From the Wings to the Flyers
After his formative years with the Philadelphia Wings, Andy Abramson joined the Philadelphia Flyers organization in the mid-1970s. His mandate from Flyers owner Ed Snider was straightforward: build community. His execution was anything but ordinary.
The stated mission was simple: "Promote, stimulate and develop interest in the sport of ice hockey across the Delaware Valley." But the underlying vision of Ed Snider was deeper: "Get kids playing hockey, and you have a fan base for life." The premise was that if kids played hockey, their parents would take them to Flyers games. Snider was right.
Drawing on everything Sy Roseman had taught him about media, relationships, and the power of storytelling, Andy set about creating programs that would embed the Flyers brand into the fabric of Philadelphia life — not just for existing fans, but for the next generation of them.
Coaching clinics came first, starting in 1977. Then that fall came the College Hockey Guide, quickly followed by the College Central Showcase in 1978. 1979 saw the debut of The Pepsi Shootout, quickly followed by The Flyers Cup High School Hockey Championships in 1980. That fall, high school and youth hockey games on Spectrum ice arrived before Flyers games, and then Mites on Ice came along in 1981 — young children skating on Spectrum ice during game intermissions. It was simple, joyful, and instantly beloved by the Philadelphia area amateur hockey community.
In 1984, when Jay Snider appointed Andy to run the Flyers office and oversee special projects — including Bobby Clarke's retirement night production — things really took off. Together they marshaled the sponsorship sales force, created a new Flyers Youth Hockey clinic program featuring then-current players and Flyers Alumni, hired Bruce Craig as Hockey Central's Chief Coach, and in 1985 established five Learn To Play programs across City of Philadelphia ice rinks.
In 1988, Jay and Andy brought the Celebrity All Star Hockey team to Philadelphia, selling out The Spectrum, bringing Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent out of retirement, and raising over $300,000 to support youth hockey. Following a stint with the Denver Nuggets in Sponsorship Sales and Development, Andy would go on to lead the Celebrity All Star team as GM, raising more than $6 million for charities across the United States and Canada.
In 2023, Andy received the Ed Snider Award — the highest honor in Philadelphia youth hockey — for the many programs he created and established during his time with The Philadelphia Flyers.
"Andy Abramson, who is considered the father of the Flyers Cup."
The Programs That Built a Hockey City
Four programs created by Andy Abramson during his time with the Flyers — each one still shaping Philadelphia hockey culture today.
Young children — ages 4–6 — skate on the Spectrum ice during Flyers game intermissions. Andy created the program in 1981; it has run continuously for over 45 years and remains one of the most beloved fan traditions in Flyers history.
The youth hockey television segment produced by The Flyers TV crew, broadcast across the Delaware Valley. The show brought Flyers brand awareness about youth hockey into homes throughout the region, building a new generation of players and fans.
The annual scholastic hockey championship for eastern Pennsylvania high schools. Andy Abramson is officially recognized on Wikipedia as "the father of the Flyers Cup." The tournament continues to crown champions each season.
Free, no-cost hockey clinics and programs that introduced thousands of young Philadelphians to the sport. The programs included current and alumni Flyers players and coaches teaching hockey skills — part of Andy's broader vision to build a hockey culture beyond the Flyers' existing fanbase.
The Hockey Central era was built on the foundation of the Wings years. From a 14-year-old kid stuffing envelopes at the Philadelphia Wings to the man who built the youth hockey infrastructure of the Philadelphia Flyers — the thread runs unbroken.
Every Mites on Ice skater. Every Flyers Cup champion. Every kid who learned to play at a Flyers clinic. They are all part of the story that started in 1974 when Andy Abramson walked into the Blue Line Club to sell a yearbook ad and never left professional sports.
Explore the Full Comunicano Sports Story
The Hockey Central era was built on the foundation of the Wings years. Discover where it all began — and where it's going today.
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