Remembering Flyers founder Ed Snider

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) Ed Snider, the Philadelphia Flyers founder whose "Broad Street Bullies" became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, has died after a 2-year battle with cancer. He was 83. Today, we remembered his legacy.

Growing up just 6 blocks away from Laura Simms Skate House in Cobbs Creek Thmas Brown learned hockey because of Ed Snider, but he also learned a lot more.

READ MORE: Philadelphia Flyers founder Ed Snider dies

"He gave me a reason that there was something beyond your average children from the inner city on the road to failure. Kind of showed you another route," Brown told FOX 29.

Thmas was one of the 10's of thousands of kids helped by the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation.
Started 10 years ago by the Flyers founder, the program is at 7 area rinks, providing free ice time and equipment for inner city youth. Now at 23, Brown is still here, but now he is coaching and mentoring other kids.

The foundation has a focus on hockey and life. The program includes after school academics, fitness and nutrition According to the foundation, 85% of high school seniors in the program go on to college or trade school.

Foundation leaders say Snider said it himself after he's gone the billionaire who helped bring two Stanley Cups to Philadelphia really wants to be remembered for this: "His legacy is going to be Snider hockey and many years from now when we all forget he founded the Philadelphia Flyers. 30,40,50 years from now Snider Hockey is going to impact these communities in positive way," said Bill Whitmore.

Everyone thinks Howard Eskin is so tough. But the passing of Ed Snider moved him to tears.