Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Card King here right come. Hello, sports fan, sports collectors,
and all hobbyists. Welcome to the car King Sports and
Variety Show. I am your host, the Catman, Brian Caaateaquid
aka the car King. We are live on ABC's k
m e T fourteen ninety AM dot com. You're number
one spot right here for news and talk on the
West Coast. I thank everyone for tuning in this morning
(00:35):
on a program I welcome in a legendary Philadelphia Flyers
NHL left winger. He was a five time All Star
in his fifteen season career. I welcome to the program
the great Brian prop Brian, great to have you.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Hey, good morning. How are you everybody doing?
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Oh? Very well? And always an honor to speak with
a professional athlete. And you know, Brian, I was just
looking at this before the program. Bleacher has you ranked
number two greatest scorers in Flyers all time history? And
really that's all one needs to know about your dominating
playing career on the ice. Now for many passion for
(01:16):
many athletes, you know this better than Brian is considered
to be a number one ingredient. And I guess you
had that ingredient early on as a kid.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, like when I grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
My dad was a Lutheran minister, and I had two
brothers and sisters who are all thirteen months apart. Grew
up in a little town of three hundred people in Saskatchewan,
in Saskatchewan, and and so like, what was he gonna
do except for to play hockey and do that. And so,
you know, my dad taught me to skate every day,
and you know, when I when I could, and in
(01:48):
the summer, of course I didn't, but and then just
work on my shooting and skating and everything like that.
And so he taught me that. And then when I'm fifteen,
I played for the Malville Millionaires and I broke all
the records at that time.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Amazing. Now now I'm hearing from a lot of you know,
former NHL players that I get in contact with, you know,
across my circle. What's your opinion on this generation of players?
You feel that this generation of players are soft, not
as tough as the generational players in which you came
up during your era.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Well, it's really changed a lot.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Like in the seventies, eighties and nineties, it was more
physical and like you got held up.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
We didn't make it hard.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
We didn't make much money, and so it changed the
nineties and then like the last fifteen.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Years, it's the rules have changed so.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Like you can't really hit anybody as much, and it's
more fast, and they make more money and they can
play for like twenty twenty twenty five years now we're
just getting pump pints and things like that.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
So it's but you know, when it comes to.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
The playoffs, the better players are more physical and that's
where it really counts. And you know, you just as
long as you're in the playoffs, you have a chance
to win because you know, you get a hot goalie
and then a lot of things will can change.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And Brian, your opinion, do you think the sport is
still as popular as it once was? Because it was
so popular, you know in the sixties, seventies, even the eighties,
you know when you came aboard and Wayne Gretzky, you
guys broke in that same year, right, you guys broke
in together. Do you think the popularity of hockey is
still you know, is still popular these days?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Well, I know ever since like the like the Russians
that got drafted in nineteen ninety, like I played in
the eighty seven Canada Cup with the Gretzky and Lemieux
on the same line, and we won that goal to
three year series, which is one of the best series
all time.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
It was sort of like the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Better player and faster skaters, and you picked the teams.
But after the Russians were able to get drafted in
nineteen ninety, Igor Larianov kind of set that up and
then and then like it's changed after that the nineties
and twenty five years from here, it just made a
(04:19):
big difference because all the countries all over the world
are getting drafted, and now it's some you know, you
go to college and you have a chance to you know,
go to college and then get drafted after that, and
so it's more players in the US and how they
all through the world has said, like in the seventies
and eighties, it was mostly Canadian US players.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
And we're talking with the legendary hockey player Brian prop
who's with US. Nineteen seventy nine, Brian, a pivotal year
for you. You were twenty years old, picked fourteenth by
the Philadelphia Flyers of the nineteen seventy nine NHL Entry Draft.
Your recollection of that time. Where were you? What were
(05:04):
you doing when the news broke that you were going
to be drafted.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So I was working on the farm because you know,
it didn't make much money, and at that time, like
you didn't get flown into the draft.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And so I just I got a call from.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Keith Allen to saying that I got picked by the
Philadelphia Flyers, and like, you know, like I was, I
was working on the farm and so like now it's
so different and it's a big production. But you know,
at that time, like I was just happy to get
drafted by the Flyers.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
And you know, even though I was expected to.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Be a higher draft because that year the NHL merged.
There was a World Hawk Association the year before and
that merged and so gave no bargaining. So like you
took what you got. You know, my first three years,
I mean fifty to fifty five and sixty thousand and so,
like you, I lived on a thousand dollars a month's budget.
(06:04):
And so but that was when it was the eighteen
year old draft. That's why Bork and Lorie Boshman were
dropped ahead of again of me and Brad mccriman and
Ray Allison and so, but you know, you did what
you had.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
I was really.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Quiet and naive, but I didn't really know what was
going on, and so I just kind of followed Bob
Clark's example by working hard and you know, just staying
quiet and playing a good game.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Yeah, and I wanted to ask you about Bobby Clarke.
I mean, Hall of Famer, your teammate who broke in
about nineteen seventy, ten years earlier than you. So I
guess he treated you well. He took you in Bobby Clark.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, well at that time, like it was more a
Bob Kelly, like he's a left winger that he's been
there for a couple of years.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
And so he really helped me because he took me
to his house.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
And then you know, at that time there was only
two single guys, Frank Bay myself and so and I
rented on a house like with the realtor that was there.
