If ever there was only one Flyers goaltending great, Bernie Parent was definitely it. His terrific play and technical prowess made him one of the most formidable goaltenders of his day. Parent combined the agility, focus, and reflexes that every team in the league wants in a netminder, but few ever find.

Bernie grew up in Montreal, and played junior hockey for the Niagara Falls Flyers. He began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins and spent time on both the Bruins and their minor league affiliate in Oklahoma City. He was left unprotected in the 1967 expansion draft, and the Flyers were all too happy to acquire him, along with his former Niagara Falls teamate and fellow goalie, Doug Favell. Parent and Favell gave the Flyers a foundation on which to build, and opponents were forced to take the Flyers seriously. Parent took the #1 role, and was quickly developing into one of the league's brightest young stars. However, the team was not doing much in the scoring department in the first few years, and GM Keith Allen decided to go after some goal scoring talent. Parent wound up being part of the equation, as Allen put together a three-way trade that sent Parent to Toronto, and brought Rick MacLeish to Philly. Although Parent, who had become very popular in Philly, was hugely diappointed, there was something he could look forward to in Toronto; he would get to play on the same squad as his hockey idol, Jacques Plante. Plante worked with Parent during a season and a half before Parent decided to turn to a new direction, and a new league.

Parent was not able to recieve more money from Toronto in negotiations, so he decided to take a chance on the upstart World Hockey Association, and became the first NHL player to sign on. He recieved a 5 year, $750,000 contract, and eventually wound up playing in Philly again, for the Blazers. However, the Blazers were having alot of financial troubles, as was the entire WHA. Parent was not getting paid as he was promised, and he wound up looking for a way back into the NHL. He didn't want to return to the Leafs, so a trade was put together that sent Parent back to Philly once again, but this time in a Flyers jersey.

It was a welcome and exciting homecoming for Parent, and for more than one reason. The 1973-74 season home opener featured the return of Parent to the Orange & Black, and the first live performance of "God Bless America" by Kate Smith at the Spectrum before the game. The crowd went nuts, and Parent's return to Philly was officially under way. He played 73 of the team's 78 games that year, and recorded 12 shutouts with a GAA of 1.89. Parent was unstoppable that season and it continued right into the playoffs. The Flyers would defeat Bobby Orr and the mighty Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals, and become the first expansion team to win it all. Parent was presented with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff's MVP, as well as the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie.

But that was just the beginning, as Parent had an equally impressive season the next year, posting a 2.09 GAA and 12 more shutouts. He once again picked it up for the playoffs, and helped lead the Flyers to a second consecutive Cup. He would become the first player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy in consecutive years, and would again be awarded the Vezina Trophy.

Bernie's successes would be fewer in the following years. He missed all but 11 games during the 75-76 season due to back surgery. He did seem to regain his form in 77-78, but during the 78-79 season, he sustained a career-ending eye injury after a player's stick came through the eye hole in Bernie's mask. Shortly after his retirement, the Flyers retired his #1 jersey. Parent became the first Flyer inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984, and is a charter member of the Flyers Hall of Fame. He did spend some time in the early 80's as the Flyers' goaltending coach, but gave up coaching after the tragic death of his protege, Pelle Lindbergh. Bernie will always be remembered for his inmeasurable contributions to the Flyers family, and his leadership in the Flyers' two championship seasons.