Flyer-MANIA: Who’s Who?

Apr 6, 2020

Like all Flyers fans, there’s a hockey puck size hole in fans’ hearts these days.

To fill the void left during this hiatus, I’ve spent some time going back reading articles and watching clips and images of my favorite sports team, the Philadelphia Flyers, especially this 2019-2020 version that just seemed so special.

One clip in particular that ALWAYS puts a massive smile on my face happened on February 20th when Kevin Hayes celebrated his overtime goal against the Blue Jackets by showing off his “Championship belt” as they do in the wrestling world! What an incredible celebration for the goal that officially swept the season series versus Columbus 4-0.

With the city of Philadelphia having such a rich wrestling history and this being Wrestlemania weekend, the thought occurred to me…

Is it possible that some of our favorite Philadelphia Flyers are secretly undercover wrestlers?

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Kevin Hayes // The Rock

It’s evident to anyone watching Kevin Hayes in his first season as a Flyer that he is really enjoying himself out there. He’s just as fun to watch as was the Rock. Hayes is really active on social media (if you haven’t seen it, check out his back & forth with Gritty on Twitter, it’s hilarious), and he knows how to get the crowd on their feet, anyone better at doing that than the Rock?

Watching Hayes stick handle and play keep-away with his opponents, especially during a penalty kill, reminds me of the Rock saying, “You Can’t go 1-on-1 with the Great One”! Just like the Rock, Hayes is really vocal, jabbing his teammates, and he always seems like he’s in a great mood.

No wrestler was better at jabbing others than the Rock! “If You Smellllll What Kevin Hayes is Cooking”!

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Claude Giroux // Bret “The Hitman” Hart

Just like Bret Hart is overlooked, Claude Giroux is often overlooked when it comes to all-time Flyer greats. At only 32 years old, Giroux is already 4^th in all-time team scoring and is only 68 points away from 2^nd all-time.

Yet like The Hitman, Giroux is rarely mentioned as one of the all-time greats. Philadelphia Inquirer beat writer Sam Carchidi recently came out with his list of 16 greatest Flyers of all time and only ranked Giroux 12^th.

With all due respect to Sam, Giroux is no doubt already in the top 5 IMO. Just as The Hitman was the leader of the Hart Foundation, Giroux is the clear-cut leader of the Flyers. And like The Hitman, Giroux is really technically sound at his craft. He plays the game the way it should be played, on both sides of the puck. Watching Giroux play, you can’t help but see that Giroux IS the “Excellence of Execution”!

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Travis Konecny // Eddie Guerrero

Just Like Eddie Guerrero, Travis Konecny is not a physically big man, but what he lacks in size, he makes up with grit, heart, and determination. Like Guerrero, TK doesn’t back down from anyone big or small and steamrolls into the hard areas and really gets under his opponents’ skin. TK is absolutely full of talent, as was Eddie. Guerrero worked his butt off and became a champion as a smaller man in a game of big men, and with 3 consecutive seasons of 24 goals at only 23 years old, TK is well on his way to doing the exact same thing.

Eddie Guerrero brought the “Latino Heat,” just like TK is bringing the Hockey Heat! His opponents may tell you that just like Guerrero, TK will be a champion even if it means he has too “Lie, Cheat and Steal” to get there!

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Travis Sanheim & Phillip Myers // The Road Warriors

Just like when Hawk and Animal, better known as the Road Warriors (or LOD) broke onto the wrestling scene, Sanheim and Myers are really impressive and definitely destined for greatness.

They’re big and robust and just leave you speechless with the plays they make at such a tender age. Like Hawk & Animal, at 6’3” and 6’5” respectively, they tower over most of their opponents. They’re both offensively gifted, and their size and skating ability makes them a nightmare for opponents to play against.

Technically speaking, just watching them make the little plays that mean so much during a game, away from the camera, is a thing of beauty. If you’re lucky enough to attend a Flyers game live, I challenge you to keep an eye out for either of these young men away from the puck, and I promise you, you will come out of it saying “Ohhhh What a Rush”!

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Alain Vigneault // Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Just like Bobby “The Brain” Heenan was for his stable of wrestlers, head coach Alain Vigneault is the brains behind the way the Flyers are playing. Sound defensive, he lets the offense come from the defensive side of the puck. Just like Heenan did with the likes of Mr. Perfect or Rick Rude, Vigneault isn’t afraid to let his young, talented players play big minutes in all situations.

As a result, guys like Konecny, Provorov, Hart, and even guys like Laughton and Hagg are having career years. Vigneault is one heck of a leader, also turning the devastating news about Oskar Lindblom’s illness, #OskarStrong, into a rallying point for his Flyers.

Like Heenan, most people didn’t want him as their “Manager” or “Head Coach” at first, but now as time has passed Vigneault is proving to be an absolutely phenomenal head coaching choice, in the way he is coaching the Flyers. So much so, that he is in the conversation to win the Jack Adams award given to the league’s best coach. He has now turned the fans to his side, just like Bobby “The Brain” Heenan won over the loveable Andre The Giant to his side.

By the way, a New WWE World Heavyweight Champion was crowned, and he is Flyers’ fan, Drew McIntyre!