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Flyers owner Ed Snider passes away at 83

Flyers Laviolette Fired Hockey

Chairman of Comcast-Spectacor Ed Snider, right, speaks at an NHL hockey news conference with Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and newly-hired head coach Craig Berube, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

AP

A sad day for Flyers fans and hockey fans in general, as the team announced that legendary founder and owner Ed Snider has passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 83-years-old.

The Flyers outlined some of his biggest accomplishments in a news release this morning:

Mr. Snider was a key catalyst in establishing Philadelphia as a premier sports city. He founded the Flyers in 1966 and took the Spectrum arena out of bankruptcy in 1972. In 1974, the Flyers became the first National Hockey League expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, repeating the achievement again in 1975. The Spectrum quickly became known as “America’s Showplace” and Mr. Snider saw the opportunity to create a new venue management industry based on that success. Through his company, Spectacor, and in partnership with Aramark Corporation and the Pritzger Family, he created Spectacor Management Group, which experienced significant growth and earned national acclaim for its impact in the industry. Under Mr. Snider’s guidance, Spectacor also developed and acquired nearly a dozen related lines of business including PRISM, the country’s then fastest growing regional paid sports cable network, and WIP, one of the nation’s first all-sports radio stations.

“Today, the Philadelphia Flyers, the city of Philadelphia and the National Hockey League have lost a true icon,” said Flyers President Paul Holmgren Mr. Snider is the face of the Flyers franchise. He is revered and loved by all of his current and former players and has the utmost respect of the entire hockey world. Mr. Snider’s passion and drive to be the best has made the Flyers brand one of the most recognizable in all of sports. His desire to always have the best team possible for this city and for our fans is a true testament to his passion for the Flyers and his will to win. On this sad day, our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Snider’s wife, Lin; his children -- Craig, Jay, Lindy, Tina, Sarena and Sam; as well as all of his grandchildren. Mr. Snider will be truly missed by all of us but his spirit along with the culture he created and instilled will live on with the Flyers organization forever.”