Flyers Go Above And Beyond To Honor Service Members On Military Appreciation Night

On Nov. 11, Veterans Day, the Philadelphia Flyers paid a stirring tribute to those who have served the United States, hosting a heartfelt Military Appreciation Night that captured the spirit of respect, camaraderie, and honor that runs deep in the military community.

To kick off an evening of unfeigned gratitude and solemn tribute, at center ice, the spotlight fell on Sgt. Josh Chilcote of the Flyers Warriors, a team dedicated to military veterans with disabilities, who stepped forward for the ceremonial puck drop alongside his service dog, Turbo.

Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale met with Chilcote and Turbo during the game, presenting Chilcote with a custom military Flyers jersey.

For the Flyers, honoring those who serve isn't just a tradition; it's a deeply personal cause embedded in the team's ethos, with their efforts going above and beyond for the service members that benefit from the Flyers' active involvement.

"I think it's really easy to say 'thank you for your service,'" said Nick Liermann, founder of Team Foster, an organization that "raises money to provide accredited, life-saving service dogs to injured and disabled Veterans." "One of the things I think the Flyers and our community are really good at is actually supporting our veterans, especially our veterans who need it the most. I think [Military Appreciation Night] is a really great example of our community coming together to do just that, and you realize how much our veterans really are supported."

Beyond the ceremonial moments, the Flyers' commitment extended to their training facility, where they opened their doors to veterans prior to game night. Players stayed on the ice after practice to spend time skating and conversing with these men and women—an experience that was as enriching for the players as it was for the veterans themselves.

In the shared space of the rink, the veterans were no longer spectators but participants, welcomed into the fold by a team that views them as an essential part of the Flyers family. This opportunity was not just a token experience, but a chance to be seen, heard, and appreciated.

"A professional athlete has a demanding schedule, so any time they carve out time to spend it with someone, you know it matters," Liermann said of the experience. "It's not just lip service."

Honoring those in the military is a cause particularly close to the heart of Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella, and he has personally made significant efforts to support organizations like the Flyers Warriors and Team Foster—a gesture that doesn't go unnoticed.

"I know he's very protective of his time," Liermann said. "I also know that Torts has two passions—one is animals, the other is the military, in large part because his son is in the Special Forces. We had the good fortune that Torts actually came out to one of our fundraising events in the spring. I've had conversations with him, and it's very obvious in every interaction with him how personally he takes this mission."

For Team Foster, the recognition from the Flyers is a small piece of their ambitions to not just provide service dogs to veterans who need them, but "educating the public about what it means to have a service dog, what it takes for a service dog to get properly trained, what our handler's rights are, but also what business and the public's rights are as well. So the more opportunities we get to talk about what we do and the impact of these service dogs, the better."

(A fun side note: Team Foster partnered with the Philadelphia Phillies have a "team dog" named Major, who is with the team training to be a service dog—and the content is adorable.)

For the Flyers, this night isn't simply another event on the schedule—it's a continued commitment to honoring and helping those who have served in whatever they can.

"No matter if you win or lose...that stuff's a hell of a lot more important," Tortorella said of the Flyers winning on Military Appreciation Night. "We get a chance to do that because of [those who serve]."

For those interested in Team Foster's work and would like to look further into getting involved, you can visit their website at teamfoster.org, or visit their social media pages, all of which are under the handle @WeAreTeamFoster.

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