Mar 17, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) and teammates celebarte after they beat the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

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Philadelphia Flyers Icon Bob ‘The Hound’ Kelly Retires After 50+ Years with the Team

The Flyers legend, known for his 1975 Cup-winning goal and decades of community impact, will be honored on March 29 during a special tribute game.

Bob “The Hound” Kelly, a beloved Philadelphia Flyers alum, has officially retired more than 50 years after first joining the team. Known for his tough, hard-nosed playing style and for scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1975, Kelly’s legacy goes far beyond the ice.

After hanging up his skates in 1980 following a 10-season NHL career, Kelly remained deeply involved with the Flyers organization. For 22 years, he played a key role in community relations, most recently serving as the Director of Community Development. Through programs like Flyers Community Caravan, Learn to Play, and Flyers Recess, he helped introduce thousands of kids to hockey while also honoring local veterans through the Hometown Hero initiative. Since 2003, he has been the Flyers’ Ambassador of Hockey, building connections between the team and the Philadelphia community.

The Hound is hangin' em up!@FlyersAlumni Bob Kelly has announced his retirement more than 50 years after initially joining the Flyers organization. Join us for a celebration of The Hound's career on March 29th at @WellsFargoCtr. https://t.co/Xz4Q49gYxr
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 18, 2025

To celebrate his incredible contributions, the Flyers will honor Kelly on Saturday, March 29, during their game against the Buffalo Sabres, the same team he scored his iconic Stanley Cup-clinching goal against. The night will feature video tributes from former teammates, family, and friends, while Flyers staff will wear special “The Hound” pins and players will don #9 Kelly shirts before the game.

On the ice, Kelly was a crucial part of the legendary “Broad Street Bullies” era, helping the Flyers win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. Across 741 games with Philadelphia, the Oakville, Ontario, native racked up 296 points (128 goals, 168 assists) and 1,285 penalty minutes, ranking among the franchise’s all-time leaders in both categories. In the playoffs, he added 23 points in 101 games and was never afraid to throw his body around, accumulating 172 postseason penalty minutes.

Kelly’s legacy with the Flyers is about more than just championships and stats; it’s about his passion, dedication, and the impact he made on generations of players and fans. His retirement marks the end of an era, but his influence on the Flyers community will never fade.

Image Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Bob Kelly

NHL

Philadelphia Flyers

Anamika Shrivastava

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