Pens' 'Hulk Hogan Guy' example of why being a fan is awesome

June 11, 2014

By Nick Tricome
@itssnick215

Hockey has plenty of characters.

Many are the players themselves, with their humorous personalities going hand-in-hand with their performance on the ice. Guys like Jeremy Roenick and Scott Hartnell to name a couple from Flyers history.

But then there are the fans who manage to find their way on to jumbotrons and TV screens, and almost become a staple of their favorite team. There are the Vancouver Green Men, and one that both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia know well, Cy Clark, a.k.a the 'Hulk Hogan Guy.'

Sadly, Clark passed away last week due to complications from cancer. He was 53.

Clark is probably best known for taunting the Flyers during their 6-4 win over the Penguins at the Consol Energy Center on April 1, 2012.

The Flyers had a secure 6-3 lead with just over a minute left in the third, when the Penguins sent their checking line out and Joe Vitale laid out a hard open ice hit on Danny Briere.

The hit led to a brawl on open the ice, while Peter Laviolette stood atop the boards and yelled furiously at Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. And throughout the whole thing, was a Penguins fan, a Hulk Hogan look-alike, dawning an Evgeni Malkin jersey and a bandanna that read "Malkamania," jawing at Laviolette and the rest of the Flyers' bench.

Scott Hartnell took notice and responded with his own Hogan impersonation...

Back in the playoffs, but missing something

April 17, 2014

By Nick Tricome
@itssnick215

After a one year absence, the Flyers are back in the playoffs and will take the ice against the rival Rangers Thursday night. But something will be different this time.

215 Basketball: Josh Harris to purchase New Jersey Devils

August 9, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The Sixers won't be the only team Joshua Harris owns anymore.

On Friday, Harris added the New Jersey Devils to his list.

Jody Shelley calls it a career

August 9, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Jody Shelley is calling it a career.

The 37-year old enforcer is hanging up his skates and will be joining one of his former teams in the Columbus Blue Jackets as a broadcaster.

NHL officially releases preseason schedule

August 8, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The NHL officially released the 2013 preseason schedule on Thursday.

104 exhibition games will be played over a 16-day span starting on September 14.

The Flyers will have seven preseason games, starting with a game in London, Ontario's Budweiser Gardens on Sunday, September 15. They will face the Toronto Maple Leafs in one of 15 games being played outside NHL venues.

Here is the Flyers' complete preseason schedule:

215 Basketball: Sixers ownership group wants to buy...the Devils?!

August 7, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The Sixers still need to find a head coach, but that may not be team owner Joshua Harris' only priority.

According to multiple reports, Harris and the rest of the Sixers' ownership group are looking to buy the New Jersey Devils.

Laviolette named Team USA assistant coach, things could get interesting

July 23, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette will be at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, serving as an assistant coach for Team USA.

Sochi bound?: Select Flyers invited to Olympic prelim rosters

July 22, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The NHL made a deal at the end of last week to allow their players to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics and teams have been putting together their preliminary rosters in preparation of orientation camps.

Here are the Flyers that will be getting a shot at representing their countries this winter...

Sean Couturier gets two-year extension

July 20, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Getting pending restricted free agents under contract has been a top priority for the Flyers this season.

They already signed defensemen Erik Gustafsson and Oliver Lauridsen, who already hit restricted free agency, to deals and signed their captain Claude Giroux, who would have become a restricted free agent after the 2013-14 season, to an eight-year contract extension.

Now the Flyers have signed forward Sean Couturier to a two-year contract extension.

Important games on the schedule

July 20, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The NHL finally released the schedule for all 30 of its teams on Friday, leaving some interesting match-ups on the Flyers' schedule. 

Some of it's due to conference re-alignment, while the rest of it is the result of the team's acquisitions and departures during the offseason.

So, let's take a look...

Hextall returns to Flyers as assistant GM

July 15, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Ron Hextall has made his way back to the Flyers.

The Flyers named Hextall assistant general manager and director of hockey operations on Monday.

Lauridsen signed to two-year extension

July 10, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The Flyers re-signed another one of their restricted free agents on Wednesday in defenseman Oliver Lauridsen.

Lauridsen will be getting a two-year contract extension after the two-year entry level deal he originally signed ended after the 2013 season.

Broad Street Bullies coach Fred Shero finally gets elected to Hockey Hall of Fame

July 10, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The honor was long overdue, but it's finally happening.

The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its newest inductees on Tuesday. The list includes greats players like Scott Niedermayer, Brendan Shanahan and Chris Chelios and now, finally, former Flyers coach Fred Shero.

Gustafsson signed to one-year deal

July 10, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The Flyers signed defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a one-year, $1 million contract on Tuesday and it is a one-way deal, according to Flyers Inside Reporter Anthony SanFilippo.

After 14 years with Lightning, Lecavalier wears colors of a different team

July 9, 2013

By Nick Tricome

It's hard to imagine Vincent Lecavalier wearing the colors of any other team but the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On Tuesday, though, the day finally came.

At the conclusion of the introductory press conference for the Flyers' newest signings in center Lecavalier, defenseman Mark Streit and goaltender Ray Emery, the three of them put on their orange and black sweaters for the first time (well, second time in Emery's case).

No one looked more different than Lecavalier.

Streit after Islanders' playoff appearance: "It was time to move on"

July 9, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Mark Streit had spent the past five of his eight (technically four of seven) NHL seasons playing for the New York Islanders.

But even though the Islanders made the playoffs for the first time in six years, with him as their captain, the 35-year old Swiss defenseman felt it was time to move on.

Holmgren on Emery: "All he does is win"

July 9, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The Flyers introduced their newest members on Tuesday in center Vincet Lecavalier and defenseman Mark Streit. They also welcomed goaltender Ray Emery back into the fold.

During the introductory press conference at the Wells Fargo Center, general manager Paul Holmgren had very high praise for the 30-year old goaltender.

Ray Emery Part 2

July 5, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Free agency opened at noon and the Flyers went and found a goaltender almost immediately.

They signed Ray Emery to a one-year, $1.65 million contract, giving him another shot in Philadelphia.

4th of July Notes: Briere signs with Habs, Hall re-signs, Flyers pushing for Emery

July 2, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Free agency doesn't start until tomorrow, but that hasn't stopped teams from making moves on the 4th of July.

UPDATED: Giroux's extension finalized and agreed to

July 4, 2013

By Nick Tricome

UPDATE #2: It's official, Giroux signed to the eight-year contract extension.

#Flyers officially confirm Claude Giroux has signed an 8-year contract extension. #NHL
— Anthony SanFilippo (@AnthonySan37) July 5, 2013

Here is the press release statement by GM Paul Holmgren concerning Giroux's deal.

“We are pleased to announce that we have agreed to an eight-year contract extension with Claude Giroux,” Holmgren said. “Claude is a high-quality young man that over the past few years has blossomed into our best player and also one of the top players in the league. We look forward to more and better things to come from Claude over the next number of years as we try to achieve our goal of becoming a championship team.”

UPDATE: Giroux's contract extension has been finalized, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. He will sign an 8-year, $66.2 million deal that has a full no-movement clause.

Giroux's annual cap hit will be $8.275 million starting in the 2014-15 season.

An update on Giroux deal I tweeted about earlier today... It's finalized now: 8 years, $66.2 M _ $8.275 M AAV. Includes full NMC
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 5, 2013

ORIGINAL
Claude Giroux is going to be a rich man in a couple days.