Former Philadelphia Flyer forward Wayne Simmonds has officially announced his retirement from the National Hockey League. A career that spanned 15 seasons and 1,037 games will be celebrated and honoured by the organization in their penultimate game of the regular season on the 13th of April against the New Jersey Devils.
The Flyers have announced that they will signed the power forward to a one-day contract.
“It’s hard to describe my emotions on a day like this, but one of my very first thoughts as I look back is my life in Philadelphia and playing for the Flyers,” said Simmonds. “Taking the ice in a Flyers sweater is a special feeling and it’s one that I’m truly proud of. The history of this franchise and standard of being a Flyer that was set is unique and one that I hold in the highest regard. Perhaps the biggest reason for that is the way the fans embrace this team. It was a thrill to play for you all these years, and you mean so much to me. I’d like to thank Dan Hilferty, Keith Jones and Danny Brière for making this a special day and the fans for all their support throughout the years for me and my family.”
“I want to congratulate Wayne on an exceptional career. He was as tough and fierce of a competitor as they come. No one could ever question his commitment to his team and doing whatever it took to win, whether it was scoring goals, blocking shots, sticking up for a teammate or teaching them how to be a true professional on and off the ice,” said Chairman & CEO of Comcast Spectacor Dan Hilferty. “If there was anything that stood out more than Wayne’s dedication on the ice, it was his passion for giving back to the community. Wayne’s impact on both this city and his hometown of Scarborough through his charitable work is immeasurable and continues to be felt to this day. Simply put, Wayne Simmonds was born to be a Philadelphia Flyer and I am very proud to welcome him back.”
“Wayne has had a tremendous career, on and off the ice, and to celebrate him and his accomplishments with the Philadelphia organization and fans on April 13 is not only fitting, but right,” said Flyers President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones. “Wayne is a special member of the Flyers family and an icon for our surrounding Philadelphia communities. It was an honor to cover his career and watch him grow into the person that he is today. Congratulations to him and his family on his well-deserved retirement from the NHL.”
“It is a privilege to congratulate Wayne on his retirement from the NHL and I look forward to celebrating his career on April 13 with our great fans,” said Flyers General Manager Daniel Brière. “He was an excellent teammate, a leader in the locker room and a class act for the Philadelphia community. He had such passion for this city and team that it was an honor to witness it all and play alongside him. I wish him all the happiness and success to him and his family as he embarks on this new chapter.”
Alongside Brayden Schenn, Simmonds came to Philadelphia during the summer of 2011 when the Flyers traded captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings. He quickly immersed himself to the Flyers faithful with his aggressiveness, tenacity, physicality, and most importantly his goal scoring acumen.
“The Wayne Train” scored 203 goals and 378 in 584 games for the Flyers across eight seasons. He reached the 25-goal mark on five separate occasions and surpassed 30 goals in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Simmonds also tallied 91 power play goals, 1,469 shots, 784 PIM, and 1,108 hits all while averaging over 17 minutes of ice time per game.
Simmonds scored some big goals during his time with the Flyers but maybe none bigger than when he capped his hat trick in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the New York Rangers in 2014 on home ice to force a Game 7.
With the Kings and the Flyers, Simmonds also played with the Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, which is where his career wound out. He finished his illustrious career with 263 goals and 526 points across 15 seasons and 1,035 games. He added 1,313 PIM and 1,913 hits.
Congratulations on a great career Wayne. Thank you for services to the Flyers organization, and good luck on your future endeavours from one Scarborough native to another.