Ed Ed was his his dad died and his mom
was a loon alone, and so so I just rented
a house my first year, and then the second year
(07:16):
I just rented a house with Mel Bridgeman and so,
like you know, just hanging out with Frank Bowy then
Mel Bridgeman. It made a big difference for me at
my first couple of years. And the first year was
really good because you know, we had the thirty five
undefeated streak and we went to the finals against the Islanders.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And you know then after that, like the.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Changed the divisions and so like it made it more
tougher to finally get into the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
You read my mind, So the Islanders. Was that your
your first NHL debut was it against the Islanders?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, my first game was against Bill Smith and the Islanders,
and in Philadelphia, like and so I remember because I
played with Reggie Each and Bob mcclark and a line
and I had an assistant and a goal my first
first game. And then so I got the game winner
and then we lost nine to two. And then then
and then from there, I was like, whoa is this
what's going to be like? Because in brand and the
(08:14):
Brandon Weekings for three years, we hardly ever lost a
game because we were so powerful and uh more scoring
and defensive. So and then after that we went thirty
five without a loss, which was which was probably never
be broken. But you know that was a good good
for me because playing with good teams and uh, you know,
(08:35):
just getting into the playoffs almost every year made a difference,
especially you know, because you learn how to to play
better when it comes to the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
And of course having.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Bob Clark and Bob Kelly and you know, helping, you know,
just talking with me, you know, just made a big difference.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Yeah. You know, I mentioned the Islanders because I'm originally
from New York City, so you know, I was an
Islander fan growing up. But they cannot stop Brian prop
They couldn't stop you. I mean, you performed very well
against the Islanders. Point didn't Yeah, yeah they did, they did.
But wasn't there a game against the Islanders when you
(09:15):
I think it was five? You scored a five point
game against them?
Speaker 3 (09:19):
I think so well, I don't remember, Like it doesn't
you know, it doesn't matter when you're when you're retired,
you just kind of move on and do other things.
I know, because uh, after my stroke ten years ago,
like I like I almost I should have died, but uh,
I just uh, you know, just you know, came back.
I couldn't talk or walk at all. So I've come
a long way from what from ten years ago and
(09:43):
lost a couple of weeks ago, I was in New
York at the were the Islanders practice from near there,
and I played. You know, I saw Brian Trotchey, Bill Smith,
Ken Tomorrow, Nystrum and and a couple other guys, and so,
you know, you become an alumni and you kind of
(10:03):
know where everybody's going and you help each other.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Were just the appearances that I.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Have absolutely, and you know Brian again, you know, when
you broke into the league at seventy nine, I mean
I'm just reading your career, it seems like you you
were very comfortable. I mean, I'm looking at a trading
car which reads prop sets club record for goals, assists
and points by a rookie at seventy nine, and you
had a very solid season when you first broke in.
(10:27):
I mean, did you find the competition very challenging?
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Yeah, well, well at that time, like it was like,
you know, because we we had we had good players,
especially when we played for the Brand and Weekings for
three years because Duncan mccollin prepared us for the NHL,
and so like I know that year we had Brad
mccerman and Ray Allison, Like we all got dropped. There's
(10:52):
ten guys from Brannon got dropped of that year and
so they had long careers.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
But for me, it was.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Just because that was such a good player in junior
and like, you know, because I know in nineteen ninety nine,
I was elected all time history best left winger.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
In the.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
League's of you know, in nineteen ninety ninety ninety nine,
and so that was very important for me. And you know,
I'm probably the only guy that's not in the Hall
of Fame yet, but hopefully he'll get there as soon.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Oh, you definitely deserve it, no question about it. And
we're doing snapshots, you know, I have a few minutes
left with you. But you know late you know, I
was reading also later in your career. Bobby Clark at
the time was the general manager of the Flyers. Tell
me if I'm correct, and he was responsible for your
trade to the Boston Bruins. Am I correct with that?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:44):
That was in the after eleven years with the Flyers.
Like I know, there's a lot of changes going on.
And that year I had an injury in my hand,
had a hole in my artery and my left hand,
and so I missed twenty seven games. And then at
that time, like you know, like Ed Snyder was going
to try to get Jay his son too were on
the team and kind of take out most of the
(12:07):
higher player players and so they got you know, but
you know, I knew that he was gonna you know,
I was a free agent at the end, and so
he did me a favor by trading me to Boston,
which is Boston was number one in the year the
year that year, and then Dave Poolan got traded in
January of that year. And then after my injury, I
(12:28):
played a couple of games and then was able to
get traded to Boston. And then at that time after
that he got fired. And then he took me to
Minnesota after that because I'd love to play in Boston
after that, but Harry didn't offer me much offer. So
Bob Clark took me to Minnesota with Bob Smith and
the Minnesota north Stars, and so we did good one
(12:51):
of the finals a year after that.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Yeah, you know that. That's another thing I wanted to ask.
