Flyers coach Tocchet hands game puck to broadcaster Myrtetus

Rick Tocchet opened his postgame press conference on Saturday by thanking someone who doesn't play for the Flyers. Philadelphia's head coach gave the game puck to radio broadcaster Jason Myrtetus after the team beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 at Xfinity Mobile Arena for its first win of the season.

Myrtetus, who is battling Stage 4 cancer, spoke to the team earlier in the day at Tocchet's request.

"Before I start, game puck to Jason, by the way. What a speech today," Tocchet said. "Told him you can replace me. Your speech today was unreal. Thank you. Jason did a great speech for our team today."

In the dressing room, the Flyers presented Myrtetus with a pair of Rocky gloves. He put them on as the team cheered, in pictures the club posted.

Myrtetus was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2024. This summer he learned it had spread to his lungs and liver, and he told The Athletic he was given a prognosis of 6 to 24 months.

Tocchet said the message landed with his players. "Absolutely. I mean, it's a different level," he said. "I've been talking to Jason. There's a message there. I'm not going to tell the story, but it's a cool story. And I just felt after he left, there was a little bit of a pause or a silence.

"Guys were getting dressed, and you could tell it was a moving message to the guys. You know, like, hey, you should be happy we're in the NHL, we're playing a game. We're asking for effort. This guy's going through stuff that (we) can't imagine what he's going through."