Former Philadelphia Flyers’ prospect Tony Voce died this week, according to the Nasty Knuckles podcast. He was 43.
The undrafted winger became the first native of Philadelphia, Pa., to be signed by the Flyers in franchise history. Through three seasons with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, Voce scored 58 goals and 57 assists for 115 points, and was part of the club’s Calder Cup championship during the 2004-05 season.
Voce led the Phantoms in scoring the following season, scoring 28 goals and 27 assists for 55 points in 67 games, the best professional season of his career. After splitting the 2006-07 season with the Phantoms and Grand Rapids Griffins, he would play in Germany, Finland and Austria over the next two seasons, before playing one more year of professional hockey with the ECHL’s Ontario Reign in 2009-10.
The Flyers released a statement on social media Monday, saying “Tony was more than just a member of our organization, he was a born and raised native of Philadelphia” and “learned to play the game he loved in our city.”
Before turning professional, Voce spent four seasons playing college hockey with the Boston College Eagles, turning into one of the highest-scoring players in the school’s history. His 90 goals rank fifth on the Eagles’ all-time list, and his 167 points ranked 11th. Between 2001-02 and 2003-04, Voce had at least 23 goals and 46 points in each of the three seasons, as well as leading the team in goals through the three campaigns. During his freshman year in 2000-01, Voce helped the school win its first NCAA National Championship in 52 years.
He was a Hobey Baker Finalist and First-Team All-American in his senior season, and would be inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2022.
Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli wrote on X that it was an “incredibly sad day in the Philadelphia hockey world.”
“It was Tony who took the hit in his own zone to make the play that created the (Boston College) OT winner in (the) 2001 National Championship.
