Two things happened yesterday that confirmed my belief that Rick Tocchet is the right coach for this young Flyers team. First, the felony assault charges against Gavin McKenna were dropped. Second, I watched the Charlie Minn produced documentary ‘The Swede of Philadelphia’ about the life and tragic death of Flyers goaltender Pelle Lindbergh.
Tocchet was one of Pelle’s team mates and was featured in the documentary. Several of those interviewed were asked the question “Which one of Pelle’s teammates took the news the hardest?” Several answered that it was a very young Tocchet, who himself was interviewed for the documentary, which included archival footage of Tocchet at the hospital, in tears. He has spoken of the incident, and even now, all these years later, Tocchet still chokes back tears when he speaks of his friend.
It’s no secret that I think Tocchet’s connection to this team and it’s history make him the right coach for the current manifestation and it comes down to this: Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Yes, Tocchet is tough on his young stars and much has been made of that. Part of the Pelle Documentary touched on the fact that he had been given preferential treatment by the police, both at home in Sweden and locally, in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area. He drove a car that wasn’t street legal in the United States? Cops looked the other way. He drove it way too fast, while not wearing a seat belt? Also not a problem. It came to light in this documentary that had he been wearing a seat belt, he might be alive today. Also came to light that if he had ever been held accountable for his actions, he might have lived, and with him, the Flyers chances for a Stanley Cup.
Last year, current Flyers star Matvei Michkov was in a car accident while on vacation in Dubai. My heart was in my throat when I heard that news, visions of Pelle’s mangled Porsche haunted me. He was fine and after a few minor legal skirmishes reported to training camp out of shape. Tocchet held his feet to the fire, and has been trashed heavily for doing so. It should have been handled internally! People in the press screamed. Oh, like Pelle was handled internally? Like the Hockey Canada incident was handled internally?
These are young men who are blessed with talent that none of us mere mortals will ever know, and wealth to match that talent. But at their core, they are very young men, who need to understand the consequences of their actions. Maybe Taco remembers another young man, his friend, his team mate, who might be alive today, a grey haired grandpa, if only anyone had held him accountable for his actions.
PS I have no opinion on McKenna being guilty, but if my son beat someone up in my defense, he would be facing charges.
Photo courtesy PhiladelphiaFlyers.com
brotherlypuck.com 