Photo Credit: Our very own Rob Windfelder
“It’s the f..kin Philadelphia Flyers. The first time I went over the Walt Whitman Bridge, I’ve been stuck here in Voorhees, it’s f..kin Philly. I got so f..kin excited.,” Flyers Head Coach John Tortorella emphatically said during his first presser
If this can’t pump up a team, I don’t know what will. The quote above reminds me of Herb Brooks talking to his American team before playing the Russian team “Tonight is your night, there night is done,” and the rest is history.. Tortorella gets it, and he’s trying to build a connection with the fanbase of Philadelphia. The Flyers hired a former Stanley Cup winning Head Coach John Tortorella to a four year deal, worth $16 million. Some forget he won a Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning back in the 2003-04 season.
Tortorella is known to be a hard-nosed coach, who commands the most from his players. He is not afraid of benching or calling out star studded players either. This was one reason why the majority of the Flyers team reported early for training camp under his tenure as a Flyers Head Coach. They also knew that they would have to give their all to fight to stay in the lineup.
It’s become apparent as some have excelled, and some have had difficulties learning this, but on most nights the Flyers do not have a problem with effort. The team may not be talented enough to beat stiff competition or playoff bound teams on a nightly basis, but they do fight and claw their way into games nine times out of 10, “There is still a priority to teach the young players how to win. Don’t think we are going to forget about winning,” John Tortorella said yesterday following practice. “You’re not teaching your younger players the right way on how to play, if you’re not teaching them how to win.” Teaching the youth how to win creates confidence and development, and it also teaches them how to win. Totorella said they haven’t lost sight of the rebuild, but winning is important for the youth in terms of growth.
“You’re not teaching your younger players the right way on how to play, if you’re not teaching them how to win.” – John Tortorella
Building a new culture was important, and that is rubbing off on this team. The results are proof into pudding of such, but it’s not only building a new culture that’s important. Building a winning culture is equally as important, and the orange and black will continue to strive in a positive direction as the season wears on, “People pay money. We are the Philadelphia Flyers. We are trying to get some respect in this league. We are going to try to win,” Tortorella stated yesterday.
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What Tortorella is trying to explain is that the rebuild is important, but the Flyers should not lose sight of winning or what they’re trying to achieve as a group. As stated above, building a new culture was one of the most important keys or ideologies of the Tortorella tenure as a coach, now it’s time to reap some of the benefits of building a new culture. It is true and fact that winning helps bring stars or superstars to your team.
These are the buildings blocks that are being instilled in this teaching season this season. He’s teaching the Flyers to learn how to finish games, that is where the Flyers are at in their next phase of the rebuild. In addition, this is adding to the locker room culture of being down, but not defeated. This really is the new era of Flyers hockey.
No coach likes to lose, but Tortorella does speak the truth. He continues to teach and lead by example this season for this young Flyers team. He is building a foundation to succeed at a high-level, and the start of that was building a new culture, instilling a new culture rather. Mission accomplished, coach.
85 plus points for the Fly guys;