Flyers head coach Tocchet gives game puck to radio broadcaster Myrtetus

The Philadelphia Flyers honored their radio broadcaster Jason Myrtetus after their first win of the season on Saturday.

Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet gave Myrteus, who is battling Stage 4 cancer, the game puck after the team defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Earlier in the day, the radio announcer spoke to the Flyers at the request of Tocchet.

In 2024, Myrteus was diagnosed with colon cancer and this summer learned it had spread to his lungs and liver. He told The Athletic he was given a prognosis of 6-24 months to live.

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

In the locker room, the Flyers awarded Myrteus with Rocky gloves. The broadcaster put them on as the team cheered in pictures posted by the Flyers.

Tocchet credited the speech for putting things in perspective for the team.

“Absolutely. I mean, it's a different level,” the Flyers head coach 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.”

-NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report.