Flyers’ Great, Rick MacLeish Passes Away

The hockey world was hit with sad news on Tuesday morning when it was announced that former NHLer and Philadelphia Flyers’ great, Rick MacLeish had passed away at the age of 66 after a lengthy illness.

MacLeish played 14 seasons in the NHL with the Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. Most of his career was spent in Philadelphia where he played 741 career regular season games accumulating 697 points (328g-369a).

Overall, MacLeish notched 759 points (349g-410a) in 846 regular season NHL games. He added 107 points (54g-53a) in 114 career playoff games with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Detroit. He played in three NHL All-Star Games (1976, 1977, 1980) and won two Stanley Cups with the Flyers (1974 and 1975).

Following the news of his passing, Flyers’ President Paul Holmgren released the following statement.

“With the passing of Rick MacLeish, the Flyers have lost one of their legends,” said Holmgren. “A good father, grandfather, teammate and friend, Rick will be missed by all who were fortunate to come and know him over the years. His happy and friendly demeanor was front and center everywhere Rick went.”

MacLeish scored the game-winning goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Bruins for the first Flyers Stanley Cup in 1974. He was inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame in its third year of existence on March 22, 1990.