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Wed Aug 12, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

Ray Emery brings his love of boxing to Philadelphia

By Sean Leahy

Please recall back in 2006 when Ray Emery(notes), then goaltender for the Ottawa Senators, donned a mask featuring an image of former heavyweight champion of the world and convicted rapist Mike Tyson. After some heat and a discussion with then Ottawa GM John Muckler, Emery decided to switch helmets after using it for one game, a 5-0 loss to the Boston Bruins.

A well-known fan of pugilism, Emery has shown his skills in the "sweet science" on several occasions over the years. There was the AHL fight with Josh Gratton, the brawl with Martin Biron and Andrew Peters(notes), and of course, last season's actions towards an Atlant Mytishchi trainer who tried to put a hat on Emery's head after he was pulled.

Back in the NHL after a year in the Kontinental Hockey League, Emery's new mask will have the Philadelphia faithful behind him even before he debuts with the Flyers this season. This one, however, will feature two less controversial figures in boxing history along with a fictional underdog, all whom hail from Philly:

That's "Smokin" Joe Frazier, Bernard Hopkins and of course, Rocky Balboa who will be featured on Emery's mask this coming season. We can only hope that if the Flyers season is once again derailed by inconsistent goaltending, Emery can at least spice it up with another goalie fight inspired by the legends on his mask.

Stick tap to The 700 Level for passing along the photos

Related: Hockey Fans, Goons and Pugilism

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71 Comments

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  1. Brian
    1. Posted by Brian Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    rocky was the best fictional boxer out of philadelphia
  2. m_762
    2. Posted by m_762 Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    I knew he was going to go with Frazier on his lid. I think he cheapened it by adding the dumb Rocky picture. You have a legit boxing champion aaaaand... Stallone... riiiight....
    Maybe when Boucher gets a new helmet he'll get one with Bernie Parent and Keanu Reeves as Heaver from Youngblood.
  3. Zack
    3. Posted by Zack Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    He's more of a thug than Patrick Kane could ever HOPE to be. He will be in Central Booking for most of the seson.
  4. demondg1
    4. Posted by demondg1 Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:22 pm EDT

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    Emery is a joke, and Philadelphia is the punchline.
  5. da skinny man
    5. Posted by da skinny man Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:33 pm EDT

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    Funny how Philadelphia idolizes a fictional boxer and pretty much their towns mascot. Hilarious. If anyone should be Idolized it should have been Joe Frazier. And he's REAL!!!!!
  6. Zack
    6. Posted by Zack Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    The statue of Rocky Balbao just jumped into the river
  7. tums
    7. Posted by tums Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    now, now, demondg1, we'll give it a chance before we all reach for our towels to wipe the egg off our faces. this is a hit or miss GAMBLE if i've ever seen one.......and Boucher is the backup. i think i just threw up in my mouth, just a little bit. buckle up Flyers fans and (hopefully) enjoy the ride. ugh.......i feel sick again, fuking salary cap!
    the b-hop and smokin joe tributes on his helmet are sick.....rocky on the back is the gateway for constant ridicule by other fan bases, particularly pittsburgh.
  8. Zack
    8. Posted by Zack Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    Kate Smith just beat the hell outta Pelle Lindbergh, just to see if she could.
  9. tums
    9. Posted by tums Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    now, now, demondg1, we'll give it a chance before we all reach for our towels to wipe the egg off our faces. this is a hit or miss GAMBLE if i've ever seen one.......and Boucher is the backup. i think i just threw up in my mouth, just a little bit. buckle up Flyers fans and (hopefully) enjoy the ride. ugh.......i feel sick again, fuking salary cap!
    the b-hop and smokin joe tributes on his helmet are sick.....rocky on the back is the gateway for constant ridicule by other fan bases, particularly pittsburgh.
  10. matt h
    10. Posted by matt h Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    Hockey... the one sport where assault can end without a league punishment & fine, just a 2 minute minor; in most cases....
  11. demondg1
    11. Posted by demondg1 Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    Now that a precedent for mingling fictional sports with real sports in Philadelphia has been established... How bout having they wear Syracuse Bulldogs jerseys for a couple games a year. They can flip coins over who gets to wear the Ogilthorpe wig.
  12. Berns
    12. Posted by Berns Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    Hey Sean, you are covering hockey, not football or baseball. We call those protective hear gear masks, not helmets.
  13. yerry.take
    13. Posted by yerry.take Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    Todays goalie helmet art is the equivalent to Redneck tattoo's... all trash.
    whatever happened to classic design and composition?
    where are our generations Belfour, Joseph, Fuhr, Roys, Hextall, Moog, Potvin?
  14. Jerk Store
    14. Posted by Jerk Store Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    Tomorrow's Story:
    Ray Emery brings his love of crack cocaine to Philadelphia
  15. IBG
    15. Posted by IBG Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    Awesome mask. Time to get Flyered up for this season.
    And it is just a mask, not sure why people like demondg1 are getting their panties in a wad.
  16. TMC
    16. Posted by TMC Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:48 pm EDT

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    I dont think including Rocky cheapens anything, I think it is a nice touch. Now if he hated boxing and just put it there because Philly loves the Rocky story THAT would have been cheap/lame.
  17. nyr
    17. Posted by nyr Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    Hope he can block punches better then he can block pucks....
  18. G. G
    18. Posted by G. G Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:34 pm EDT

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    I would like to see crosby checking his tooth with the trainer after hatcher laided him out first game on somebodys mask pleaseeeeee
  19. Kevin
    19. Posted by Kevin Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:58 pm EDT

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    Remember back when masks didn't have [profane]ty airbrushed art?
  20. firewing
    20. Posted by firewing Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:50 pm EDT

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    the guy is ina new city and loves the sport of boxing, or as some call it THE SWEET SCIENCE OF BOXING. the real fans will know of whom i speak. so lay off of the guy maybe he wants a new start in a city that has needed a goalie for a long time and wants to be that guy. cant we just give him a break let him sink or swim before we condem him.
    i can see pens fans or ranger fans might be worried about him and pronger laying their guys out, but you never know he just might be the guy to help them to the next level. they should add cheli to all that grit with chelis whit, its a win win for all.
  21. firewing
    21. Posted by firewing Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:54 pm EDT

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    oh yea by the way, they opened a subshop here in michigan called joeys. its a philly place. all the pics and sports stuff all over the walls. the pizza is really good and the tastykakes are pretty good to. if the sandwiches are as good as the pizza i would say that you philly guys have it pretty good down there. the motto is we dont want you to be a philly fan just eat like one. lol
  22. Guy F
    22. Posted by Guy F Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:03 am EDT

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    from firewing : "give him a break let him sink or swim before we condem him."
    Very well said.
  23. Fin-atic
    23. Posted by Fin-atic Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:49 am EDT

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    Philadelphia has tried idolizing other fictional characters, but the bronze statue of Tom Hanks didn't go over too well........
  24. Dutch
    24. Posted by Dutch Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:59 am EDT

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    Rocky Balboa sucks! Only good one in that entire series was the first one, after that idiot stallone cheapened the franchise. Will look great on Emeryboard's mask, and will get a lot of TV time pulling pucks out of the net. Nice move there beating up the Trainer. What a TOTAL F*CKING DICK! Best part of it all is he sucks to boot. He'll fit right in with the flyers. @21 Firewing you're are right on that they do know how to make good sandwiches, classy, Championship franchises that's another story! (Oh hi Guy F. Good morning :)
  25. runOverPenguins
    25. Posted by runOverPenguins Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:10 pm EDT

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    i don't like cheese in a can. and the pizza is unlike anywhere else. is it lunch yet?

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