You played one season with the Bruins. Did you notice
I know you you did it just one season. Did
you notice a big difference between the Philly fans versus
the Boston fans.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
I was only there for a month, but you know
it just like it's like Philadelphia and Boston, like they're
they're great fans and uh good good people to play
for and good teams and you know, you always had
a chance to win the Stanley Cup, and so it
was really important for me just to get you know,
you get traded at that time because like I only
(13:26):
had a month left of the year and then the
playoffs and then then I went to Minnesota for three
years and then Hartford after that. But you know, it
was but it was the same. Boston and Philadelphia are
passionate fans.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Uh. Now, you know when you first came up with
the Flyers, your coach was pack Quinn, right, yes, of
course pack quinn and then you played for Bob McCammon
and then Mike Keenan. Uh those were your three coaches.
Uh what can you say were the difference between these
three coaches of managers?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Well, Pat Quinn was such a good coach.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
He's X and o's and he talked to people and
he got people ready to play. And then and then
of course Bob McCammon, like he was with Maine before
that and he was kind of a little you know, different,
And then of course Mike Keenan. I was there for
four years and then we had good teams in there.
We went to the finals in eighty eighty, eighty four
(14:28):
and eighty seven and then uh and then and Paul
Holmger after that was my coach, and then when I
got traded to the Boston. But you know, I really
liked Pat Quinn and Mike Quinn, Mike Keenan because like
they wanted to win every game and they had different styles,
(14:49):
but they respected the people that you played for.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
And you know what's what's worth noting here, Brian, you
played for about nine ten seasons, you make the Stanley Cup.
Half of those years you played what what do you
think was the missing chemistry? Why didn't you know the
teams you played go over that hump?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Well, it was so tough, like in the eighties, Edmonton's
like the Islanders, and there were forty four in a
row and then Edmonton had four or five days and
then then Calgary won in one year and other than that,
it was really tough because you know, the guys, the
best players like that, they didn't make that much money,
but they had good teams and so now and now
(15:32):
there's thirty two teams and it's it's a little.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Bit more even.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
And like, you know, you only you have a tough
time to get into the playoffs. But you know, in
the eighties it was really tough, you know, in the
in the playoffs, especially with the Islanders and the Oilers,
and they were so powerful, you know, but we did
our best to try to win. And then of course
in ninety with Boston, I guess Edmonton we lost in
(15:57):
the triple overtime the first game that hurt us.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
And then of course, you know, we were we were.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
In Minnesota where you know, we were supposed to lose
the first round, but we went into the finals against
Pittsburgh and Lemieux kind of took over the last couple
of games. But you know, it's so tough to you know,
you're playing against some of the best players and teams
all time and just to you know, one bounce, a
(16:24):
bounce here and there could have made a difference in
the series.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Yeah, and it was Stanley Cup finals. You appeared five
times nineteen eighty, eighty five, eighty seven with the Flyers,
Bruins nineteen ninety and then the North Stars ninety one.
You were a five time All Star, your first appearance
at the All Star Game. How exciting was that for you?
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Well, that was hear because then we had a thirty
five under fitted streak. We had like six or seven
guys in the All Star Game at that time, and
that was ended up being like Gordie Howe's last year,
and they just built the new rink, the Joe rulis
a rink they you know, So I played in the
old rink and then then we played in the All
Star Game in February where Gordy Howe was there and
(17:11):
he was one of the final year. So that was
really amazing for me to be there, like, you know,
because I think I had a goal and an assistan
in the playoffs in an All Star Game with I
played with Phil Esposito and Reggie Leach on the line
and so, you know, it was just just kind of exciting,
especially with that many guys. Now, with all the teams
(17:33):
that you have, thirty two teams, you know, it's tough
to get more guys in the lineup, and because you know,
it's like, you know, a couple of other teams, you know,
just they picked the best you want and so but
it just uh yeah, it's just it's so different.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
And this is great that I have you here, Brian,
because as everyone knows, you're one of the most prolific
scorers of all time. Uh, this is just a technique question.
Your techniques have cannis for scoring with the stick? Is
that an effort that came naturally to you or gradually
did you have to work on that, you know, off season?
(18:10):
How do you become such a prolific scorer?
Speaker 3 (18:13):
I think, well, my dad taught me how to skate
and shoot. And the way I did it is like,
you know, I practiced in a little rink and skated
for hours, and I took pucks and then I shot
for the corners. I never wanted to miss the net
because you know, I picked the corners and then you know,
(18:34):
a top shelf left and right and in the middle
and look for the rebounds and so you kind of
know where to shoot and then just you figured it out.
But I had a quick wrist shot and so I
used that a little bit more. And then you stand
in front of the net and then deflections and you know,
of course, with tim Kirbying there in the eighties.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
It was tougher to.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
You know, he beat me to a lot of pucks,
but it was still good to be in ALIGNE made
of him and uh yeah. So it was all about
shooting accurate, accurity and never missing the net and shooting
for rebounds.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Now, you know, I know a lot of players have
superstitions when they played. Did you have any superstitions when
you played?
