1976 Broad Street Bullies vs The Red Army Bobby Clarke Interview

Tensions run high as the Philadelphia Flyers face off against the Moscow Central Red Army team in this January 1976 Super Series matchup in Philadelphia. Philly's "Broad Street Bullies" frustrate the Russians with their highly physical play, and the Russians walk off the ice in protest after Flyer Jack Van Impe levels Russian star Valeri Kharlamov. In this clip, CBC's Brian McFarlane speaks to Flyers captain Bobby Clarke after the Russian walkout, getting some very candid opinions about Russian sportsmanship.
Broad Street Bullies vs. The Red Army

• This game is part of the 1976 Super Series, a string of exhibition games played between Russian and NHL teams. The Russians won the overall series, winning five games, losing two and tying one. The Flyers and the Buffalo Sabres were the only teams to beat the Soviets.
• Bobby Clarke and Valeri Kharlamov had their own controversial moment in the 1972 Summit Series. Clarke, perhaps acting on a suggestion from assistant coach John Ferguson, took a chop at the Russian's sore ankle, cracking it and causing him to miss the pivotal seventh game.

• Valeri Kharlamov is considered one of the finest Russian hockey players in history. He was one of the main stars of the 1972 Summit Series, winning game MVP in a stunning upset win in Montreal. His career was cut short by a car accident at age 33 and he was posthumously inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame. Each year, the best Russian player in the NHL is awarded the Kharlamov Trophy.

• Bobby Clarke was a diabetic who consumed massive amounts of sugar to avoid experiencing seizures or comas. He had two serious seizures during training camp in his rookie year, so a Flyers assistant coach devised a sugary diet plan: Clarke would drink a bottle of Coca-Cola with three spoonfuls of dissolved sugar before each game and drank sugar-laced orange juice in between periods and after the game.

• Clarke was considered a potential number one NHL draft pick, but his diabetes left many teams worried about his NHL readiness. He was eventually drafted 17th overall in 1969.

• Despite his aggressive style of play, Bobby Clarke was the first Philadelphia Flyer to win the NHL's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, an annual award given to "the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."

Broad Street Bullies vs. The Red Army

Medium: Television

Program: CBC Sports

Broadcast Date: Jan. 11, 1976

Guest(s): Bobby Clarke


Interviewer: Brian McFarlane

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Brian
• McFarlane
• 1976
• Broad
• Street
• Bullies
• Red
• Army
• Bobby
• Clarke
• Interview
• Russian
• Russia
• Soviet
• CCCP
• Hockey
• NHL

[hanksnow2]

Clarke says they come in late for breakfast,...Well hell, why wouldn't Kharlamov & the rest of the "Commies" get there a little early & shoot the shit with Bobby & and the other 20 or so Goons, who will be soon trying to separate their heads from the rest of their bodys. I'm sure the Goons would live up to similar "Class" at the breakfast table as they are on the ice, "A" Bobby!

[hanksnow2]

@KillaRock881 No I did not see Orr in person, nor any others as I live in NB, & back then I never got to the big cities to see a game. But I'd like to say that back then, players got in shape @ training camp. Most had jobs, cause the NHL was run by a bunch of Gangsters who paid almost nothing. Some players I'm sure cheated & got in shape before camp. Gret's father was smart, he trained Wayne as a child as the USSR did only in huge #'s. Wayne & Orr played against a lot of 2nd stringers, sorry

[PeeyanoKeys]

Fuck yeah Philly... good lookin out for the Sabres too

[phlyersphan48]

got to love the clarkie smile, best captain ever

[hockyjocky4]

@gracom1977 and the selke trophy changed to the 'alexei kovalev trophy'

[shinobi368]

look at those teeth.... "OH wait"

[akondray]

@gracom1977 Absolutely perfect to say especially since it was right after what the charming person below you wrote. I laughed so fucking hard at yours though haha I totally agree :P. Magenta, I think it's time you watch a different sport and learn to appreciate the fact that Bobby Clarke epitomized "looks can be deceiving"...1210 points over a career; not bad for a, how you so colorfully put, "Flin Flon Mental case" GG to you sir

[gracom1977]

the lady byng should be renamed the bobby clarke trophy

[Magenta408]

Without his front teeth, he reminds me of that hillbilly in "Deliverance". What a low life is this Flin Flon mental case!

[Magenta408]

Just seeing Clarke makes me want to shit. Mess with your mind? Clarke doesn't have a brain, how can you mess his mind. The guy is a mental case. He deserves a life sentence with Philadelphia.