Quick Hits: June 19, 2022
1) Over the course of Flyers history, the organization has established a tradition of being one of the most media-friendly and fan-friendly teams in the National Hockey League.
For the first quarter century, Joe Kadlec was widely considered the gold standard of public/press relations directors. Additionally, in the era before internet research, Joe Kadlec was the go-to guy for many to quickly obtain Flyers-related historical information. Kindly, gregarious and knowledgeable, Kadlec remains to this day an icon in the extended Flyers and Flyers Alumni family.
In 1993, after leaving the Philadelphia 76ers, Zack Hill became the Flyers media relations manager and, later, director of communications. Over the last 29 years, Zack has himself become a beloved and iconic figure among Flyers players (both current and Alumni), coaches, general managers, upper management, the hockey media (local, national and international), and among Flyers fans.
Over the last 29 years, Zack has somehow made an extremely difficult and sometimes thankless job seem easy. Even in the most high-pressure situations, being pulled in two different directions by media on deadlines and organization members who have their own demands, he has consistently found ways to keep both sides happy. He can diffuse tensions with a joke or by a show of empathy, which works because it's genuine and he remains calm.
If you ask Zack the secret to his success, he'll say it's simply a matter of "being nice to people and treating them how you'd want to be treated." There's much more to it than that, though. He has always been timely in relaying information, fulfilling interview requests, representing the organization to fans, mentoring aspiring publicists, and recognizing opportunities to share with the media compelling stories (often with photographic accompaniment).
Speaking personally, I owe Zack a debt of gratitude for always being in my corner in my career. He's one of the people who have gone to bat for me with the Flyers over the years. Beyond that, on a day in and day out basis, he's someone you look forward to seeing.
Yesterday, the Flyers announced that Zack will be retiring after 29 years with the organization. He'll stay on as a consultant from July 1 to next June 30 (one fiscal year); so he'll at least still be around. Over the last day, Twitter has been filled with tributes to Zack from an array of media members, current and retired players. The Flyers released individual statements from various figures in management including Dave Scott and senior advisor Paul Holmgren (with whom Zack is a close friend). Ike Richman, who was the late Ed Snider's personal publicist for many years, also posted in tribute. Each tribute has been heartfelt.
I have known for awhile that Zack was seriously contemplating retirement, so the announcement was not a surprise. I was selfishly hoping he'd reconsider -- there is only one Zack, and he makes everyone jobs easier -- but I am also happy for him. I hope he is taking in all of the texts, phone calls, emails and phone calls with full realization of just how admired he is.
There are so many great -- and funny -- stories about Zack that the Flyers players and Alumni tell. Some are even printable! In all seriousness, though, I wanted to use the lead section of today's blog to share with HockeyBuzz readers to express just how much Zack means to pretty much everyone in and around the Flyers and the media.
Behind-the-scenes figures like Zack and Joe Kadlec do not get into team Halls of Fame and there's no publicist wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame. If such a thing existed, both gentlemen would be first-ballot inductees. Within the context of their stature within their profession, the legacies of Joe Kadlec and Zack Hill can be likened to how the New York Yankees had Joe DiMaggio and then Mickey Mantle came along.
One of Ed Snider's core beliefs was that the success and longevity of any business hinges on hiring good people and giving them the trust and respect to do their jobs. The Flyers could hardly have hired better people for the job than Joe Kadlec and Zack Hill, spanning basically the entire history of the organization.
2) Tomorrow is the 2022 edition of the annual Flyers Alumni Golf Invitational. Always one of the signature events on the Alumni calendar, it is one of most crucial yearly fundraisers for the Alumni's charitable programs. This year's Golf Invitation is particularly special for two reasons.
The 12th adaptive bicycle donation from the Alumni's "Every Child Deserves a Bike" program will be presented during tomorrow's event at Dupont Country Club in Wilmington. The recipient will be
Madalynn Sheerin of Glenside, PA.
Additionally, during the post-golf dinner, the Flyers Alumni Association will present a check for $183,093.20 to the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. This donation will bring the total contribution made directly through the Flyers Alumni to Snider Hockey to an even $1 million.
Back in 2016, approximately two months before Ed Snider passed away, the Flyers Alumni pledged to donate at least $2 million in direct contributions to Snider Hockey. The current $1 million in donations does not include donation matches from other sources or the Alumni's widespread participation in other fundraisers, such as Snider Hockey's own recent Celebrity Bartender event. Only money raised and donated directly from the Alumni Association coffers are figured in the total.
3) Going back to Zack Hill's retirement, there is no question that Zack will be greatly missed for who he is as a person and professional. There's simply no replacing someone who has meant as much as Zack. Thankfully, though, the Flyers remain in good hands with a capable communications and PR staff in place.
I think some shoutouts are in order here, too. The Flyers recently renewed my contract for the 2023 fiscal year (I work on a year-to-year basis and have since FY 2017). I am thrilled that I will have the chance to continue working with all of the people mentioned below; some names may be familiar to diehard Flyers fans, other names unfamiliar.
Joe Siville serves as Director of PR and will switch titles to senior director of hockey communications. To this day, Joe internally stresses the importance of hockey-specific content in team platforms and has always been supportive to me in my work. For many years, there was just Zack and Joe working on the hockey-related communications side. Joe was the de facto website manager, so he was my first supervisor when I came aboard as a team-contracted writer starting in the 2016-17 season. Shawn Tilger extended the offer and I drove a hard bargain for a half-nanosecond before accepting.
Brian Born, who now manages the team's digital media (including the official website and social media), is easy to work with, too, as is digital media coordinator Regan Connaire. Needless to say, I love working in conjunction with Jason Myrtetus on the Flyers Broadcast Network content he hosts and produces. It's also fun just talking hockey or music off the air with Jason.
Ultimately, I report to Christine Mina, the Flyers' senior director of digital and creative content. Before Brian Born's role expanded from social media manager to manager of all digital media, Christine was the digital media manager before being promoted to senior director of all team-produced content.
I have long enjoyed doing work projects in conjunction with Flyers director of media and broadcast services Brian Smith. Most of these projects relate to Flyers team history. Brian and I also co-host the Prospect Pipeline Podcast, which we hope can get back into a more frequent recording schedule come next season.
John Feher does the Flyers' video production. He's a really good guy and good at what he does. We don't work together often, but he's worked with me on a few articles that had a video component as well as on Broadcasters Roundtable podcasts.
Everyone in the local hockey media owes a thank you to Allie Samuelsson (who has taken credentialing duties off Brian's overflowing plate of responsibilities) and the interns who produce post-game interview transcriptions and full transcripts of major press conferences.
My "other" job as Flyers Alumni Association content manager overlaps sometimes with coverage of projects implemented by the Flyers' community department, so that part flows pretty naturally since Brad Marsh is both Alumni Association president and the Flyers' director of community development. I've told Rob Baer, who does yeoman work as the Flyers' director of amateur and youth hockey programs, that he'd make one heck of a copy editor, too, if he'd ever switch departments. Bob "the Hound" Kelly also works in community development and is traveling around the community throughout the year, but also makes himself readily available to talk about community and Alumni activities.
Last but not least, I've also worked on a few website article projects with Comcast-Spectacor communications vice president Sean Coit, communications coordinator Kate Kizitaff (the go-to person when a statement or quote from senior organization management is needed), and with Flyers Charities executive director, Cindy Stutman. They've always been responsive.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»