Speaker 3 (19:15):
No, not too many, because you know, like I was
just a regular guy and I just just didn't didn't
didn't think about it. I just kind of prepared myself
the best I could. You know, in the eighties, we
had of course Pat Croachey. He was our physical fitness
guy that we because we didn't we started working out
in eighty one and that made a big difference. So
(19:36):
it probably gave me five more years to play. And
then we had a store. Steve Rosenberg was a store
a sport uh right, uh coach, and so he helped
me with thinking and uh relaxing and getting ready for
the playoffs and shooting and even for golf and things
(19:58):
like that.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
You know, a big difference in the eighties.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Now I'm into the you know, the uniform, the jersey numbers.
I know you wore number twenty six for the Flyers
all those years, and then you played that that month
with the Bruins, you wore number thirty six. Was there
anything significant about number twenty six for you?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Well, it would I was.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
I wanted to get number sixteen, but you know, how
could I do that for the Flyers because I was
sixteen in the in Brandon weekends and so, but you know,
like I guess I kind of just went to twenty six.
And then for Boston, like they had Wesley was number
twenty six, and so I went to thirty six. And
then in Minnesota I went sixteen.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Hey, I was sixteen, correct, you were seventy.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
And then then of course Hartford because they were so cheap,
they used the same jerseys from the year before. So
and then like I had to wait a half a
year before I got twenty six. I wore fifteen the
first half of the year, and then I changed.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
To twenty six because they didn't make new jerseys and so,
but you know that was you know, I just like
the number six in there.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
All right. So I know you're doing appearances, So what's
your next appearance? And I know you mentioned you have
a book out. Talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Yeah, So my book just came out last November. It's
called Angel on My Wing. It's a bit of bit
about my faith because my dad was a Lutheran minister,
a little bit of hockey, my stroke and high recover
from My Stroke. That's on Amazon and in Canada as
an Indigo, and so like, if anybody wants to order that,
(21:43):
they can go to that website or just check it
out Angel on My Wing. And also I have my
own GAFA cigar brand from the Dominican Republic and their
gaffasigars dot com if anybody wants to check that out,
their quality cigars. And then also like for my work,
like now have I worked for Berkshire, Hathwell, Fox and
(22:07):
Roach for as a referral agent all over the US,
and so like I've been doing that for eleven years.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
And then appearances like.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
I have one in Hartford on the twenty ninth and
then fly back from that, and then of course this
coming Thursday, Bernie Parnt as a funeral and the res
you know, he's going to be there in Philadelphia. I'll
be there for a couple of days. And you know,
I have a bunch of things going on in December
(22:38):
and February and so.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
And I have my own golf tournament.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
It supports the Stroke Center of University of pennsylvaniaity every
day after Mother's Day at the River Winds in New Jersey.
And I usually do a celebrity hockey event in March
or April.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Also.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Wow, very busy, Brian. And you know I want to
answer your website is brianprop dot com? Uh speaking about cigars? Uh?
So you said you have a Dominican brand.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Yeah, it's called Giffall.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
The Gaffaw is my brand and from the Dominican Republic
and the distributors in Chicago. So like I've been selling
it for like seven years, you know, boxes of five, ten,
twenty four, you know, so like if anybody wants to
take a look at it, you know it might be Mike,
might be a good, good time just to for Thanksgiving
or Christmas gift.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Absolutely so brianprop dot com. Everyone listening, go on to
that website. Check it out. And my last question to you, Brian,
I know this is this may be hard that that
eighty nine playoff hit with Chilios. I mean that that
I saw it yesterday on YouTube. I mean that that
was such a disgusting hit. It annoyed the hell out
of me. And I read somewhere that you mentioned that
(23:55):
that hit could have killed you. That must that must,
it must annoy you still to this day. That hit
that Chilios did to you.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Well, it was a dirty hit. Everybody knows that. You know,
he was a dirty player, and he just picked on
the scorers. And so like in my book, like I
talk a little bit about that. It's the only thing
that I ever had bad to say about anybody because
he never apologized anything, and he just he knew he
was going to take me out of the playoffs because
at that time I was leading the playoff scoring in Montreal,
(24:29):
and so he really bad hit from the head. And
so like you saw the hit, and so like I,
like you said, I could have died, uh, you know,
you know, but you know, thankfully I I only missed
one game, which was.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
Kind of amazing.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Out of this this world now, like it might have
changed now.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
But yeah, but other than that, like you know, I'm
happy with my life, you know, but my stroke ten
years ago, like I should have died. It a little
more than that my clock went into my heart, in
my brain three different places. I couldn't talk for a
walk for a year and a half, and so it
took me a long time to get better. But you know,
(25:10):
as you can see, I've done a lot of things.
My book talks a lot about rehab that I have
that can help a lot of people that vote read
the book.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
I mean, this is unbelievable. You have a lot of resilience. Brian, listen,
I really appreciate a few minutes. And you know, brianprop
dot com is the website. Everyone go on to that
website and you can see the merchandise there. Listen, Brian,
thank you so much for a few minutes. I really
appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Yeah, thanks Brett, Brian, take.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Care of yourself well. Bye bye. Brian Prop was on
the show. Brianprop dot com is the website. Go check
it out and thanks for tuning in. We'll see you
next week. Happy collecting to all happen.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Say some compression to con
Card King here right come. Hello, sports fan, sports collectors,
and all hobbyists. Welcome to the car King Sports and
Variety Show. I am your host, the Catman, Brian Caaateaquid
aka the car King. We are live on ABC's k
m e T fourteen ninety AM dot com. You're number
one spot right here for news and talk on the
West Coast. I thank everyone for tuning in this morning
(00:35):
on a program I welcome in a legendary Philadelphia Flyers
NHL left winger. He was a five time All Star
in his fifteen season career. I welcome to the program
the great Brian prop Brian, great to have you.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Hey, good morning. How are you everybody doing?
