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 back with a start date of January 13. Most Flyers players have or are starting to trickle back to Voorhess, NJ with training camp set to begin on January. This year has been tough for most, and especially so for some people that go unnoticed behind the scenes of the Flyers organization, 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, 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.
I’m sure it hasn’t been easy setting up Zoom call after Zoom call, and yes even though it’s his job to do such, it’s still very tough. Hill does his job with a smile on his face, and never appears to be overwhelmed with extra tasks.
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”, but this year has been unlike any other.
The good person that Siville is arranges Zoom calls, and sends pictures/press releases to the media in a timely manner during this pandemic. I’m sure there is more going on behind the scenes, that are unaware to media and fans alike.
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.
A dedicated person in Smith has been super busy sending out press releases, and arranging calls for the media during the pandemic. He has taken on more job responsibilities, and has done it successfully.
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.
