Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella will reach 1,500e Career game at the helm of a National League team.
He will reach that mark on Friday evening when his team visits the Kraken in Seattle. He will be only the eighth pilot in history to referee so many games in the world's best hockey league.
When asked by the media on Wednesday, Tortorella said it didn't do him much good.
“The only thing I’m grateful for is that people believed in me and let me work with athletes,” said the 65-year-old. It's my whole life. I like it when people trust me enough to allow me to work with them. That's all. I don't care about the number. I just love being a coach. I love being with the players and I appreciate this opportunity.”
“Lessons, controversies, conflicts, good things, victory, defeat and finding solutions,” he said when asked what he liked about his job. I like being with the athletes. I like being in the locker room. I can't stand anything else. I love being in the locker room, teaching and being behind the bench.”
“I don’t like being with you. I'd rather be somewhere else. Can we put an end to this?” Tortorella then added, addressing members of the press.
Before joining the Flyers in 2022-2023, the American managed the Tampa Bay Lightning (from 2000 to 2008), the New York Rangers (from 2009 to 2013), the Vancouver Canucks (from 2013 to 2014) and the Columbus Blue Jackets ( from 2022 to 2023). 2015 to 2021).