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Oh? Very well? And always an honor to speak with
a professional athlete. And you know, Brian, I was just
looking at this before the program. Bleacher has you ranked
number two greatest scorers in Flyers all time history? And
really that's all one needs to know about your dominating
playing career on the ice. Now for many passion for
(01:16):
many athletes, you know this better than Brian is considered
to be a number one ingredient. And I guess you
had that ingredient early on as a kid.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, like when I grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
My dad was a Lutheran minister, and I had two
brothers and sisters who are all thirteen months apart. Grew
up in a little town of three hundred people in Saskatchewan,
in Saskatchewan, and and so like, what was he gonna
do except for to play hockey and do that. And so,
you know, my dad taught me to skate every day,
and you know, when I when I could, and in
(01:48):
the summer, of course I didn't, but and then just
work on my shooting and skating and everything like that.
And so he taught me that. And then when I'm fifteen,
I played for the Malville Millionaires and I broke all
the records at that time.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Amazing. Now now I'm hearing from a lot of you know,
former NHL players that I get in contact with, you know,
across my circle. What's your opinion on this generation of players?
You feel that this generation of players are soft, not
as tough as the generational players in which you came
up during your era.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Well, it's really changed a lot.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Like in the seventies, eighties and nineties, it was more
physical and like you got held up.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
We didn't make it hard.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
We didn't make much money, and so it changed the
nineties and then like the last fifteen.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Years, it's the rules have changed so.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Like you can't really hit anybody as much, and it's
more fast, and they make more money and they can
play for like twenty twenty twenty five years now we're
just getting pump pints and things like that.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
So it's but you know, when it comes to.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
The playoffs, the better players are more physical and that's
where it really counts. And you know, you just as
long as you're in the playoffs, you have a chance
to win because you know, you get a hot goalie
and then a lot of things will can change.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And Brian, your opinion, do you think the sport is
still as popular as it once was? Because it was
so popular, you know in the sixties, seventies, even the eighties,
you know when you came aboard and Wayne Gretzky, you
guys broke in that same year, right, you guys broke
in together. Do you think the popularity of hockey is
still you know, is still popular these days?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Well, I know ever since like the like the Russians
that got drafted in nineteen ninety, like I played in
the eighty seven Canada Cup with the Gretzky and Lemieux
on the same line, and we won that goal to
three year series, which is one of the best series
all time.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
It was sort of like the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Better player and faster skaters, and you picked the teams.
But after the Russians were able to get drafted in
nineteen ninety, Igor Larianov kind of set that up and
then and then like it's changed after that the nineties
and twenty five years from here, it just made a
(04:19):
big difference because all the countries all over the world
are getting drafted, and now it's some you know, you
go to college and you have a chance to you know,
go to college and then get drafted after that, and
so it's more players in the US and how they
all through the world has said, like in the seventies
and eighties, it was mostly Canadian US players.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
And we're talking with the legendary hockey player Brian prop
who's with US. Nineteen seventy nine, Brian, a pivotal year
for you. You were twenty years old, picked fourteenth by
the Philadelphia Flyers of the nineteen seventy nine NHL Entry Draft.
Your recollection of that time. Where were you? What were
(05:04):
you doing when the news broke that you were going
to be drafted.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So I was working on the farm because you know,
it didn't make much money, and at that time, like
you didn't get flown into the draft.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And so I just I got a call from.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Keith Allen to saying that I got picked by the
Philadelphia Flyers, and like, you know, like I was, I
was working on the farm and so like now it's
so different and it's a big production. But you know,
at that time, like I was just happy to get
drafted by the Flyers.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
And you know, even though I was expected to.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Be a higher draft because that year the NHL merged.
There was a World Hawk Association the year before and
that merged and so gave no bargaining. So like you
took what you got. You know, my first three years,
I mean fifty to fifty five and sixty thousand and so,
like you, I lived on a thousand dollars a month's budget.
(06:04):
And so but that was when it was the eighteen
year old draft. That's why Bork and Lorie Boshman were
dropped ahead of again of me and Brad mccriman and
Ray Allison and so, but you know, you did what
you had.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
I was really.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Quiet and naive, but I didn't really know what was
going on, and so I just kind of followed Bob
Clark's example by working hard and you know, just staying
quiet and playing a good game.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Yeah, and I wanted to ask you about Bobby Clarke.
I mean, Hall of Famer, your teammate who broke in
about nineteen seventy, ten years earlier than you. So I
guess he treated you well. He took you in Bobby Clark.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, well at that time, like it was more a
Bob Kelly, like he's a left winger that he's been
there for a couple of years.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
And so he really helped me because he took me
to his house.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
And then you know, at that time there was only
two single guys, Frank Bay myself and so and I
rented on a house like with the realtor that was there.
