Barry Ashbee NHL defenceman and Philadelphia Flyer legend

Remembering Barry Ashbee: The Tough Defenceman

On a walk through Glendale Memorial Gardens in Rexdale—puck in hand—I discovered the grave of Barry Ashbee, a player whose grit and determination left a lasting mark on hockey history.

Barry spent much of his early career battling injuries in the minors, including missing the entire 1966–67 season while playing for the Hershey Bears of the AHL. But he never gave up.

With the NHL expansion, Barry got his big break when the Philadelphia Flyers picked him up for the 1970–71 season. He quickly established himself as one of the Flyers’ top defencemen, earning respect for his toughness and skill.

His hard work paid off in 1973 when he was named to the NHL Second All-Star team and helped lead the “Broad Street Bullies” to a Stanley Cup victory.

Yet, Barry’s career was cut tragically short. On April 28, 1974, during overtime of Game 4 in the Stanley Cup semifinals, a slap shot from Dale Rolfe of the New York Rangers struck Barry in the right eye. The injury was devastating—reducing his vision in that eye to just 15%.

With his vision impaired, Barry was forced to retire from professional hockey on June 4, 1974, shortly after the Flyers clinched the Stanley Cup once again.

Sadly, Barry Ashbee died of leukemia in Philadelphia on May 12, 1977. He was only 37.

1939-1977