Scott retiring as Spectacor chairman and Flyers governor originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
There's more change at the top for the Flyers.
Comcast Spectacor announced Monday morning that Dave Scott will be retiring as chairman of the company and governor of the Flyers.
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Dan Hilferty, who was named CEO of Comcast Spectacor last month, will succeed Scott as chairman on April 17 and as governor of the Flyers on July 1.
Earlier this month, on the hockey ops side, Chuck Fletcher was fired as president and general manager.
In April 2017, Scott said he was essentially in his fourth season with the club. Ed Snider, the Flyers' iconic chairman and founder, had died in April the year prior after battling cancer.
"Ed was pretty ill the last couple years," Scott said in April 2017. "I've stayed pretty close to it. ... I think we all have a job to do here. My job is, really, to make sure we have the resources and we're investing in the team for the long term and go for the Cup. The Flyers are going to go for it every year. That's our heritage."
This season, Scott was in his 30th year working for Comcast. He joined Spectacor in December 2013.
"Dave is a highly talented executive who contributed to the growth of our business in many ways over the past three decades," Comcast Corporation chairman and CEO Brian Roberts said in a statement released by the Flyers. "He was one of the early entrepreneurs as we expanded our company nationally, first as a division president and then as CFO of Comcast Cable during some of our most pivotal years. We're very grateful to Dave for all he has done for Comcast, and for his leadership of Comcast Spectacor over the last decade."
After the Flyers made sweeping changes in 2018-19, headlined by the firing of GM Ron Hextall, the club won a playoff series for the first time since 2012 once the 2019-20 campaign resumed with the bubbled postseason. Prior to the start of those summer playoffs, Scott said he could not have been happier with the team's direction but knew there was more to accomplish.
After the Flyers came a win away from the Eastern Conference Final, they have stumbled ever since. They're going to miss the postseason in three consecutive years for the first time since 1989-90 to 1993-94, when they went five straight seasons without a playoff berth.
"I can tell you I'm angry," Scott said last season in January 2022. "I know our fans are more than angry and the whole organization's angry. We're sick of losing."
The club has gotten younger this season and is now rebuilding under head coach John Tortorella.
Hilferty, a 1978 graduate of Saint Joseph's, has held leadership roles with Independence Blue Cross, AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies and Mercy Health Corporation. Last summer, Philadelphia was named a host city for the 2026 World FIFA World Cup, a bid that was led by Hilferty.
"I've enjoyed partnering with Dave since I joined Comcast Spectacor last month and I’m energized about the opportunity to further advance the company," Hilferty said in a statement released by the Flyers. "Our number one goal for the Flyers will be to consistently compete for the Stanley Cup. It is going to be a process that will take time to get on that path, but I’m confident we are headed in the right direction with Danny Briere as interim GM, Coach Tortorella, and our hiring of a president of hockey operations soon. Our leadership team will be fully focused to deliver on this for our fans while also continuing to make the sports complex the best location for sports and entertainment in the nation."
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