Ed Ed was his his dad died and his mom
was a loon alone, and so so I just rented
a house my first year, and then the second year
(07:16):
I just rented a house with Mel Bridgeman and so,
like you know, just hanging out with Frank Bowy then
Mel Bridgeman. It made a big difference for me at
my first couple of years. And the first year was
really good because you know, we had the thirty five
undefeated streak and we went to the finals against the Islanders.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And you know then after that, like the.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Changed the divisions and so like it made it more
tougher to finally get into the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
You read my mind, So the Islanders. Was that your
your first NHL debut was it against the Islanders?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, my first game was against Bill Smith and the Islanders,
and in Philadelphia, like and so I remember because I
played with Reggie Each and Bob mcclark and a line
and I had an assistant and a goal my first
first game. And then so I got the game winner
and then we lost nine to two. And then then
and then from there, I was like, whoa is this
what's going to be like? Because in brand and the
(08:14):
Brandon Weekings for three years, we hardly ever lost a
game because we were so powerful and uh more scoring
and defensive. So and then after that we went thirty
five without a loss, which was which was probably never
be broken. But you know that was a good good
for me because playing with good teams and uh, you know,
(08:35):
just getting into the playoffs almost every year made a difference,
especially you know, because you learn how to to play
better when it comes to the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
And of course having.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Bob Clark and Bob Kelly and you know, helping, you know,
just talking with me, you know, just made a big difference.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Yeah. You know, I mentioned the Islanders because I'm originally
from New York City, so you know, I was an
Islander fan growing up. But they cannot stop Brian prop
They couldn't stop you. I mean, you performed very well
against the Islanders. Point didn't Yeah, yeah they did, they did.
But wasn't there a game against the Islanders when you
(09:15):
I think it was five? You scored a five point
game against them?
Speaker 3 (09:19):
I think so well, I don't remember, Like it doesn't
you know, it doesn't matter when you're when you're retired,
you just kind of move on and do other things.
I know, because uh, after my stroke ten years ago,
like I like I almost I should have died, but uh,
I just uh, you know, just you know, came back.
I couldn't talk or walk at all. So I've come
a long way from what from ten years ago and
(09:43):
lost a couple of weeks ago, I was in New
York at the were the Islanders practice from near there,
and I played. You know, I saw Brian Trotchey, Bill Smith,
Ken Tomorrow, Nystrum and and a couple other guys, and so,
you know, you become an alumni and you kind of
(10:03):
know where everybody's going and you help each other.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Were just the appearances that I.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Have absolutely, and you know Brian again, you know, when
you broke into the league at seventy nine, I mean
I'm just reading your career, it seems like you you
were very comfortable. I mean, I'm looking at a trading
car which reads prop sets club record for goals, assists
and points by a rookie at seventy nine, and you
had a very solid season when you first broke in.
(10:27):
I mean, did you find the competition very challenging?
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Yeah, well, well at that time, like it was like,
you know, because we we had we had good players,
especially when we played for the Brand and Weekings for
three years because Duncan mccollin prepared us for the NHL,
and so like I know that year we had Brad
mccerman and Ray Allison, Like we all got dropped. There's
(10:52):
ten guys from Brannon got dropped of that year and
so they had long careers.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
But for me, it was.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Just because that was such a good player in junior
and like, you know, because I know in nineteen ninety nine,
I was elected all time history best left winger.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
In the.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
League's of you know, in nineteen ninety ninety ninety nine,
and so that was very important for me. And you know,
I'm probably the only guy that's not in the Hall
of Fame yet, but hopefully he'll get there as soon.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Oh, you definitely deserve it, no question about it. And
we're doing snapshots, you know, I have a few minutes
left with you. But you know late you know, I
was reading also later in your career. Bobby Clark at
the time was the general manager of the Flyers. Tell
me if I'm correct, and he was responsible for your
trade to the Boston Bruins. Am I correct with that?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:44):
That was in the after eleven years with the Flyers.
Like I know, there's a lot of changes going on.
And that year I had an injury in my hand,
had a hole in my artery and my left hand,
and so I missed twenty seven games. And then at
that time, like you know, like Ed Snyder was going
to try to get Jay his son too were on
the team and kind of take out most of the
(12:07):
higher player players and so they got you know, but
you know, I knew that he was gonna you know,
I was a free agent at the end, and so
he did me a favor by trading me to Boston,
which is Boston was number one in the year the
year that year, and then Dave Poolan got traded in
January of that year. And then after my injury, I
(12:28):
played a couple of games and then was able to
get traded to Boston. And then at that time after
that he got fired. And then he took me to
Minnesota after that because I'd love to play in Boston
after that, but Harry didn't offer me much offer. So
Bob Clark took me to Minnesota with Bob Smith and
the Minnesota north Stars, and so we did good one
(12:51):
of the finals a year after that.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Yeah, you know that. That's another thing I wanted to ask.
