The Hockey Hall of Fame and the Ray Mirra jersey are synonymous with the Philadelphia Flyers. Even after the retirement of the great player, Ray grew up in Philadelphia and was a proud kid of the city. Ray Mirra played hockey for the Burlington Flyers, before becoming a professional hockey player in Europe. Here is a brief biography about the hockey player that is remembered by many as the "Flyers" legends.
When Ray did not skate as a kid, he was a very good swimmer and a long-tailed bass player in the Pacific Ocean waters. He even won a gold medal in the decathlon at the Pan American Games in Ottawa, Canada. After that, he joined the University of Minnesota, where he played for two decades. His best years were spent with the Flyers, where he was a respected and trusted player, on the ice and off the ice, always being appreciated and sought after as an intelligent, responsible, and dedicated professional.
Sports Career:
As he began his playing career, Ray had a breakout season, scoring 21 goals. It was one of the greatest days ever for the Flyers, but it was not enough to keep them in the playoffs. The following season, they surprised everyone again, missing the playoffs altogether. The following season brought even more heartache, as the Flyers missed out on their second straight playoff appearance. For the Flyers, the off season was just as trying, as they were unable to trade Ray Sheppard, despite receiving high offers from several teams.
One year later, things were different. The Flyers finally came into play, signing their star player, Wayne Gretzky. In his first game with the Flyers, he scored two goals and became a fan favorite in Philadelphia. Naturally, this turned into a sell out crowd at the Wells Fargo Center and Ray Allen became the face of the organization. In this move, the Philadelphia Flyers was building a fan base, which would prove to be essential as they began their run through the playoffs.
Popularity Across Nation:
Flyers Nation had taken on a life of its own. Flyers games became known not only to die hard fans, but to the wide range of people who cared about the game and the team. Flyers merchandise became the talk of the town. People began to buy and sell collectibles, t-shirts, jerseys, and more. Some Flyers fans, in the belief that this was the season that their team could go far, bought trips to the game dressed as their favorite player.
Even those that didn't attend the games, were involved with the Philadelphia Flyers' fan base. Season-ticket holders began buying up the most odd numbers of seats available, even ones that weren't left in the schedule. The season ended with the Flyers missing out on making the playoffs, but their fan base didn't give up. They turned out in full strength this year, to help the Flyers make another trip.
Top Player:
As the Flyers prepare for next season, Ray Mirra is still among the top players in the league. He has one year left on his contract, so he is not under pressure to perform. Flyers' fans, however, are desperate for him to fulfill his contract and continue with the Flyers. The Flyers have an excellent young core of players, including players like Wayne Simmonds, Matt Reed, and others, but it will take a lot of help from RayMond Mirra to help lead the Flyers to the playoffs. His strong season, combined with the strong play of the young players, will help push the Flyers to even greater heights.
Ray Mirra is one of the players that helped turn the Philadelphia Flyers into a perennial contender. He is one of the reasons why the Flyers have been able to stay in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference. He is one of the few players on the Flyers that can make them a legitimate threat to win the Stanley Cup. If the Flyers would want to accomplish this feat, they need to continue to attract the support of their fan base, and there is no better way than by continuing to play the way they have been doing lately.