Flyers fan who caught stick during Game 6 returns it to Cam York
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Flyers fan who caught the game-winning stick from Cam York during the team's series-clinching overtime victory says the only thing better than receiving it was getting the chance to give it back.
Jack Brod left Game 6 with York's stick after the player tossed it into the crowd in celebration.
York later admitted he regretted throwing the stick, first worrying about whether it hit anyone and then realizing he wanted to keep the memento.
"I'm not gonna reuse it. I'm not reusing it. I'm just gonna frame it," he said.
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Brod, a devoted Flyers fan from Newtown, said he didn't hesitate when he learned York wanted it back.
"It was important to Cam to have it, way more important for him than for me or anybody else," he said.
York showed his appreciation by giving Brod a signed jersey and another signed stick inscribed with "glad you're okay."
"I mean, if that was gonna happen to any fan, Philly fans are as tough as they get, so I figured even if it did hit him, he was gonna still enjoy the moment and be happy. So it was a cool moment for both of us," York said on Friday.
Brod didn't keep the replacement stick for himself. Instead, he passed it on to his friend's son, Jake Weiner of Holland, a young hockey standout.
"Yesterday he texted me, 'What are you doing tomorrow?' And now I'm here with a signed Cam York stick getting interviewed!" Weiner said.
Brod said the gift felt meaningful.
"I know it will mean 100 times more to him. And he's a young kid who's worked really hard at school, on ice hockey, breaking records in the suburban leagues, goals, assists. He's just tearing it up. And I thought it was a nice way to recognize his hard work and efforts," he said.
The Flyers play next in North Carolina on Saturday at 8 p.m. Game 2 will also be held there, with the date and time to be determined, before the series returns to South Philadelphia.
