The passing of Philadelphia Flyers chairman Ed Snider was a very sad start to a week when the National Hockey League is set to begin its playoff tournament.

While reports on Mr. Snider’s - he actually preferred Ed - health weren’t very public as of late, what was made public always seemed to indicate he wasn’t doing very well in his battle with cancer.

On a recent trip to the West Coast this season, the Flyers paid a visit to their boss at his home in California. The Orange and Black were using Ed’s health as a rallying cry to make a push to the playoffs this season, something most didn’t think was a possibility for what is considered a team more on the rise than one ready to contend.

But it all came to fruition last Saturday afternoon when, with help from a Boston Bruins loss earlier in the day, the Flyers beat the Penguins 3-1 to wrap up a playoff berth. Perhaps the writing was on the wall when it came to Ed’s health before that game took place. He had already missed the team’s opening night last fall, and most recently - for the first time - missed the annual team picture. But perhaps even more telling was when national anthem singer Lauren Hart appeared out of the tunnel Saturday afternoon to sing God Bless America - holding a mic in one hand and her cellphone in the other. As she sang the duet with Kate Smith’s vocals over the big screen, Hart was FaceTiming the Flyers biggest fan in what turned out to probably be the last time he would hear his team’s official good luck song.

Ed couldn’t pick my face out of a crowd, but he was easily one of Philadelphia’s most recognizable and important people when it came to Philly sports.

Back in May of 1999, I covered some Flyer home playoff games for The Times News. It was Game 6 of the first round and the Flyers were trailing the series 3-2. Game 6 was a 0-0 contest, but with 2:54 left to play in the third period, referee Terry Gregson called an elbowing penalty on Flyer winger John LeClair. The Leafs ended up scoring a power play goal with 59.2 seconds left to earn a 1-0 win and trip to the next round of the playoffs.

As I made my way to the locker room with a gang of reporters, a buzz began to circulate as we got closer. Ed had emerged to talk to the media, and he wasn’t happy. Ed called Gregson “a coward” for calling that penalty on LeClair, a penalty that in essence decided the game. Among the other things he went on to say that night, I remember most: “Gregson, I hope he can sleep well tonight, because he knows damn well what he did.”

Ed’s passion and fire was what helped to draw many big-name players to the team over the years, and also kept them lifelong Flyers - even if they moved on to greener pastures.

One of my favorite Flyers of all time was Rod Brind’Amour. He once took about five minutes out of his day to sign an autograph for me and some friends, asked us about Penn State and even the girl-scene on campus.

Brind’Amour fell into the category of Flyers who moved on and found more success after he went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes. But, he will always be one of the most popular players to ever wear the Flyers sweater.

Brindy was recently inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame this season, and shared a story during his speech that summed up what, I thought, made Ed such a great owner. Brind’Amour was once kicked out of a game and sent to the locker room. After the game was over, Ed came in to talk to Brind’Amour about the incident.

Brindy, thinking he was in trouble, was asked by Ed what happened out there. He explained he argued a call and the referee told him in so many words: the Flyers weren’t a good enough team to get a call like that.

Brind’Amour erupted and got the boot. Brind’Amour said before he could even finish his explanation, Snider marched straight to the referee’s locker room, kicked in the door and, in so many words, told the referees not to treat any of his players like that ever again.

I don’t think I ever heard a bad word uttered about Ed by any player, current or former, and his passion for the team helped make being a fan of a team in a championship drought a little more enjoyable.

In reality, the odds are against this year’s team ending the drought in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, but you can bet it will be an emotional ride as long as their playoff run lasts.

And if the Flyers ever do have a parade down Broad Street again, you can bet the presence of Ed will be felt.