During visit, U.S. Marines and Flyers show mutual respect

VOORHEES, N.J. – It’s safe to say the dozens of military personnel who visited the Flyers on Wednesday were inspired by rubbing elbows with such greatness.
Yet the same could be said for the members of the hockey team, who said they appreciate and respect what the U.S. Marine Corps does for the safety and welfare of this country.
“There’s something about that,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said at the Flyers Training Center. “I just talked to a couple guys, there in port for a couple days. Something couldn’t go to the (Florida) game the other day because they had to work.
“The things that they’re doing for the country, I mean how do you not (respect that)? We’re playing hockey. We fly in private planes, eat good food. These guys are the real heroes to me. For them to come in, I think it does inspire guys.”
Philadelphia native William Bland, a lance corporal/C3, grew up a Flyers fan, so he was a bit like a wide-eyed kid meandering around the team’s locker room after practice.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “Coming here and seeing them practice, it reminds me when I was a little kid. The joy and the thrill in the arena. It’s a great time to be out here with everybody.”
With the Flyers off to a decent start, everybody in the room seems to be in good spirits.
“I raced over to (Nick) Deslauriers,” Bland said. “He gave me a handshake, we took a picture. I told him I’ve been a fan for a good amount of years. We took a picture together with my newborn son a couple months ago.”
The Marine, who has three years under his belt and at least another one to go, likes the way Deslauriers plays with a physical swagger.
“The first time that I saw him play, I was trying to get a picture of the team and he took me back and we got a picture with the whole team,” Bland said. “He’s very professional. That’s what I inspire to be like.
“The Marines here today are extremely excited to see the culture, the players, the team, the environment. This a huge achievement for a lot of us to actually get out and see games.”
Flyers captain Sean Couturier has been through this drill before but it never grows old.
“It’s always special,” he said. “The men and women who serve our country are what make us free today. I think it’s cool for them, cool for us to interact. It’s always a good experience.”
Nick Seeler’s grandfather served in the U.S. military so he has some of that pride in his system.
“We knew they were going to come today,” he said. “I talked to a few of them and they had a really good time talking to the guys.
“They protect and serve and take that to heart. They keep us safe. I have all the respect in the world for these people.”