PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 18: Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers reacts towards Zack Hill Flyer Public Relations director in the locker room after winning his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on December 18, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
Wooooooo the Flyers are hot, riding a four game winning streak, as they are currently sitting in third place in the Metropolitan Division. With having off until Thursday after Christmas break, this gave some fans sometime to sing Christmas carols, while other fans finally had some time for much needed R&R. Some people that go unnoticed behind the scenes of the Flyers organization are the PR Communication Staff. They work their tails off behind the scenes. With the new year less than a week away now is a good time to honor these folks.
The Flyers PR Staff is lead by a bull dog in Zack Hill. Hill is the Senior Director of Communications. He has quietly guided the Flyers PR Staff to three Dillman Awards in the past ten years. The first was in 2012, as the PR Staff was given the Dillman Award for their excellence in media relations departments in both conferences, the second Dillman Award was awarded in the 2015 season from the Eastern Conference, and lastly the final Dillman Award was awarded in 2018 from the Eastern Conference.
Zack Hill
Hill graduated from West Virginia, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree of Science. He became an elementary school teacher, but left the career after pursuing his Master’s degree in journalism. He was fortunate to work for the Philadelphia 76ers as an intern, and they eventually promoted Hill to the Director of Public Relations position.
The guru in Hill left the 76ers organization to join the Flyers organization in 1993. Hill hasn’t looked back as he handles all media relations requests, attends practices, lines up press credentials, preps game notes, photographs at times (Like a great photographer Kate Frese does), comforts players, and makes players available to media. Moreover, Hill is a busy bee that never stops working, as he does his job very well. He also goes through like four cell phones a season for his efforts.
Joe Siville
Siville is a business guru that knows how to relate with others. He holds a dual Bachelor’s in Journalism and History from Rutgers University. Moreover, his fortunes took him to the ECHL, where Siville became an assistant director of communications.
The good fortunes in Siville took him to the AHL where he became manager of communications. Siville joined the Flyers in 2006, and hasn’t looked back since. He is Hill’s right-hand man, as Siville takes part in the Coaches press conferences, Players locker room, handles media requests, and anything else that Hill needs him to fulfill. Siville is often over heard in the Vigneault’s press conference to the media saying, “Last question.”
Brian Smith
Smith joined the Flyers organization in 2009, after successfully handling PR duties for the Philadelphia Phantoms. He came to the Phantoms with tons of experience, after handling PR duties for the Kalamzoo Wings.
His primary duties with the Flyers are handling media credentials, game notes, press releases/publications, and the press box operations. Smith works side by side with Siville and Hill to make their jobs that much easier. Sometimes Smith can be seen greeting those that enter the players locker room, and around the press area at games and practices.
These gentlemen have tough, busy jobs and their job at times is taken for granted. They never stop working to try and make everyone happy. Gentlemen, your job does not go unnoticed, keep up the good work.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
