe Fisher WEBSITE COORDINATOR Josh Ash TRIPS COORDINATOR Lou Milano PUCK EDITOR Lois Witulski LIFETIME MEMBER Evelyn Gross Lou Milano FAN CLUB LOGO DESIGN Bert Fox The Puck - Page 2 FROM THE EDITOR S DESK #88 Forever by Lois Witulski On January 18, 2018 in a pre-game ceremony, the Philadelphia Flyers retired #88, honoring Eric Lindros forever. To start there was an impressive light and video display, followed by a great speech by Flyers President Paul Holmgren. Next Lindros spoke about his time here in Philadelphia, while thanking his family, former teammates, coaches, managers, training staff and most important, the fans. Holmgren then presented Eric with a beautiful watch from the Flyers organization to mark the occasion. Finally, Eric s family along with former Flyers John LeClair and Mikael Renberg gathered at center ice as the banner was raised to the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center. Only six numbers in Philadelphia Flyers history have this remarkable distinction (1, 2, 4, 7, 16, and now 88). The leader of both the Crazy Eights and Legion of Doom lines during the 90 s, Eric s style of play changed the game of hockey. A force on the ice, Lindros remains to this day number one in Flyers history in average points per game (1.35), a truly incredible feat! Some of Lindros accomplishments during his career include: 1995 Hart Award winner, 1995 Lester B. Pearson Award, a 4-time Bobby Clarke Trophy winner and 7-time NHL All Star. It was a fun night and I m happy to have been there. After the ceremony, the Flyers went on to beat Toronto with an impressive come from behind overtime win to top the night off! A great ending to a memorable evening! HOLIDAY RAFFLE DRAWING WINNERS!! Congratulations to Charles Kartsaklis, winner of the autographed Nolan Patrick jersey and to Alex Hubickey, winner of the gift card basket. Proceeds from this raffle were donated to thevillage, see story on page 4. Thanks to everyone who participated!! PUCK ADVERTISING AVAILABLE If you would like your business to reach potential new customers, try advertising here in the official Flyers Fan Club newsletter, The Puck. The Puck is mailed and/or ed to all Flyers Fan Club members and available at all the Flyers home games. The following prices include advertising in 8 issues of the Puck: Full Page Ad $200.00, Half Page Ad $105.00, Quarter Page Ad $55.00 and Business Card Ad $ If interested, please contact Puck Editor Lois Witulski at lwitulski@verizon.net. Disclaimer: Ads published in the Puck do not indicate endorsement of items advertised. We d like to hear from you! The PFFC welcomes all ideas and comments. You can submit your articles to: Lois Witulski, c/o PFFC, 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA or to: lwitulski@verizon.net. Please note: All materials sent for publication are subject to approval. We reserve the right to edit any portion of any article to better suit the needs of this publication. Articles printed strictly represent the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Philadelphia Flyers, its Fan Club or the editor of this newsletter.

