Bill Sutherland, a Flyers Original, Dies at 82

The Flyers have lost an original.

Bill Sutherland, who played 124 games over parts of the Flyers' first four seasons as an organization and scored the franchise's first-ever goal in 1967, died on Sunday. He was 82 years old.

Sutherland, born on Nov. 10, 1934, in Regina, Saskatchewan, helped lead the Flyers to the playoffs in their inaugural 1967-68 season and finished with 42 goals and 29 assists for 71 points during his time in orange and black.

"Bill was an original member of this organization who helped set the standard of success and what it meant to be a Flyer," Flyers president Paul Holmgren said in a statement. "He came to the Flyers as a veteran and played a crucial part in leading the team to a first-place finish in the West Division in the very first season. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time."

Appearing in 11 postseason games for the Flyers over the team's first two seasons, Sutherland, a center, posted six points on two goals and four assists. He also scored the first-ever goal at the Spectrum and went on to play 250 career NHL games to notch 70 goals and 58 assists for 128 points.

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