Skip to content
Sports
Link copied to clipboard

Believe in the beard

MARTY BIRON knew the tradition of the hockey playoff beard started with the New York Islanders during their Stanley Cup playoff runs of the 1980s.

MARTY BIRON knew the tradition of the hockey playoff beard started with the New York Islanders during their Stanley Cup playoff runs of the 1980s.

"The Islanders started it," the Flyers' goalie said. "There was a thing on the NHL Network about it, and I saw it. That's awesome. I think every sport ought to have playoff beards.

"Can you see the basketball guys with playoff beards? And the baseball guys? That would be sick, no?"

The legend of playoff beards is growing around here. Last month, with his team struggling, Eagles safety Brian Dawkins got his fellow defensive players to start growing beards. Since the Birds' facial hair has bloomed, so has the team.

The tradition has spread to the entire team and coaching staff. Coach Andy Reid has a full beard as does team chairman and chief executive officer Jeffrey Lurie.

The Islanders are believed to have started the tradition because they wanted to show team unity and to signify that the playoffs were separate from the regular season. The Eagles started earlier as they needed to rally to try to just make the playoffs.

Beards traditionally are grown from the first day of the first round and can be trimmed, but not removed after a loss. A hockey player can be clean-shaven after either being eliminated or winning the Stanley Cup.

While Biron was on top of the tradition and its beginnings, many Flyers were fuzzy on where it all started. But none claims domain over the practice and they are happy to see the Eagles and their coach looking like street people, if it helps with their quest for a Super Bowl.

"I don't mind," Flyers winger Simon Gagne said. "I saw a couple of guys were growing their beards, I saw their coach was doing it. But I thought that [every] sport did it. I saw some of the baseball guys did it. So, it's a good thing."

Added Flyers winger Mike Knuble, "I saw Andy Reid had one, but you can't tell if the rest do because they all have their helmets on. We own the tradition. We started it. Should we make them sign a permission slip? It's a good tradition, maybe all the teams should do it."

Flyers tough guy Riley Cote said he didn't have an opinion, on any of it.

"I guess it's something for the players to do, to show that they're in the postseason. I'm not sure it's even new. I know a higher percentage of hockey players do it.

"It's one of those things I guess, gives guys a chance to show they are out of the comfort zone and in a different part of the season."

And then there was Jeff Carter. The Flyers' All-Star sniper has been busy this season and apparently exerting too much energy leading the league in goals.

"I didn't even notice," he said. "I saw Reid. I was watching the game Sunday, but I fell asleep." *