This cache is one in a series of geocaches honouring the greatest franchise in hockey history, the Philadelphia Flyers.
Bobby Clarke #16 - Center
Born: August 13, 1949
Birthplace: Flin Flon, Manitoba
Playing for the Flin Flon Bombers in the 1967-68 WCHL season, Bobby Clarke racked up 168 points (51 goals, 117 assists) in only 59 games. That was the best performance in the league that season. By all accounts, Bobby should have been ranked first in the NHL draft, but there were rumours around the league that Clarke was a diabetic and most probably would not be able to play in the NHL due to his medical condition.
Pat Ginnell, head coach of the Bombers, proactively travelled with Clarke to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, one of the best hospitals in North America, to have him evaluated. The doctors concluded that Clarke could play professional hockey if he looked after his health. The coach asked the doctors to put their statement in writing and when the following season began and NHL scouts began to visit Flin Flon, Ginnell showed them the verdict from the Mayo Clinic. On the ice, Clarke hardly looked like a player with a serious affliction. He totaled 137 points (51 goals, 86 assists) in 58 games and was again at the top of the league. Clarke also demonstrated superior leadership skills, which were highly valued in the NHL.
Bobby Clarke was selected 17th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the 1969 NHL Entry Draft. For Clarke, the start of his professional career was rough. During training camp, he had two serious diabetic seizures. One of the Philadelphia coaches, Frank Lewis, conducted his own investigation and learned that in both instances Clarke had only a light breakfast before the workouts. Lewis drew up a complete dietary plan, which Bobby strictly followed for years to come. Before a game, Clarke would drink a bottle of Coca-Cola with three spoonfuls of dissolved sugar. Between periods he downed half a glass of orange juice with sugar added, and after the game a whole glass. Lewis always stashed several chocolate bars and a tube of 100% glucose in his bag, just in case.
The personal diet plan developed by his coach worked without a hitch and Bobby did not miss a single game in his first NHL season. At the same time, Clarke did not put on any spectacular performances either, with only 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists).
The following season, Clarke's 63 points (27 goals, 36 assists) helped Philadelphia capture the number three spot in their division, but in the first round of the playoffs the Flyers were swept by the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Bobby felt that he had made improvements in all elements of his game during his second season. There was plenty of praise for the young center, but the question remained -- How long could a diabetic keep on playing at the professional level?
Diabetics were susceptible to infectious diseases and even a slight scratch could be dangerous. Clarke played a very physical game and did his share of bleeding. His blood's sugar content was a major source of danger. If the concentration was low, he could lose his physical coordination. If it was high, his legs would feel as heavy as lead. Gradually, Bobby proved to all the skeptics that he was very capable of managing his ailment effectively.
By the third season, everyone had forgotten about Clarke's diabetes. Not only did Clarke chalk up the highest number of points in the club's history -- 81 points (35 goals, 46 assists) -- he also became the uncontested leader of the team at the young age of 22. At the end of the season, he was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication, a first for the Philadelphia team.
The merits Bobby Clarke accumulated during his career were impressive. As a player, the Philadelphia Flyers captain led his teams to Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and 1975. He also captured numerous individual awards, including the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player in 1973, 1975 and 1976, and made the All-Star Team four times. He also played for Canada in the legendary 1972 Summit Series vs. the USSR.
Clarke's behavior on ice was far from heroic. Under the captaincy of Clarke, the Philadelphia Flyers played an extremely aggressive, rough-and-tumble game of hockey, earning the moniker “The Broad Street Bullies”. He had a famous, captivating smile - with about a dozen missing teeth. That is how Bobby Clarke will be remembered by those who saw him on the ice. One of the best checkers in the entire history of the league, he was also a ruffian and a warrior. And a victor.
Following his retirement on May 15, 1984 Clarke became the General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers. Clarke's first stint as Flyers general manager lasted six seasons and included two trips to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1985 and 1987. After making the playoffs in each of his first five seasons in the front office, the Flyers fell off during the 1989-90 season and missed the playoffs. Flyers President Jay Snider fired Clarke following the season and Clarke moved on to the Minnesota North Stars and spent two seasons as the North Stars GM, one of which saw a surprise run to the Finals in 1991. Leaving Minnesota, Clarke returned to Philadelphia to assume the role of Senior Vice President during the 1992-93 season and served as a mentor for young phenom Eric Lindros during his first season. Clarke moved on shortly after and took the general manager position with the expansion Florida Panthers, a team which set the expansion team record for wins and points during a season in 1993-94. He returned to the role of Flyers GM prior to the 1994-95 season and he rebuilt the team into a Stanley Cup contender. Though the Flyers only reached the Finals once (1997) during his second tenure as Flyers GM, the Flyers made the playoffs 11 seasons in a row. Following a poor start to the 2006-07 season, Clarke resigned citing burnout and a lack of desire. Clarke returned to the franchise on December 4, 2006 and was named Senior Vice President.
On November 15, 1984, Bobby Clarke Night was held at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. The Flyers retired Clarke's #16 jersey and unveiled the Bobby Clarke Trophy which is awarded annually to the Flyers' Most Valuable Player. Three years later Clarke was a first ballot inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Flyers created a team Hall of Fame in 1988, and the first two inductees were Clarke and Bernie Parent.
In addition to his NHL honours, Bob Clarke was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada (O.C.) on December 14, 1981. The trophy he won in 1968 and 1969 with the Bombers, given annually to the Western Hockey League's top scorer, was re-named the Bob Clarke Trophy. He was inducted into three more halls of fame, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 as a charter member, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
The cache container was made by my daughter for Father’s Day 2012. Jugo Juice gift card for FTF!