Bernie Guardian, a Hockey Corridor of Famer and one of many prime NHL goaltenders of all-time, has died, based on an announcement from the Philadelphia Flyers. He was 80.

Guardian led the Flyers to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975 as a member of the “Broad Avenue Bullies.” He additionally gained the Conn Smythe Trophy because the league’s playoff MVP and Vezina Trophy as the game’s prime goaltender in each of these Stanley Cup-winning seasons.

Guardian made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins in 1965 however wasn’t protected within the 1967 enlargement draft and ended up being chosen by the Flyers. The Canadian netminder was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1970 however in the end returned to the Flyers by way of one other commerce in 1973.

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In his first season again with the Flyers, he gained an NHL-best 47 video games in 1973-74. Guardian additionally led the league in wins (44) in the course of the 1974-75 season as Philadelphia gained its second consecutive Stanley Cup.

In 1979, Guardian suffered a career-ending eye harm towards on Feb. 17 towards the New York Rangers and in the end elected to announce his retirement from the game on the age of 34. Guardian misplaced his sight for 2 weeks following the incident however ultimately regained his eye sight.

Guardian completed his NHL profession with a 271-198-119 document, a 2.55 goals-against-average, a .915 save proportion and 54 shutouts in 13 seasons, 10 of which got here with the Flyers. 

In 1984, Guardian grew to become the primary Flyers participant to be inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame. He additionally had his No. 1 retired by the franchise. Guardian nonetheless holds the document for probably the most regulation wins (47) in a single season for his efficiency in the course of the 1973-74 marketing campaign.