1976 Flyers game: 4-1 win over Soviet Red Army masked a political fight

The Philadelphia Flyers played the Soviet Red Army on January 11, 1976, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. The game marked the end of an exhibition series that the Russian teams had dominated. Ed Snider, the chairman of the company that owned the Flyers, viewed the matchup as more than a sports event.

Snider wanted to draw attention to Soviet Jews who were prevented from leaving their country. He worked with local groups to post signs throughout the arena during the event. The Flyers entered the ice for warmups while the banners were still visible. Jimmy Watson, a former Flyer who attended a recent screening of the documentary "Cold War in Philly," said the players saw the signs and were aware of the politics.

The Flyers won the game 4-1. The victory offered a face-saving result for the league, which often criticized the team for its physical style. During the match, defenseman Ed Van Impe delivered a hard check to Soviet star Valeri Kharlamov. The Russian team left the ice after the incident. They returned only after Snider warned that they would not be paid if they stayed away.

However, the political display did not last until the opening faceoff. The Russians insisted that the signs be removed before they would play. Larry Goodenough, who scored the final goal for Philadelphia, recalled seeing the signs but not fully understanding their meaning at the time. Bob Kelly, a forward on the team, stated that the issue was not in his pay grade and that he did not see anything unusual during the game.

Director Joe Amodei created the documentary "Cold War in Philly," which was released in May. The film was presented last week at the Betty and Milton Katz JCC in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Amodei noted that he focused on the game itself. He acknowledged that he did not mention the removal of the signs in the film, a detail that many viewers may not have known. Lindy Snider, Ed Snider's daughter, said the episode remained fresh in her father's mind until his death in 2016.

Snider described his father as someone who recognized threats early and supported organizations sounding alarm bells. She noted that he never shied away from controversy. The family remains involved in causes related to the refuseniks of that era. Lindy Snider said her father would have been angered by the current state of antisemitism and would have taken action.

The documentary captures the specific moment when sports and politics intersected in Philadelphia. The game ended with a four-goal victory for the Flyers. The signs that Snider displayed were gone before the final whistle. The family continues to honor his legacy through their ongoing involvement in related causes.