Bernie Parent facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bernie Parent
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1984
Parent in 2023
Born	(1945-04-03) April 3, 1945 (age 80) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Boston Bruins Philadelphia Flyers Toronto Maple Leafs Philadelphia Blazers
Playing career	1965–1979

Bernard Marcel Parent, born on April 3, 1945, is a famous Canadian former professional ice hockey goalie. He played for 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with teams like the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He also played one season in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Philadelphia Blazers. Many people consider Parent one of the greatest goalies of all time.

During the 1973–74 and 1974–75 seasons, Parent had amazing success. The Flyers won the Stanley Cup twice. Parent also won the Vezina Trophy (for best goalie) and the Conn Smythe Trophy (for playoff MVP) in both of those seasons. He recorded 30 shutouts (games where the other team scores no goals) during those two years. Parent was added to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984. In 1998, he was ranked number 63 on The Hockey News list of the Top 100 NHL Players of All-Time. He is still a very popular player among fans in Philadelphia. In 2017, Parent was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

Early Life and Hockey Dreams

Bernie Parent is the youngest of seven children. He grew up in Rosemont, Quebec, which is a suburb of Montreal. When he was a boy, Parent looked up to Montreal Canadiens goalie Jacques Plante. Plante's sister lived in Parent's neighborhood. Parent often watched for Plante to visit his sister. Later, in 1971, Plante became Parent's teammate and a mentor when Plante was 43 years old.

Parent is from Quebec, where French is the main language. His English skills often led to funny moments with his teammates. Especially when he was excited. Early in his career, Parent avoided English interviews. He was worried about saying the wrong things.

Playing Career Highlights

Parent started his hockey journey with the Niagara Falls Flyers in the OHA Junior A league. He won the Dave Pinkney Trophy twice. This award is for the goalie with the lowest goals-against average (GAA). He finished his junior career by winning the OHA championship and the Memorial Cup in 1965.

Starting in the NHL

Parent began his professional career with the Boston Bruins in the 1965–66 season. He played in 39 games that year. The next season, he split his time between Boston and their minor league team in Oklahoma.

In 1967, the NHL expanded, and Parent was chosen by the Philadelphia Flyers. He and Doug Favell, another former Bruins player, shared the goalie duties for the Flyers' first season. Parent had a 2.48 GAA and four shutouts. The Flyers finished first in their division. Over the next two seasons, Parent became the Flyers' main goalie. He played in many games and had impressive save percentages.

Moving to Toronto and Learning from a Legend

In 1971, the Flyers traded Parent to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This trade was a good change for Parent. In Toronto, he joined his childhood hero, Jacques Plante. Plante, who was 42, was having a great season. Plante taught Parent to be a more consistent and skilled goalie. Parent played well for the Leafs through the 1971–72 season. He gained valuable experience in both regular season and playoff games.

Bernie Parent's return to the ice for the 2012 Winter Classic Alumni Game.

Parent did not have a contract with the Leafs for the 1972–73 season. He signed a big contract with the Miami Screaming Eagles in the new World Hockey Association. He was the first NHL player to join this new league. The Eagles team did not work out, so Parent signed with the Philadelphia Blazers. Parent faced many shots in 63 games for the Blazers. He left the team during the 1973 WHA playoffs due to a contract disagreement. He wanted to return to the NHL but not to the Leafs. Toronto traded Parent's NHL rights back to the Flyers.

Stanley Cup Glory with the Flyers

The next two seasons were the best of Parent's career. He recorded a total of 30 shutouts in regular and playoff games. Many hockey writers say Parent's play from 1973 to 1975 was some of the best ever by a goalie. In the 1973–74 season, Parent played 73 games. He led the league with a 1.89 GAA and 12 shutouts. He won the Vezina Trophy and was named a first-team all-star goalie. The Flyers won their division.

Parent then won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. The Flyers won their first Stanley Cup Championship against the Boston Bruins. In the final game, Parent made a spectacular save on a shot from Ken Hodge. This save helped preserve the shutout and the championship win. It became a famous highlight.

The next year, he had another 12 shutouts. He won another Vezina Trophy, another all-star selection, and a second Conn Smythe Trophy. The Flyers won their second straight Stanley Cup. In both championship runs, Parent shut out the other team in the final game. He beat the Bruins 1–0 in 1974 and the Buffalo Sabres 2–0 in 1975. A popular saying in Philadelphia was, "Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent."

Career-Ending Injury

In the 1975–76 season, Parent had a neck injury that needed surgery. He only played in 11 games that year. He returned later but could not get his starting job back. Without Parent playing at his best, the Flyers lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the Montreal Canadiens. Over the next three seasons, he faced challenges. Hockey was changing, with more focus on scoring goals.

On February 17, 1979, Parent suffered a career-ending eye injury. During a game against the New York Rangers, a stick went through the eye hole of his mask. This caused permanent damage to his vision. He lost sight in his eye for two weeks but eventually regained some vision. However, it was not enough to play hockey again. He retired at age 34. This incident, and another similar injury to goalie Gerry Desjardins, led many goalies to use masks with cages. Many amateur leagues also banned the old fiberglass masks.

Life After Hockey

The #1 Flyers sweater worn by Bernie Parent in his last game on February 17, 1979

Parent in 2012

After Parent retired, the Flyers honored him by retiring his jersey number (1) on October 11, 1979. He worked for the Flyers for several years as a goalie coach. He helped train future star goalies like Ron Hextall and Pelle Lindbergh. Lindbergh had looked up to Parent when he was young. Today, Parent works for the Flyers as an Ambassador of Hockey. You can often see him at Flyers home games.

Parent faced personal challenges after his career ended. He has been sober for over 30 years.

In a 2007 interview, Parent shared a funny story about the end of the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals. He admitted he was watching the clock tick down in the final seconds. He was not paying full attention when Bobby Orr shot the puck down the ice. The puck went wide with only 4 seconds left. Parent said, "If his shot is on net, it's a goal." The game ended seconds later, and the Flyers won their first championship.

Parent remains one of the most loved Flyers players from their championship teams. Fans in Philadelphia still chant "Bernie...Bernie...Bernie" when they see him at events.

Parent was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984. In 1998, he was ranked number 63 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

Parent has lived in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He also had a shore house in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. For part of the year, he lives on his yacht called The French Connection.

In 2011, Parent announced he would play in the 2012 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game. He started in goal for the Flyers, playing five minutes. He did not let in any goals, even stopping a breakaway by New York Rangers legend Ron Duguay. He was named the first star of the game.

Awards and Achievements

Parent and Bobby Clarke statue in South Philadelphia

• Memorial Cup championship in 1965.
• Selected to the WHA Second All-Star Team in 1973.
• Selected to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1974 and 1975.
• Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 1974 and 1975.
• Vezina Trophy winner in 1974 and 1975.
• Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and 1975.
• Played in the NHL All-Star Games in 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, and 1977.
• Class Guy Award winner in 1979.
• His #1 jersey was retired by the Philadelphia Flyers on October 11, 1979.
• Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.
• Ranked number 63 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players in 1998.
• Inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Parent co-wrote a book called "Journey Through Risk and Fear." It talks about his challenges and how to overcome fear, face difficulties, and reach goals.

Records and Milestones

• Bernie Parent once held the record for most wins in a season (47). New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur later broke this record in the 2006–07 season with 48 wins. However, Parent's 47-win season in 1973–74 is still the record for most wins in a single season without overtime or shootouts.
• Bernie was the fourth hockey player and third goalie to appear on the cover of Time magazine. He was on the cover on February 24, 1975.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

Bold indicates led league

See Also

• List of NHL statistical leaders