Bernard Marcel Parent passed from this world on Sunday September 21st. It goes without saying that he certainly made quite an impression during his time here. His achievements as a professional ice hockey player are well known and respected throughout the world. His NHL greatness is just part of why Bernie was such a unique and treasured gift to The City of Brotherly Love.
The Philosophy
By his own words Bernie loved being happy and having fun. That was a gift he readily shared with everyone he met. He was always kind, and compassionate and generous with his time. They say that the root of happiness is gratitude. Bernie was certainly grateful for so many things. He loved his adopted hometown and he was constantly giving back to his community.
Bernie Parent had a very unique way of looking at things. He was a “firm believer in the universe”. He said you “ask, believe, and receive”. He added, “You have a goal, a vision of whatever you want to do in life, don’t quit. There’ll be times where it is going to be dark, well you keep pushing and eventually you get the rewards”. But he also added, “how, when, and were is none of my concern”. Ask, believe, and receive but you can’t be concerned with the how, when, or where.
How
Bernie grew up in Rosemont Quebec a suburb of Montreal. He was born on April 3rd 1945. As a boy Bernie did not set out to become one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. In fact he did not set out to be a goalie at all. He tried out for the local hockey team and after coming in way behind on the skating test he was told his only option was between the pipes.
According to him his first game in the net was a disaster, but he did not give up. He worked on his skating until he was given another chance out of necessity and the rest, as they say, is history.
Goaltending great Jacques Plante’s sister lived right by Parent’s family home. As a kid he would peek at Plante going in and out of his sister’s place during his visits. Parent idolized Plante as a young netminder and did his best to copy his style.
When
By 1963 Bernie was playing junior hockey with an OHA team in Niagara Falls. In 1965 Parent was drafted by the Boston Bruins after winning the OHA Championship and the Memorial Cup Championship.
In 1965-66 Bernie saw action in 39 games with the Boston Bruins. 1966-67 saw him splitting his time between the Bruins and their farm club in Oklahoma. In 1967 Parent was left unprotected for the upcoming NHL expansion draft. …Which brings us to the “where”.
Where?
During the off-season Parent was golfing with some friends in Montreal when he was informed that he had been drafted by one of the expansion teams. “By who”, he said. “Philadelphia? …where is that”?
Parent was on the roster for the newly minted NHL Philadelphia Flyers debut season in 1967. Philadelphia was still getting to know the Flyers and the sport of ice hockey in general. Bernie was working his way up to sole possession of the number one slot and had taken a shine to his new surroundings.
In 1971 when Parent was informed that he had been traded to Toronto he was visibly upset. Flyers owner Ed Snider stepped in and attempted to console him. Instead, as the story goes, Parent and Snider both ended up crying through the formalities.
All part of the deal
But it all goes with the philosophy correct? You ask, believe, and receive but the how, when, and where can not be any of your concern. You also never know what may be coming next.
When Bernie joined the Maple Leafs he was backing up his boyhood idol. At that point Jacques Plante was 42 years old and willing to teach Bernie everything he was willing to learn. By 1973 Parent rejoined a bigger, stronger, more talented Flyers team and together they went on to make hockey history.
Love is all you need
Parent also once said “(your) parents are the only ones obligated to love you, from the rest of the world you have to earn it”. Bernie Parent is so loved in this area and not just because of his hockey achievements and the back to back Stanley Cups. It’s not just what he did, it’s the way he did it.
As far as Bernie was concerned every Flyers Fan was part of the team. And he kept it that way long after his storied and remarkable career in ice hockey was over. He greeted everyone like an old friend. He knew how important it was to “keep the association with the younger generation”. He was very active with the Snider Youth Hockey program.
He tirelessly gave back to the community that he loved. He was very dedicated to Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children. He and his wife Gini even used to play Mr. and Mrs. Clause for the kids there at Christmas time. Bernie loved animals so he was a big proponent of the Philadelphia SPCA. The list goes on and on and on.
Bernie Parent loved the City of Philadelphia and the people here have always loved him right back. How could you not? He was an absolute beauty both on and off the ice. He’s an inspiration, a hero, and a fantastic example of how to be a decent human being.
He bought magic to this town and then he chose to spend the rest of his days here always making it a better place. The universe may have given Bernie what he was asking for but we were also very lucky that things worked out as they did. He was one of a kind. God Bless Bernie Parent.
“I made a lot of friends here, we won championships. To make it simple, you walk down the street, it doesn’t matter where you’re at and people love you. Because we love them. That has never stopped you know. It’s a beautiful thing”. – Bernie Parent
Our deepest sympathy to Bernie’s family and loved ones. In lieu of flowers the family has kindly requested donations be made to Ed Snider Youth Hockey and Education.
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