Flyers Alumni Present 2025 Community Leader Award to Hathaway
In conjunction with the Philadelphia Flyers organization, the Flyers Alumni Association created the Flyers Alumni Community Leader Award in 2024. The Flyers adopted the new honor as one of the team’s annual end-of-season team awards.
Each year, the Flyers Alumni’s board of directors selects an honoree. The player receives a plaque in his name and a donation by the Flyers Alumni Association to a charity of the player’s choosing.
In 2023-24, Scott Laughton was the inaugural winner of the award. This year, the Alumni recognized veteran winger Garnet Hathaway. Additionally, he’s been nominated by the Flyers for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, presented by the National Hockey League.
On the ice, Hathaway brings a hard-nosed and aggressive physical presence. He is also an integral part of the penalty kill. Playing a fourth-line role at 5-on-5, he’s nevertheless managed this season to collect the third double-digit goal season of NHL career.
In the dressing room and day-to-life on the team, Hathaway is a leader by example.
“Hath is a throwback player, on and off the ice,” said Brad Marsh, the Flyers Alumni Association president and Flyes Director of Community Development.
“He has had to work for everything he’s achieved in the game. He genuinely cares about his teammates, the fans, and the city where he plays.”
Off the ice, as he did as a member of the Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins, Hathaway has taken a prime role in organizational activities in the Philadelphia community.These contributions were the key to his selection for the Flyers Alumni Community Leadership Award and nomination for the King Clancy Trophy.
In conjunction with Hathaway winning the Flyers Alumni Award, the Flyers Alumni made a $5,000 donation in “Hath’s” name to the Hath’s Heroes charity foundation that Garnet and his wife launched.
Hathaway has always held a special place in his heart for supporting the people who serve their communities as first responders.
At birth, Hathaway was named in honor of his great grandfather Garnet; a firefighter in Winnipeg, Manitoba. While a member of the Washington Capitals in 2019, Hathaway founded “Hath’s Heroes” in order to provide support for local first responders beyond their line of work.
When Hathaway joined the Flyers last season, he brought “Hath’s Heroes” along with him to Philadelphia. He hosted 20 first responders for home games at Wells Fargo Center, supplying complimentary tickets and doing postgame meet-and-greets to show his appreciation for their life-saving work.
This season, there’s been a new component. Garnet, wife Lindsay, and Flyers Charities launched “Hits for Hath’s Heroes” as a fundraising nod to Hathway’s aggressively physical style of play (he was 2nd in the NHL in credited hits in 2023-24).
Each hit credited to the player this season, produces a direct donation to the program. Flyers fans can also help out by donating at FlyersCharities.com. One hundred percent of the proceeds from both the Hathaways and fan donations will go directly to funding initiatives and programming for local first responders in the local Philadelphia region.
Heading into the final game of the 2025-26 season, Hathaway was credited with 251 hits despite missing 15 games due to injury. In terms of total hits, he was 10th in the NHL. In terms of volume, however, Hathaway led the league in terms of hitting frequency relative to ice time and games played.
“Through Hath’s Heroes, Linday and I have met many selfless men and women who work tirelessly to serve our communities. I hope folks will join us in giving back to show our local heroes how much we appreciate them. Every hit counts!” Hathaway said.