Rick MacLeish and Lou Nolan become members of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
Rick MacLeish’s induction speech in the PSHOF delivered by daughter Brianna MacLeish
I am very proud and honored to be here tonight receiving this honor on behalf of my dad. To be recognized in the hall of fame is one of the highest accolades an athlete can receive.
My dad would like to thank the Philadelphia Hall of Fame committee, his fellow inductees, the Flyers’ organization and of course his teammates.
This afternoon my dad received a note that I would like to share. It was from Flyers’ assistant coach, Mike Nykoluk.
“Congratulations Ricky. You were a big part of the Flyers’ success.
“I always thought you were the most talented player on the team,” signed Mike.
It was very nice to hear from Mike. My dad just wishes he had told the general manager, Keith Allen, that during contract negotiations.
Lou Nolan PSHOF speech
Thank you…..to begin, I would like to thank Ken Avalon, Steve Tallant and the officers and selection committee of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame for this Honor. And a special thank you to Ruth Constantine of THE HOF who has been very helpful.
Congratulations to the other inductees tonight. I am truly in outstanding company.
It is difficult for me to express how I feel tonite. For a kid from SW Philly to be standing here linked with stars like Wilt, Chuck Bednarik, Dr. J, Schmitty, Steve Carlton, Harry Kalas, my buddy Dan Baker, and my Flyers friends Ed Snider, Keith Allen, Fred Shero, Bernie , Clarkie, Hexy, Howie… Billy Barber, Gene Hart, the Big E, John LeClair & Brian Propp is awesome. To join the Hall with Rick MacLeish is humbling.
So how did this journey begin?
In grade school, I befriended a classmate whose uncle was a goal judge for The Ramblers hockey team that played at the Arena, 46th & Market. We went with him every Friday night to games and ran around the rink. We were essentially rink rats. I developed a love for the game and watched the original six teams every weekend.
That led to broken hockey sticks reclaimed with glue & tape and street hockey with Chicago shoe skates. We played on a newly resurfaced street adjacent to my grade school, at St. Barney’s. To quench my thirst for the NHL and info on Gordie Howe, Rocket Richard, Jean Beliveau and other big names, I often took the 36 trolley down to 13th & Market St, the only place that sold Hockey Publications.
Years Later I saw the billboards announcing the NHL was coming, and while at the beach in Margate I met someone who became a great friend, and who changed my life. His name is Joe Kadlec. Shortly after we met he became The Flyers first PR Director. We celebrated & talked hockey. I became the press box custodian for the Flyers, developing forms, looking after the Press and repeating goals & penalties.
The announcer at the time left and I asked for the job. An audition was set-up by Lou Scheinfeld, Flyers VP, during renovations at the Spectrum to install the third level of that great venue.
I walked to the PA mic set up on the floor of the Spectrum, amid cranes, noisy construction and seat riveters. I asked them to be quiet for a moment for an important audition and they powered down their equipment. Lou Scheinfeld, gave me that job. I count him among my great friends.
The rest is history… 43 years broadcasting to great hockey fans. Two Stanley Cups and parades. I actually took The Cup to work that first year. All-Star games, the famous game vs The Soviet Red Army in 1976, NCAA Final Four in BB, the Frozen Four in Hockey and the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics. What a ride… and it is still going on.
But, most important are the countless friendships I developed over almost 50 years in hockey. They are the best part.
I would like to thank Ed Snider, for bringing the NHL to Philly, Joe Kadlec for bringing me to The Flyers…..and Lou Scheinfeld for putting me into the best seat in the house.
And introduce my family, Ronnie & Gerry Schwam… My Sons…Jeff and Matt….….my Sister-in-Law Sally…. and most importantly, the person who put up with me being out 50 or 60 nights a year every hockey season, she is my rock..my beautiful wife Ellen.
Who would have ever thought the hockey-loving kid from Southwest Philly would wind up here…..Thank you…….
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