Oldest Flyers alumnus receives a home visit from old friends

Original Flyers forward Forbes Kennedy, who celebrated his 89th birthday on August 18, 2024, was one of the toughest NHL players of his era. In fact, he was one of the strongest of any era.

The longtime resident of Prince Edward Island (PEI) in Canada’s Maritime Territories is the oldest living Flyers Alum. The second oldest, AHL Hall of Famer Art Stratton, turned 89 on October 8.

This year, starting with the holidays, the Flyers Alumni have launched a new program: Alumni House Calls. The premise of the initiative is simple: Flyers Alumni will periodically make in-person visits to fellow alumni who are no longer able to travel to host events with their old teammates and friends.

It is appropriate that the first “house call” was paid to “Forbie” Kennedy. On December 2, 2024 in PEI, Al MacAdam met up with old teammate Joe Watson and the two men spent the day with Kennedy.

MacAdam himself was born in PEI. Flyers Hall of Famer Watson and Kennedy were teammates on the first Flyers team of 1967-68 and during part of the following season.

“Forbie was one of the strongest players in the league. Nobody wanted to play against him, but it was good to have him by your side. Those guys are the best teammates. As a teammate, we always knew that Forbie had our backs. He wasn’t big (6 feet, 150 pounds), but he was a tough customer,” Watson recalled.

“Off the ice, Forbie has always been a good friend. Likes to have fun. Always with a cigar in his mouth. We had a lot of fun together off the ice. It was actually Forbie, way back in our first year, who started the tradition of the boys going to Rexy’s after practice or a game.

Located in West Collingswood Heights, New Jersey, Rexy’s became the favorite meeting place for Flyers players of the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s.

Along with Kennedy, MacAdam is one of a select number of PEI locals to play in the National Hockey League. MacAdam was part of the Flyers’ legendary 1972 Amateur Draft class and remained with the organization through the 1973-74 Stanley Cup-winning season. He was then traded to the Seals in the deal that brought Reggie Leach to the Flyers. MacAdam went on to become a 40-goal NHL scorer himself with the Minnesota North Stars and an NHL coach with the Chicago Blackhawks.

As the Flyers celebrated their 50th anniversary season in 2016-17, Kennedy headed from PEI to Philadelphia to participate in the celebratory gala on January 13, 2017. The next evening at Wells Fargo Center, he and the other surviving members of the 1967 – 68 squad was the focus of the pre-game ceremonial showdown before the Flyers Alumni played the Pittsburgh Penguins Alumni. Watson played in the game, representing the Flyers of the 1960s and 1970s.

Several attendees of the Golden Anniversary celebration have since passed away, including inaugural Flyers captain Lou Angotti and Don Blackburn. Kennedy still enjoys seeing visitors and spending time with family, but can no longer make long-distance trips.

Philadelphia is located more than 900 kilometers southwest of Prince Edward Island. Boston is about 750 kilometers away and Toronto is 1,650 kilometers to the west. The distance makes it impractical for Kennedy to gather with his remaining former teammates.

Forbes Kennedy played 603 games in the NHL regular season plus a dozen games in the Stanley Cup playoffs. After his playing days, Kennedy worked as a coach and scout. His younger brother, Jamie Kennedy, also played pro hockey and is a member of the PEI Sports Hall of Fame along with Forbie and MacAdam.