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The excitement and emotion were palpable when I spoke with Tom Gavrailoff early Thursday morning.
Now 66, the Winnipegger was on the phone from Philadelphia, preparing to see his favourite hockey team — the Flyers — play in their own backyard for the very first time. Later that evening, they would face his second-favourite team: the Winnipeg Jets.
“This trip is really a fulfillment of a lifelong bucket-list dream,” Gavrailoff said. “I really feel like a kid to be here.”
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His Philadelphia fandom has an unusual origin story, dating back to when he was nine years old.
“My dad came from Bulgaria and had this experience while working up in a mine in the Yukon. He was playing shinny and saw one of his workmates get hit with a puck. The guy was disfigured for life,” Gavrailoff recalled.
“After that, he always told me that if I played hockey, I’d end up like that.”
As a result, the sport was rarely discussed or watched in their home — at least until one particular Saturday night when Gavrailoff convinced his dad to let him tune in to Hockey Night in Canada.
The Montreal Canadiens were playing, and they just so happened to be the favourite team of Gavrailoff’s best friend, Vince.
With no rooting interest of his own, Gavrailoff decided to play the contrarian and cheer for their opponents: the Flyers.
That night, Philadelphia skated to a 5-3 victory, thanks in part to a pair of goals from Gary Dornhoefer.
“The next day, I announced the Flyers were my favourite team. Vince said the only reason I liked them was because they beat Montreal,” Gavrailoff recalled with a laugh.
“I said, ‘You’re exactly right.’ And I’ve never wavered since.”
It didn’t hurt that the Flyers went on to win a second straight Stanley Cup that year. That spontaneous childhood decision blossomed into a lifelong devotion. By age 12, Gavrailoff had penned a letter to the Flyers wishing them well from Winnipeg, even mentioning that Dornhoefer was his favourite player.
“Four months later, this big envelope shows up with the Flyers logo on it,” he said. Inside were a Flyers bumper sticker, a signed photograph from coach and fellow Winnipegger Fred Shero, and an NHL rulebook.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was stunned.”
What began as a hockey allegiance eventually grew into a love for all things Philadelphia — the Phillies, Eagles, and 76ers included.
“The agony of being a Philly sports fan is real,” Gavrailoff said. “So many great teams, so many chances to win another Cup since 1975, and always falling short. The curse of Pelle Lindbergh and all that. But I’ve never stopped cheering.”
For decades, it was a long-distance love affair — until now.
“My kids and my wife got together and bought the tickets. To finally see my Flyers in person… it means everything,” he said.
Adding to the occasion, his two sons, Brett and Connor, are joining him. He’ll be wearing his Bobby Clarke Flyers jersey and, although he hopes for a Philadelphia win, he’d love it to come beyond regulation so the Jets at least get a point.
“The Jets being back brought so much emotion to people here,” he said.
“I’ll proudly wear my Flyers jersey,” he added, “but even more proudly, I’ll stand up during the anthem and yell ‘True North.’ That’s a full-circle moment for me — to be able to honor both the Flyers and the Jets, and to share it with my boys.”
Now that you’ve heard Gavrailoff’s story, I want to hear yours!
Do you have a memorable or quirky tale about how you came to cheer for your favourite sports team?
Send it my way — I’ll be featuring some of the best stories in an upcoming edition of this newsletter.
Enjoy the game tonight, folks.
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