3 The Puck - Page 3 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS FAN CLUB / PHANS OF PHILLY TRIPS FLORIDA 3/2 TO 3/5/18: 3/2/18, DEPARTURE: Early enough so you ll have most of the day in Ft. Lauderdale. Your hotel will be B Ocean once again since everyone loved it so much last time! A multi-million dollar renovation was just completed. It is the only hotel in Fort Lauderdale that sits right on the beach, with its own PRIVATE BEACH!!! Remember the EPIC Pool Party the last time we were there?? 3/3/18, WATCH PARTY FOR GAME IN TAMPA: The World Famous Parrot Lounge will once again host us for a Flyers watch party for their other game at 1:00 PM Saturday! There will be a food layout, awesome drink specials and a raffle for a chance to win Flyers prizes! 3/4/18, GAME DAY: Deluxe motor coach buses will transport us to the BB&T Center for some Flyers hockey! Our pre-game party will be in the actual arena in the Sky Club with a food buffet and an open bar that includes beer, wine, and soft drinks. Not only will we enjoy this deal before the game, it will run for the ENTIRE GAME!! Plus, our seats will all be together as a group of Flyers fans as well! 3/5/18: Back to reality day as we head back to Philadelphia All it takes is a $150 deposit per person to reserve your spot. NOTE: Due to a citywide cruise convention in Fort Lauderdale that weekend we expect spots to become limited as hotels are very limited everywhere, room rates are high due to the demand. Spots are expected to fill fast so get yours today! Price: Quad Occupancy (4 to a room) $799 PP Triple Occupancy (3 people in a room) $899 per person Double Occupancy (2 People in a room) $1059 per person CAROLINA 3/16 TO 3/19/18: Flyers hockey, St. Patrick s Day, March Madness, BBQ ROAD TRIP! Phans of Philly/PFFC are invading Raleigh, North Carolina!! What more could you ask for in a fun filled weekend?? Our deluxe motor coach buses will depart Friday morning March 16th from the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The ride is a straight drive to Raleigh with comfy chairs, TV s and a bathroom on board. There will be refreshments provided and a rest stop along the way. It should be an easy 6 hour trip! We will arrive in Raleigh mid-afternoon to check into the 4-Star Raleigh Marriott City Center for our 3-night stay. The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, walkable to many attractions, bars, and restaurants! Saturday is Flyers game day and St. Patrick s Day! Raleigh s annual St. Patrick s Day Festival/Parade happens right outside our hotel s doors, with live music, Irish dancing, vendors, drinks and great food. Take full advantage of all of the fun before we head over to the Flyers game! We will be hosting an awesome 3-hour outside tailgate, catered by one of the top BBQ caterers in the Carolina area. Our secured space is located right at the entrance of the parking lot and arena. There will also be a DJ playing all of the music to get us pumped up before the game!! NOTE: CATERING INCLUDES: All of your domestic beer, wine, iced-tea, water, Hickory smoked turkey breast served with two house-made BBQ sauces, hickory smoked pulled pork, mac & cheese served with house-made cheese, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans sautéed with crispy bacon, chopped garlic, salt and pepper, brioche rolls and for dessert, vanilla pudding with sliced bananas and vanilla wafers. Following our tailgate we will head into the game where we will all be sitting together as a group!! Our seats are located in the upper level on the side the Flyers shoot twice! After the game we ll head back to our hotel to re-join the St. Patrick s Festival fun!! You are free to do whatever you like Friday and Sunday. The Flyers play the Capitals at 5:00 PM on Sunday. We will be working with a Philly owned bar in Raleigh that will show the game for us, and offer our group food/drink specials. Also, it will be the heart of the NCAA basketball tournament if you want to take in the crazy March Madness Experience!! After an awesome weekend, we will board our buses on Monday 3/19 at 12:00 PM to return to Philadelphia! All it takes is a $150 deposit per person to reserve your spot. From there the remaining balance is broken into very flexible payments leading up to the trip, or however you may want it. Please refer to the payment plan tab for all details. All deposits and payments are non-refundable. Feel free to ask any questions. 3-Night Full Package Price Quad Occupancy (4 People in a room) $499 per person Triple Occupancy (3 People in a room) $559 per person Double Occupancy (2 People in a room) $599 per person More information contact: Lou Milano call/text or Lmstut@comcast.net or visit Philly.com to make a deposit online.

The Puck - Page 4 The PFFC 2017 Warm and Fuzzies Holiday Donation by Misti Love During the first half of the 2017-18 Philadelphia Flyers season, the Flyers Fan Club sold raffle tickets for number 2

4 The Puck - Page 4 The PFFC 2017 Warm and Fuzzies Holiday Donation by Misti Love During the first half of the Philadelphia Flyers season, the Flyers Fan Club sold raffle tickets for number 2 over-all pick Nolan Patrick s (#19) jersey and a buffet of gift cards in a basket that was very nicely received. In the past we have used the proceeds from these raffles to benefit a family or an organization to light up someone s holiday that might be a bit dimmer without it. This year was no exception. Due to the generosity of Flyers fans, we were able to gift a total of $ in gift cards and presents for thevillage. The presents included 9 bedding sets, 2 building sets, 57 games, 15 toys, 1000 diapers and 1000 wipes and supplies for art therapy as well as $ in gift cards to further assist kids in transition. Jory Barrad, Vice President Development and Marketing, and Betty Wu, Community Relations Coordinator, accepted our donation on behalf of thevillage. For more than 140 years, thevillage has been providing hope and healing to children and families in the Philadelphia region whose lives have been affected by trauma. Their vision supports leading-edge therapies to empower children to achieve their full potential, which, in turn, leads to stronger communities. Visit to learn more about this wonderful organization. It was truly a blessing that Tim and I were able to present this donation on behalf of the Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club. PFFC 2 Year Trustee Misti Love, along with her husband PFFC Member Tim Love (not shown), presented the gift cards and presents to Betty Wu, Community Relations Coordinater of thevillage.

