Steve Coates 'humbled' by retirement ceremony, says Flyers are 'on the way up'
Beloved Coates 'humbled' by 43 years in Philly, says Flyers are 'on the way up' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Steve Coates never imagined a retirement ceremony with the Flyers.
Not when he came to Flyers training camp in 1973 as "the shortest guy, just trying to get on."
And especially not after spilling coffee all over the notes of the great Gene Hart in 1980, when Coates' broadcasting career began with the Flyers.
"I would have told you there's absolutely no chance," Coates said. "In fact, I was surprised I didn't get fired the first game working with Gene Hart. ... That was my first start. I was off to a really good start."
After 43 years of wearing various hats for the organization, connecting with just about everyone he came across because of his infectious personality, Coates was honored last Saturday night by the Flyers ahead of his retirement at season's end.
"Those are the great things about our game is when it's all said and done, the relationships you make — and that's a true one there," Flyers head coach John Tortorella said 11 days ago. "That's just a good man that has given everything to this organization.
"We talk about that logo, the Flyer logo and all that. ... That's embedded with him."
Over 43 seasons, Coates was a part of the team's television and radio broadcasts, served as a studio host and color analyst, provided rink-side commentary and starred on "Coatesy's Corner." He won Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards in 2000 and 2004 for best live sports coverage. Most recently, Coates has been the color analyst alongside play-by-play man Tim Saunders for the Flyers' radio broadcasts.
The organization and fans saluted Coates in a pregame ceremony last Saturday night.
"It's surreal," he said two and a half hours beforehand. "I can't even put my finger on how I feel. I just feel so gratified at the whole thing, but humbled at the same time."
Coates played five games for the Red Wings in 1976-77 and played professionally for seven seasons. He doesn't forget being the shortest player in the Flyers' 1973 training camp.
"Next thing you know, here I am, 50 years later, still as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers and still in the hockey business," Coates said. "If I can't go and pinch myself every day, I've got a problem. This has been an absolute pleasure."
Coates felt it was time to say farewell because of a problem with his right eye.
"I can't see the game the way I would like to see it," he said. "Am I doing it? Yeah, I'm doing it. But not the way that I like doing it and understanding where it is, what it is. I've got to do all different combinations of things now to do it.
"When I found out that the eye wasn't going to get any better three weeks ago, I then came out and told everybody that it's time. In saying that, that put me over the edge. Will I miss it? Yeah, I'm going to miss it."
In 43 years with the Flyers, Coates has seen a lot — the good, the bad, the downturns, the turnarounds.
Right now, the Flyers are rebuilding and amid a three-year postseason drought. But Coates is confident the Flyers will be back to where they have been in the past as a premier NHL franchise.
"It's tough lately with the losing, the up and down, the emotional rollercoaster of what's going on right now," Coates said. "But I'll tell you what, it's still the same as far as everybody wants to be a Flyer. This is on the way up, I'm going to tell you that right now.
"It's the people that work here and the people that come to work every day with a Flyers logo on and they're proud of it. As I said, it's been tough. But you're going to have times like that — you're going to win, you're going to lose, you're going to have different reasons for it to happen. But we're still the Philadelphia Flyers. And that's the bottom line for me."
Philadelphia Flyers
Subscribe to and rate Flyers Talk
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | YouTube
