PHILADELPHIA — Some might call it divine intervention.
One of the greatest players in the history of the Philadelphia Flyers professional ice hockey franchise awoke one morning nine years ago unable to speak or walk.
Hours before, Brian Propp had suffered a severe medical crisis, a stroke, which left him wondering if he could ever lead a normal life again.
As he lay in an Annapolis, Md. hospital bed on Sept. 3, 2015, his first thought was “I’m going to beat this thing.”
Why the confidence? Because he was raised in a family with a strong belief in faith: His father was an ordained minister and his mother a Sunday school teacher.
In that sort of environment, miracles can happen.
It took years and years of diligence, but Propp moved forward with the same dedication that he put into his National Hockey League career.
His strong work ethic has resulted in an almost complete recovery, one in which he is able to play golf and hockey again as well as enjoy everyday life with his family.
That incredible journey back is chronicled in his new autobiography “Angel on My Wing” (Triumph Books), scheduled for release on November 5, 2024.
While many might have been astounded by Propp’s fortitude, those who know him well weren’t all that surprised.
One of those close friends is Hockey Hall of Fame’s Bob Clarke, a former Flyers teammate and later general manager.
Clarke was GM of the team in 1989 when Propp was knocked unconscious in a violent collision and driven to a hospital during a playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Incredibly, Propp missed only one game and soon returned to action in Stanley Cup play.
“Those who witnessed this incident feared for his life, much less play hockey again in that series,” Clarke wrote in the book’s foreword. “But after missing only one game, Brian cleared protocol and was ready to go again. It took courage to jump back into the action of a physical and sometimes violent game. The same kind of fortitude I knew Brian would exhibit in his inspiring recovery from the 2015 health challenge. If someone up there is indeed watching over Brian, I truly believe he deserves that divine attention.”
Propp grew up in the western Canadian province of Saskatchewan. He set scoring records while playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. He stands fourth on the Flyers’ all-time scoring list, trailing only Clarke, Bill Barber and Claude Giroux, and is a member of the Flyers’ Hall of Fame.
Angel on My Wing’s co-author, Wayne Fish, has covered the Flyers since 1976. His most recent book, “Road to Redemption” chronicles former Flyers defenseman Chris Therien’s career-long battle with and triumph over alcohol dependency.
Angel on My Wing is currently in pre-order and available at websites such as https://www.amazon.com. Look for the book in national bookstores such as Barnes & Noble on Nov. 5.