The Puck - Page 5 Kid s Corner (highlighting our youngest Flyers fans) My Love for the Philadelphia Flyers by Christopher Maher (PFFC Junior member, age 14) My love affair of Flyers hockey began when

5 The Puck - Page 5 Kid s Corner (highlighting our youngest Flyers fans) My Love for the Philadelphia Flyers by Christopher Maher (PFFC Junior member, age 14) My love affair of Flyers hockey began when I was 9 years old. It was very different from any other sport I watched. The speed of the game, the excitement of a goal being scored, or a great save. It was just so much fun to watch. The first hockey game I attended was the 2012 AHL Winter Classic at Citizen s Bank Park on January 6th, between the Phantoms and the Bears. My first Flyers game was against the New York Islanders. Unfortunately, the Flyers lost in a shootout, but this would be the first of many games I would attend. But attending games wasn t enough. So my Dad started taking me to practices over in Voorhees. We then started going to Training Camps and Rookie Camps. It was around this time that I wanted to see if I could get some autographs. So I got a Flyers flag, and started to get it signed by players. Some Flyers greats on it are Clarke, Parent, Desjardins, Barber, LeClair, Timonen, Simmonds, & Voracek. I have about 60 all together. The ONLY female autograph on the flag is Lauren Hart s. I also have about 60 pucks and a couple of sticks autographed. And I have sticks given to me by Luke Schenn, Ivan Provorov, and Anthony Stolarz. One day these will look great hanging in my man cave. Because this is a sport I love, I started playing. I tried learning to ice skate. Tried is the key word here. I couldn t get it at all. So I started playing in a Foot Hockey League. The first league I played in was at Torresdale Boys Club. Today I play in 4 leagues. Two of the leagues are for tournament teams, the other two are in-house leagues. I play both offense and defense for the teams. I prefer to play defense because it s more exciting to me, and I feel very responsible when the game is on the line. After being in championship games four times over the years and never winning, last year my team won the Holmesburg Boys Club and Torresdale Boys Club championships. My Dad and I try to go to about 10 games a year. One year I went to 16 games, with the partial 11 game plan, and a bonus 5 games. Out of all of the games I have been to, I have been to one away game. It was a Flyers vs New York Islanders road trip with the Fan Club. The Flyers lost, but I did get to watch Slap Shot for the first time on the bus ride to the game (Thanks Lou!). This season my Dad and I are going to the Flyers vs. Devils game in New Jersey. I m hoping that we ll be able to go to at least one away game a year. If you ever want to find me at a game, just look for the kid with the orange Flyers hard hat. That will be me! Editor s Note: Calling all Junior PFFC Members! We d love to hear from you!! This new page will give our younger fans a chance to participate in our newsletter. If you would like your child highlighted in our new Kid s Corner, please contact me at lwitulski@verizon.net. Written permission from a parent will be required for any submissions. Christopher, with his favorite player Jake Voracek