You played one season with the Bruins. Did you notice
I know you you did it just one season. Did
you notice a big difference between the Philly fans versus
the Boston fans.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
I was only there for a month, but you know
it just like it's like Philadelphia and Boston, like they're
they're great fans and uh good good people to play
for and good teams and you know, you always had
a chance to win the Stanley Cup, and so it
was really important for me just to get you know,
you get traded at that time because like I only
(13:26):
had a month left of the year and then the
playoffs and then then I went to Minnesota for three
years and then Hartford after that. But you know, it
was but it was the same. Boston and Philadelphia are
passionate fans.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Uh. Now, you know when you first came up with
the Flyers, your coach was pack Quinn, right, yes, of
course pack quinn and then you played for Bob McCammon
and then Mike Keenan. Uh those were your three coaches.
Uh what can you say were the difference between these
three coaches of managers?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Well, Pat Quinn was such a good coach.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
He's X and o's and he talked to people and
he got people ready to play. And then and then
of course Bob McCammon, like he was with Maine before
that and he was kind of a little you know, different,
And then of course Mike Keenan. I was there for
four years and then we had good teams in there.
We went to the finals in eighty eighty, eighty four
(14:28):
and eighty seven and then uh and then and Paul
Holmger after that was my coach, and then when I
got traded to the Boston. But you know, I really
liked Pat Quinn and Mike Quinn, Mike Keenan because like
they wanted to win every game and they had different styles,
(14:49):
but they respected the people that you played for.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
And you know what's what's worth noting here, Brian, you
played for about nine ten seasons, you make the Stanley Cup.
Half of those years you played what what do you
think was the missing chemistry? Why didn't you know the
teams you played go over that hump?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Well, it was so tough, like in the eighties, Edmonton's
like the Islanders, and there were forty four in a
row and then Edmonton had four or five days and
then then Calgary won in one year and other than that,
it was really tough because you know, the guys, the
best players like that, they didn't make that much money,
but they had good teams and so now and now
(15:32):
there's thirty two teams and it's it's a little.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Bit more even.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
And like, you know, you only you have a tough
time to get into the playoffs. But you know, in
the eighties it was really tough, you know, in the
in the playoffs, especially with the Islanders and the Oilers,
and they were so powerful, you know, but we did
our best to try to win. And then of course
in ninety with Boston, I guess Edmonton we lost in
(15:57):
the triple overtime the first game that hurt us.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
And then of course, you know, we were we were.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
In Minnesota where you know, we were supposed to lose
the first round, but we went into the finals against
Pittsburgh and Lemieux kind of took over the last couple
of games. But you know, it's so tough to you know,
you're playing against some of the best players and teams
all time and just to you know, one bounce, a
(16:24):
bounce here and there could have made a difference in
the series.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Yeah, and it was Stanley Cup finals. You appeared five
times nineteen eighty, eighty five, eighty seven with the Flyers,
Bruins nineteen ninety and then the North Stars ninety one.
You were a five time All Star, your first appearance
at the All Star Game. How exciting was that for you?
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Well, that was hear because then we had a thirty
five under fitted streak. We had like six or seven
guys in the All Star Game at that time, and
that was ended up being like Gordie Howe's last year,
and they just built the new rink, the Joe rulis
a rink they you know, So I played in the
old rink and then then we played in the All
Star Game in February where Gordy Howe was there and
(17:11):
he was one of the final year. So that was
really amazing for me to be there, like, you know,
because I think I had a goal and an assistan
in the playoffs in an All Star Game with I
played with Phil Esposito and Reggie Leach on the line
and so, you know, it was just just kind of exciting,
especially with that many guys. Now, with all the teams
(17:33):
that you have, thirty two teams, you know, it's tough
to get more guys in the lineup, and because you know,
it's like, you know, a couple of other teams, you know,
just they picked the best you want and so but
it just uh yeah, it's just it's so different.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
And this is great that I have you here, Brian,
because as everyone knows, you're one of the most prolific
scorers of all time. Uh, this is just a technique question.
Your techniques have cannis for scoring with the stick? Is
that an effort that came naturally to you or gradually
did you have to work on that, you know, off season?
(18:10):
How do you become such a prolific scorer?
Speaker 3 (18:13):
I think, well, my dad taught me how to skate
and shoot. And the way I did it is like,
you know, I practiced in a little rink and skated
for hours, and I took pucks and then I shot
for the corners. I never wanted to miss the net
because you know, I picked the corners and then you know,
(18:34):
a top shelf left and right and in the middle
and look for the rebounds and so you kind of
know where to shoot and then just you figured it out.
But I had a quick wrist shot and so I
used that a little bit more. And then you stand
in front of the net and then deflections and you know,
of course, with tim Kirbying there in the eighties.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
It was tougher to.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
You know, he beat me to a lot of pucks,
but it was still good to be in ALIGNE made
of him and uh yeah. So it was all about
shooting accurate, accurity and never missing the net and shooting
for rebounds.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Now, you know, I know a lot of players have
superstitions when they played. Did you have any superstitions when
you played?
