Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009, 2:00 PM | 20 comments |
 
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Dave Schultz sits in the penalty box of the Wachovia Spectrum. He will be inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame. (Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer)

 Dave "The Hammer" Schultz returned to the penalty box at the Spectrum today for a press conference. Not exactly what he was used to being there for during his time with the Flyers.

Schultz will be inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame on Nov. 16, before the Flyers game against New Jersey at the Wachovia Center.

Here is some of what he had to say:

Q: Did you like being in the penalty box?

 

“What I liked about it was that it wasn’t as crowded as on the bench. I had a towel, coke, you know we used to drink soda, which wasn’t really that good for you but Clarkie [Bob Clarke] started that. So it was relaxing. Only one time do I remember, well I don’t remember why I was there or how I got there. I had a slight concussion, only one time. It was always a good vantage point over here [laughs].”

 

Q: What are some memories that you have not coming back in your mind, standing back in the penalty box in the Spectrum, knowing that this building will be closed in just a couple of weeks, what are some memories that come flying through your head?

 

“Obviously the first one would be the big games that you’re involved with. Certainly Game Six against Boston was huge. I hadn’t realized I got a couple penalties in that third period - I don’t know what the referee was thinking on those [laughs], but we killed them off obviously. But I’m like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I took that penalty in the third period up 1-0.’ So that game and some of the big games against the Rangers during the season. I remember we captured actually, I guess it was ’74, we captured the division championship, I think it was against Boston, right here [Spectrum]. So I actually remember probably more in a lot of the other buildings I had to play in, and some of the things that took place, but it’s going to be sad. It was a great place, as many many people experienced, and certainly our team.”

 

Q: How do you feel about being selected for the Flyers Hall of Fame?

 

“It’s unbelievable to me. I was absolutely shocked. All I think of is… forever. I mean, I’ll have my name on a banner forever in the Flyers Hall of Fame in the organization, so that’s very very special for me.”

 

Q: Who was your biggest nemesis or who did you enjoy fighting?

 

“None of them, I didn’t enjoy any of them, but they were small, really small [laughs]. Terry O’Reilly, I fought him eight times so he was my main nemesis. I knew that particularly if we were going into Boston there was probably a pretty good chance. I watched some video where I was going to fight Carol Vadnais or Gary Doak, or somebody and all you could see is O’Reilly going in and out of players and getting there before I could get involved with the other player, and he’d drop his gloves and we would fight.”

 

 

 

 

Posted by Daily News staff @ 2:00 PM  Permalink | 20 comments
20
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:01 PM, 10/15/2009
    A true Philadelphia warrior. A perfect fit for Philly.
    snakeman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:13 PM, 10/15/2009
    An alltime great Flyer and a great neighbor to everyone in Cherry Hill
    Jonny U
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:11 PM, 10/15/2009
    Please stop the embedded video of the Phils...it is entirely unneeded...good for the Hammer! I thought he would have been in already.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:13 PM, 10/15/2009
    Really though...don't you think this is a slap in the face of some of the great FLyers through history? Tim Kerr, Propp, Poulin, MacLeash, Reggie Leach are just some names that should be up there before a fighter. That is like the Black Hawks or Red Wings putting Bob Probert in their hall over Roenick or Yserman(sp?)
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:26 PM, 10/15/2009
    Dale Rolph (sp)
    drenner
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:39 PM, 10/15/2009
    Really though readers, don't you think that rvb2321 needs a good slap in the Face! Schultzie was the ultimate Flyer. He is just as deserving as any to be inducted into the FHOF.And anyone who say's otherwise sounds like a RedWing Fan!
    Tom Nye
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:44 PM, 10/15/2009
    rvp...your point is legitimate but man, if you were there in the old days the excitment was unreal when the big boys went at. It was really something to see when Schutz first came up. Keith Magnessen (sp)was the bad boy in the league and the Hammer knocked him cold.
    drenner
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:54 PM, 10/15/2009
    Hammer gave the other wanna be tough guys some guts
    studo
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:56 PM, 10/15/2009
    Hey rvb2321, all those guys are in. http://flyers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?bcid=his_hallOfFame Never underestimate The Hammer's importance to the Flyers Stanley Cup winners. Before Schultz, the team was pushed around by the likes of the Blues and the Bruins. He became their reluctant but effective cop on the ice. It didn't hurt that he could skate a little and scored 20 goals in 74. I'm happy to see him honored and sitting in the Spectrum penalty box where he spent so many minutes.
    OldNavySteamer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:35 PM, 10/15/2009
    If it wasn't for Schultz, MacLeish, Leach, Barber, and Clarke wouldn't have had the careers that they did. RVB, I hear what you're saying, but you're missing that point. Schultz did a lot to make sure that the TEAM won games. And he did it better than anyone else! Congrats, Hammer!
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:42 PM, 10/15/2009
    My best memory was a night in St Louis, after a fight, Schultz skated past the Blues' bench, no one else wanted to fight, so before leaving the ice, Dave went to Center ice and flashed the "We're No. 1 finger" to all the St Louis Blues fans - Classic !!!!
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:11 PM, 10/15/2009
    I liked Schultz as much as anyone, but inot the Flyers Hall of Fame? I think it diminshes the HOF. It is true that Dave played an impotant role as a role player on the Stanley Cup teams. But then again, there were 15 or so other guys who were important role players. Might as well put the entire '73 through '75 team in.
    Bobphxville
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:40 AM, 10/16/2009
    it really doesn't matter if he's worth it or not. this whole sham of a HOF induction is simply to try and sell tickets to a game that isn't selling well. it's a sad day in flyers history when they make a mockery of the flyers HOF just to get more butts into the seats for a november game against the devils (on a monday i believe). nice work flyers marketing/sales/pr/etc...ridiculous.
    jbandit2116


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About Frank Seravalli
Frank Seravalli is in his fourth year with the Daily News and third season covering the Flyers. He started at the Daily News as an intern writing about the boozing legends of the Lincoln Financial Field lots and hasn't left. Since joining the Flyers beat, he has covered everything from the Winter Classic to the Stanley Cup Final and everything in between. Prior to joining the Daily News, the Bucks County native did a large amount of freelance work for local media outlets, covering high schools, colleges and all four of Philly's major sports teams. He resides in Center City. E-mail Frank at seravaf@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter @DNFlyers.

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