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Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers Replacing Trainers and Equipment Manager?

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2 years ago

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Harry Bricker, Philadelphia Flyers
Equipment manager Harry Bricker, who has worked for the Flyers in two different stints, has apparently been relieved of his duties.

Several months ago, the Philadelphia Flyers announced they would make an “aggressive retool” in the offseason.

Maybe they were talking about the coaches and others connected to the team, and not the players.

The roster looks very similar to last season, when the injury-riddled team put together its second-worst record in franchise history.

But the coaching staff has been drastically changed, and more alterations appear to be in the works.

The Flyers haven’t confirmed it (yet), but I’m hearing that long-time equipment manager Harry Bricker was let go.

Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher denied a chance to comment.

Last season, the Flyers wore T-shirts during a pregame warmup to honor Bricker’s 2,500th pro game.

Bricker has worked for the Flyers from 1991-96 and from 2000-22. He was with the New Jersey Devils when they won the Stanley Cup in 1999-2000 and has a ring to prove it.

He also had a stint with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, starting when he was in high school. His dad worked for the Bears as an arena security guard.

When Peter Forsberg was honored by the Flyers for going into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014, he mentioned how Bricker stayed with him from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. one Thanksgiving, trying to help him with skates that would alleviate his foot problems.

Bricker was that dedicated to his job.

Trainers going?

Don’t be surprised if Jimmy McCrossin, who is the team’s director of medical services, and assistant trainer Sal Raffa are soon not part of the club. Both are suing the Philadelphia Flyers after being diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening blood disorder.

The men allege their conditions came from exposure to chemicals used in the Zambonis at the team’s Voorhess practice facility.

“Every day is a gift,” Raffa told Philly Hockey late in the season.

In April, the Flyers said in a statement that the trainers’ claims had “no merit.” They said they could not comment further because the matter was in litigation.

McCrossin and Raffa continued to work for the team through the end of the season.

Rumors are circulating that they will be replaced. A source close to the situation wouldn’t confirm or deny it when contacted Sunday.

Top Pennsylvania Online Casinos and sportsbooks are betting heavily against the Flyers next season, too.

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R M

Flyers ought to replace their strength training staff. The players lack muscle, the kind of muscle needed to take and give hits at full speed in this violent sport on skates. They need physiques like pro football players have, and that means some serious time and effort in the weight room. They need skilled professional kick butt strength coaches who know what they are doing. Too many prospects are arriving with children’s bodies, skinny, lacking muscle mass, and as a result they are getting injured far too much. Seems like so many end up in the hospital or at least the trainers room from taking a hit. Equipment Pads are not enough. They need muscle padding, not just vinyl pads. They need martial arts and boxing training to learn how to block a hit to the head or upper body. They need a complete revamping. Look, these players are drafted as children, but what is not developed enough is their strength and defense skills. This sport is much more than skating, stick handling, and shots on goal. Time for the Fletcher inept franchise to look hard at this issue and do something about it. No player should ever hit the NHL ice without a fully developed muscular mature physique.

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Yokes27

That makes zero sense. What football players are you talking about? Not lineman clearly. Linebackers are usually 6’2-6’4 and should weigh around 240-250lbs, especially to be effective. Most teams are averaging around 6’0-6’1 where the ideal weight is around 190lbs. Too much muscle on certain body types is detrimental and can work against players. Yes in the last 25 years the league is bigger, faster, stronger all around but the number of hits is way down and especially so for those big crushing hits. Equipment is lighter but stronger along with being form fitted. Nothing like the equipment even from the mid to late 2000s. I played at a high level in the sport of hockey so I’m speaking from a position of 1st hand knowledge.

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R M

Boy are you naive. Ovechkin is a monster. Never gets hurt. Open up your eyes. Muscle weighs more than skin. It adds weight without size if trained properly. Weight training does not mean bulking up. It means building muscle with low body fat. You are completely clueless about building a physique. Nobody is saying build a 280 point lineman football physique. Clearly you know nothing about muscular development. Check out the wide receiver and defensive back builds in football. That is what I am talking about. Your position is precisely what is wrong with the Flyers. Open your eyes. These kids are getting the crap kicked out of them on the ice, cannot take a hit without a trip to the hospital. Brutal.

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Yokes27

Boy ol’Fletch is grabbing at straws hoping something will save his ass.

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Zeke Mowatt

The Flyers should move on from Fletcher now. Why waste another year. Does anybody think he will turn the team around? I didn’t think so.

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Larry Horsman

Wow! I’m nowhere near a Flyers fan. As in, I couldn’t care less either way….I just wanted something to read. But I’m thinking that this is about as low as you can get. Let’s fire the sick guys and the hall of fame equipment guy. Is it possible to fire the guy in charge of parking so we can distract a little more? This is coming from a sad Habs fan. Habs are really sad. This is just pathetic.

Last edited 2 years ago by Larry Horsman
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