Jody Shelley only played a single season with the New York Rangers, but it was enough to gain an understanding of what this rivalry with the Flyers is all about.
And why the Winter Classic should take that rivalry to the next level.
Philadelphia, first of all, is a tough town to play against, Shelley said. Everyone knows what the fans are like in that building, and to come in and play against them, you always knew it was going to be a battleand not just on the ice.
The fans are going to be involved. I know the word is probably used a lot, but passion is the biggest word for both cities. I mean, the fans are so passionate, the cities are so proud.
You walk around Madison Square Garden and the building is filled not just with memories, but artifacts from the past. Not just hockey, but basketball, boxing and concerts.
And then theres the Rangers mystique that seems to permeate throughout the organization.
I noticed when I first got to New York, the first thing was the history of the organization, the Ranger pride in everything you do, Shelley said.
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You felt it was driven by the city and by the fans. And you get to Philly, and its even bigger. As a player you feel it in a bigger sense, because youre carrying a tradition and a history that the organization and the city and the fans take pride in. They really do.
A pride to have the Broad Street Bullies attached to them, and they do. The fans passionately know the history. We know when we get on the ice every night what we carry and who we represent. Thats the greatest thing about both cities. I guess the hatred comes with all the pride, especially in those two cities.
In the December pre-hype for the Winter Classic, HBO ran snippets showing peoples appetite for its outstanding series, 247. Some clips had Shelley and Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky talking trash about each other.
Im not sure, Shelley said of the sniping with a smile. That wasnt really anything.
Its long been known that these two teams have a genuine dislike for each other. It goes back to the 1970s and some of the playoff series between the two clubs.
The dislike still exists even today with a brand new generation of players who werent even born in 1980 when Mel Bridgman completely ate up Phil Esposito during a bitterly contested quarterfinal playoff series against the Rangers.
Is the dislike between the Flyers and Rangers players overblown?
Im not sure if its overblown, Shelley said. Theyre the guys youre battling against who are trying to knock you down ... knock down what were trying to do. Were the guys battling each other, and you dont like the guy youre battling with, thats for sure.
So, given the historical disdain between these two organizations, coupled with the elements of playing a game outdoors, the Flyers-Rangers rivalry should intensify on Jan. 2.
Its definitely special, Shelley said. I mean, first of all, the hype about the whole thing. Its a special thing to be involved with. You would think it would just be another game because we play them six times a year.
But obviously, with the camera crew around, with all the exposure, and with how big the Winter Classic is becoming, it definitely puts the rivalry front and center.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net