Speaker 3 (19:15):
No, not too many, because you know, like I was
just a regular guy and I just just didn't didn't
didn't think about it. I just kind of prepared myself
the best I could. You know, in the eighties, we
had of course Pat Croachey. He was our physical fitness
guy that we because we didn't we started working out
in eighty one and that made a big difference. So
(19:36):
it probably gave me five more years to play. And
then we had a store. Steve Rosenberg was a store
a sport uh right, uh coach, and so he helped
me with thinking and uh relaxing and getting ready for
the playoffs and shooting and even for golf and things
(19:58):
like that.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
You know, a big difference in the eighties.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Now I'm into the you know, the uniform, the jersey numbers.
I know you wore number twenty six for the Flyers
all those years, and then you played that that month
with the Bruins, you wore number thirty six. Was there
anything significant about number twenty six for you?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Well, it would I was.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
I wanted to get number sixteen, but you know, how
could I do that for the Flyers because I was
sixteen in the in Brandon weekends and so, but you know,
like I guess I kind of just went to twenty six.
And then for Boston, like they had Wesley was number
twenty six, and so I went to thirty six. And
then in Minnesota I went sixteen.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Hey, I was sixteen, correct, you were seventy.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
And then then of course Hartford because they were so cheap,
they used the same jerseys from the year before. So
and then like I had to wait a half a
year before I got twenty six. I wore fifteen the
first half of the year, and then I changed.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
To twenty six because they didn't make new jerseys and so,
but you know that was you know, I just like
the number six in there.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
All right. So I know you're doing appearances, So what's
your next appearance? And I know you mentioned you have
a book out. Talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Yeah, So my book just came out last November. It's
called Angel on My Wing. It's a bit of bit
about my faith because my dad was a Lutheran minister,
a little bit of hockey, my stroke and high recover
from My Stroke. That's on Amazon and in Canada as
an Indigo, and so like, if anybody wants to order that,
(21:43):
they can go to that website or just check it
out Angel on My Wing. And also I have my
own GAFA cigar brand from the Dominican Republic and their
gaffasigars dot com if anybody wants to check that out,
their quality cigars. And then also like for my work,
like now have I worked for Berkshire, Hathwell, Fox and
(22:07):
Roach for as a referral agent all over the US,
and so like I've been doing that for eleven years.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
And then appearances like.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
I have one in Hartford on the twenty ninth and
then fly back from that, and then of course this
coming Thursday, Bernie Parnt as a funeral and the res
you know, he's going to be there in Philadelphia. I'll
be there for a couple of days. And you know,
I have a bunch of things going on in December
(22:38):
and February and so.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
And I have my own golf tournament.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
It supports the Stroke Center of University of pennsylvaniaity every
day after Mother's Day at the River Winds in New Jersey.
And I usually do a celebrity hockey event in March
or April.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Also.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Wow, very busy, Brian. And you know I want to
answer your website is brianprop dot com? Uh speaking about cigars? Uh?
So you said you have a Dominican brand.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Yeah, it's called Giffall.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
The Gaffaw is my brand and from the Dominican Republic
and the distributors in Chicago. So like I've been selling
it for like seven years, you know, boxes of five, ten,
twenty four, you know, so like if anybody wants to
take a look at it, you know it might be Mike,
might be a good, good time just to for Thanksgiving
or Christmas gift.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Absolutely so brianprop dot com. Everyone listening, go on to
that website. Check it out. And my last question to you, Brian,
I know this is this may be hard that that
eighty nine playoff hit with Chilios. I mean that that
I saw it yesterday on YouTube. I mean that that
was such a disgusting hit. It annoyed the hell out
of me. And I read somewhere that you mentioned that
(23:55):
that hit could have killed you. That must that must,
it must annoy you still to this day. That hit
that Chilios did to you.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Well, it was a dirty hit. Everybody knows that. You know,
he was a dirty player, and he just picked on
the scorers. And so like in my book, like I
talk a little bit about that. It's the only thing
that I ever had bad to say about anybody because
he never apologized anything, and he just he knew he
was going to take me out of the playoffs because
at that time I was leading the playoff scoring in Montreal,
(24:29):
and so he really bad hit from the head. And
so like you saw the hit, and so like I,
like you said, I could have died, uh, you know,
you know, but you know, thankfully I I only missed
one game, which was.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
Kind of amazing.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Out of this this world now, like it might have
changed now.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
But yeah, but other than that, like you know, I'm
happy with my life, you know, but my stroke ten
years ago, like I should have died. It a little
more than that my clock went into my heart, in
my brain three different places. I couldn't talk for a
walk for a year and a half, and so it
took me a long time to get better. But you know,
(25:10):
as you can see, I've done a lot of things.
My book talks a lot about rehab that I have
that can help a lot of people that vote read
the book.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
I mean, this is unbelievable. You have a lot of resilience. Brian, listen,
I really appreciate a few minutes. And you know, brianprop
dot com is the website. Everyone go on to that
website and you can see the merchandise there. Listen, Brian,
thank you so much for a few minutes. I really
appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Yeah, thanks Brett, Brian, take.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Care of yourself well. Bye bye. Brian Prop was on
the show. Brianprop dot com is the website. Go check
it out and thanks for tuning in. We'll see you
next week. Happy collecting to all happen.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Say some compression to con
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