Shout out to nephew Chris Manning

Ed Van Impe, Bill Clement, Keith Allen, Ed Snider, Bobby Clarke, Fred Shero, ?, Gary Dornhoefer, Joe Watson
?, Terry Crisp, Simon Nolet, Bob Kelly, Rick MacLeish, Barry Ashbee, Bill Barber, Bill Flett, ? Mike Nikolyk
?, Andre Dupont, Ross Lonsberry, Dave Schultz, ?Jimmy Watson, ?Orest Kindrachuk, Bobby Taylor, Don Saleski, Tom Bladon
Can't find: Bernie Parent (!) - good thing they found him for the playoffs!

Happy Tenth Birthday, Decade Old Boy!

Carolyn called me to let me know about his awesome day yesterday:

It started with his scoring a hat trick in his hockey game in the morning, then hopping into the car not knowing what the rush was that his parents were insisting on as he changed out of his hockey uni and into his civvies. When they got to the car, he was presented with an envelope containing two tickets to the Devils-Islanders game. Not the usual present for a young Philly fan, but no less exciting.

With two hours to get to the Meadowlands, Papa Ed drove in a manner some would call illegal, but others (such as I) would call appropriate under the circumstances. Having made it in time for the opening face-off, they settled in to watch a thriller: tied in regulation, tied after OT, and still tied after three penalty shots apiece. On the fifth set of penalty shots, the issue was finally decided in the Devils' favor.

Not a bad tenth birthday, pal! In January 1974 (when my tenth birthday occurred), we were coming off a thrilling 5-8-1 Eagles' season, the Sixers stunk, and the Phils, while on an upward trajectory, were still a couple years from reaching the post-season. However, on May 19, 1974, the Flyers won their first ever Stanley Cup. So here's hoping that the spring following your 10th birthday also holds in store a big silver trophy for the Men in Orange & Black.

PS: Please submit any corrections or additions to the identities of the men in the '74 Flyers' team picture in the comments section