Chris Therien
Christopher Bowie Therien, affectionately known as Bundy, is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played 12 National Hockey League seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers and Dallas Stars. He is currently the lead analyst for Flyers Pregame Live and Flyers Postgame Live on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Prior to the 2018-19 NHL season he was a color commentator inside the glass for the Flyers on NBC Sports Philadelphia. He was also previously the Flyers' radio color commentator on 97.5 The Fanatic.
Playing career
After registering 35 goals and 37 assists in 31 games for Northwood School in 1989–90, Chris Therien was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 3rd round, 47th overall of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. He attended Providence College for three years and joined the Canadian national team after graduating. He was a member of the Canadian team which won silver at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. He started his professional career in 1994 playing for the Hershey Bears of the AHL. Once the NHL Lockout came to an end, he joined the Flyers and played every regular season and playoff game in the abbreviated season, earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team. He enjoyed his best season in 1996–97 by recording a career high in points and plus/minus in 71 games while helping lead the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals. After playing nine and a half seasons with the Flyers, he was traded to the Dallas Stars on March 8, 2004, for a 2004 8th round draft pick and a 2005 3rd round draft pick. He signed a one-year contract to return to the Flyers shortly after the 2004–05 NHL lockout came to an end, and ended up playing in 47 games before having his season cut short due to a head injury.Known primarily as a defensive defenceman, Therien was usually partnered with Éric Desjardins over the years. He was also well known for elevating his game when matched up against star forward Jaromír Jágr. His teammates took to calling him Bundy after the character Al Bundy from Married... with Children.
Therien is best remembered for taking the slapshot that ended the career of Trent McCleary in a game, which McCleary attempted to block. The shot ended up striking McCleary in the throat, which had enough force to damage his larynx. He was critically injured when hit in the throat by the shot which fractured his larynx and resulted in a collapsed lung.
Therien and his family have been residents of the Marlton section of Evesham Township, New Jersey. Daughter Isabella Therien, known as the all-star at Cherokee Highschool also shines in the spot light for basketball. She plays Division 1 Basketball at Loyola University in Maryland. She has excelled as an athlete just like her father. She has been featured on ESPN for her 3 quarter court shot and basketball honors and also was on the TV show Tomboy.
Awards and honors
| Award | Year | |
| All-Hockey East Rookie Team | 1990–91 | |
| All-Hockey East Second Team | 1992–93 |
- 1993–94: Silver Medal
- 1994–95: All-Rookie Team
Records
- His 753 games played as a Philadelphia Flyer is first among defenseman in Flyers history.
Career statistics