What is a Philadelphia Flyer?

The question of what is a Philadelphia Flyer can have many different answers. Nowadays, the name has become synonymous with hard nosed, high effort hockey in a city whose hockey team was a direct reflection of the city’s blue collar culture. However, long before the Legion of Doom and before The Broad Street Bullies, Philadelphia was a city without a hockey team. Prior to 1966, a “Flyer” was just a nice alliteration! However, a late night diner visit along the Jersey Turnpike changed this forever.

How did the Philadelphia Flyers Get Their Name?

When Ed Snider was awarded an NHL hockey franchise in Philadelphia, no team name had previously been decided on. In 1996, Bill Putnam announced that there would be a contest to name the team and that the team colors would be orange, black and white. Putnam himself was a University of Texas alumnus which may have had an impact in the color choice.

The details of the team contest were released in July of 1966. Top prize for the naming contest was a 21” color TV, with other prizes including single game and full-season tickets. During the duration of the contest, ownership continued to investigate their own possible name choices. Some of those names which were originally considered for the Flyers were Liberty Bells, Lancers, Huskies, Keystones and many others! 

One night, Ed Snider, his wife, his sister and his brother-in-law Earl Foreman spent an evening out in Manhattan to have dinner and see a Broadway show. On their return trip from the show, the group decided to stop at a restaurant on the New Jersey Turnpike. During this stop they had another team name brainstorming session, during which Phyllis (Ed Snider’s sister) suggested the team be named the Flyers. The name captured the speed of the game, had an alliteration while being short and sweet. Ed Snider immediately knew this would be the team name, however; he knew his sister could not be the winner of the Name the Team Contest!

Less than a month after the beginning of the Name the Team Contest in 1966, the final drawing began. The Contest in total received 11,000+ ballots. The winning entry was a 9 year old boy from Narberth named Alex Stockard. His entry was originally spelled “Fliers”. 

Shortly thereafter, the Philadelphia Flyers would hire Mel Richman Inc., an advertising firm based in Philadelphia to design the logo and jersey which would go on to be on the most unique and recognizable sports brands throughout the world!