This Sher-Wood goalie stick was game used by Hall of Famer Bernie Parent while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1975-76 season. Parent is considered among the all-time greats in the sport and has the hardware to back it up. He was among the most dominating goaltenders of his or any generation. During the decade of the 1970’s, he was twice voted first team NHL All Star and also earned a 2nd team WHA All Star selection from his one season sabbatical with the Philadelphia Blazers in 1972-73. Bernie represented the Flyers in 5 NHL All Star games. He won 2 Vezina trophies as the league’s most valuable goalie, 2 Conn Smythe trophies as playoff MVP and 2 Stanley Cup championships during his illustrious career. Those who watched will tell you that the reason the Stanley Cup resided in Philadelphia in 1974 and 1975 was all because of Bernie. He put on all-time great performances in both playoff runs and was the clear playoff MVP both times.
The 1974 playoff run culminated with a fierce Stanley Cup Final battle between the heavily favored Boston Bruins and the underdog Philadelphia Flyers. The Bruins were Stanley Cup Champs in two of the prior 4 seasons and sported a deadly lineup that was led by two all-time greats, Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito. Bernie’s performance in the 1974 finals is still talked about as one of the greatest ever by a goaltender. Parent shut out the Bruins in game 6, on home ice, giving Fred Shero’s Broad Street Bullies an improbable championship. He backed it up the following season with another stellar playoff run leading the Flyers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships as they defeated the Buffalo Sabres who sported ‘The French Connection’ line. Bernie set the all-time single season Wins mark with 47 in 1973-74, a record surpassed by Martin Brodeur. A freak eye injury during the 1978-79 season prematurely ended Parent’s career at the age of 34. Bernie has rightfully earned himself a place in Hockey’s Hall of Fame as one of the greatest goalies in the history of the sport.
This Sher-Wood goalie stick has the player number and name “1 Parent B.” stamped on the side. The stick is fully taped on the butt, paddle and blade. There is some splitting at the heel. Bernie has autographed the stick on the paddle tape along with another Flyer we cannot determine.