6 Flyers Wives Carnival by Deb Robb The Puck - Page 6 On a sunny but brisk, Sunday, November 19, 2017, my nephew Matthew & I headed to the Wells Fargo Center for our first Flyers Wives Carnival in several decades. When he was younger, I always took Matt to the Carnival as my special winter treat. On this day I was wondering how it would live up to his expectations as an adult. From the moment we entered the doors on 11 th Street and were greeted by the volunteers handing out goodie bags, we began to enjoy ourselves. The bags were packed by some of our own PFFC members, Barbara Concilio (with sister Carolyn Fansler), Palma Maglio, Walter Smith, and Pam & Bill Foldes. Thanks to all of you, we really enjoyed the bags. Next we headed straight for Stub Hub picture booth (no waiting) and took a great souvenir picture together. Then we just began to stroll the Main Concourse. We saw old neighbors, made new friends, and waved heartily to the many PFFC members we saw along the way. I stopped and bought Bernie Parent s book along with several of the children s alphabet books they had on sale. Flyers Alumni Bob Kelly was standing there and he autographed the children s books for us. We followed a sign down a set of steps (I had no idea that there were THAT MANY steps from the concourse down to event floor). We found ourselves at a press conference set-up where I could barely see over the podium. Then out onto ice level. WOW even without the ice, what a rush! Matt was quick to point out Bernie Parent to our right signing autographs next to the Shot On Goalie event. We played at the Dunk Tank, marveled at the Ferris Wheel, and took in several games of chance where we came away with more prizes. A Wells Fargo Center employee agreed to take our picture in the Penalty Box. This was a first for both Matt & myself. As we headed back to the Main Concourse, Matt remarked that one of his fondest memories of previous carnivals was the time he got the goal on Ron Hextall. I hope those young fans standing in line that day had the same experience! Back upstairs, we visited Paul & Doreen Holmgren s booth where we admired the gorgeous quilt they were raffling off. Then up the elevator to the Press Box dedicated to the Flyer s late beloved announcer, Gene Hart after whom the PFFC has named our annual award. For both Matt & I this was not only a nostalgic moment but the highlight of our day. What a view, not only of the entire ice but of the team s banners. And there was an interview going on several boxes down that we could see from our vantage point. Imagining what it was like to be there game after game, we hated leaving but we had one last stop to make. Back to the Main Concourse, Section 108/109, the Fan Club Table, staffed by Jen Ebling, Stacey Squilla, the Puck s own Lois Witulski and our former First Lady Maureen Fisher. Congrats ladies, you raised $850 for our charities that day and raffled off a Taylor Leier autographed puck. PFFC s Madame President Theresa Carney-Kestenholtz was also on hand to greet the many fans who stopped by. Oh, and we finally caught up to my sister and Matt s aunt, PFFC member Maria Robb who came in a separate car. Talking, laughing, winning, remembering, too soon, it was time to go home. But we all agreed it was one of the best carnivals ever and brought out the child in all of us for this worthy charity.

7 The Puck - Page 7 Fun & Games at the Flyers Wives Carnival Pictures submitted by: Matt Colucci

8 The Puck - Page 8

9 The Puck - Page 9 Advertising Space Available Here!! See page 2 for further details.

48th Annual NHLBC Convention hosted by the Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club August 10-12, 2018 at Valley Forge Casino Resort For more information follow the link on the PFFC website, www.flyerfanclub.

10 48th Annual NHLBC Convention hosted by the Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club August 10-12, 2018 at Valley Forge Casino Resort For more information follow the link on the PFFC website, Prices per person are $510 single; $375 double; $330 triple; $300 quad; $175 children under 18 with parent. Package includes Friday and Saturday hotel accommodations, dinner Friday & Saturday, breakfast Saturday & Sunday, annual meeting Saturday morning, your arrival package and the use of hospitality rooms during posted hours. Payment schedule is as follows: (please send payment to Evelyn 1 week prior to due date) 12/1/17 $100 non-refundable deposit 2/1/18 $100 plus all pre-convention activities 4/1/18 $100 payment due 6/1/18 Remaining balance due Checks are payable to Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club - NHLBCC 2018 and should be mailed along with the registration form, waiver form and pre-convention trip form to: NHLBCC 2018, c/o Evelyn Gross, 4205 Poplar Street, Garnet Valley, PA The Puck An Official Publication of The Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club Wells Fargo Center 3601 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19148

THE PUCK PFFC MEETING REMINDER. Next Meeting date: To Be Determined

THE PUCK PFFC MEETING REMINDER. Next Meeting date: To Be Determined A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT It is with much sadness that I write to you this month. On Monday April 11 th, it was announced that our beloved owner Mr. Ed Snider finally lost his two-year battle with cancer.