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Goaltender Moore left mark with Flyers, Wolverines

Former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Robbie Moore of Sarnia had a record-setting career in the NCAA.

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Robbie Moore was the toast of Philadelphia.

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The undersized goalie from Sarnia posted a 22-save shutout in his NHL debut as the Flyers beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0 on March 6, 1979.

Two starts later, he earned another 22-save shutout in a 5-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks. The notoriously hard-to-please fans at the Spectrum were chanting, “Robbie! Robbie!”

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After going 3-0-1 in the regular season with a .927 save percentage, the five-foot-five Moore backstopped the Flyers to a series win over the Canucks in the opening round of the playoffs. They were ousted in the next round.

He played only one more NHL game after the 1978-79 season. Following his six-year pro career, he returned to his hometown and worked at Imperial Oil for more than three decades.

Moore died Jan. 7 at 67 years old.

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“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Moore family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the Flyers said in a statement.

The Michigan Wolverines also sent their condolences. Moore played four seasons in Ann Arbor from 1972 to 1976.

He was an All-American in the 1973-74 season and still holds the NCAA career record with 4,434 saves. He was named in 1999 to Michigan’s all-century team.

“He was (a) fierce competitor,” former Wolverines teammate Ben Kawa wrote in an online tribute. “He wanted to win. Such a confidence about him. Cared for his fellow teammates and he knew how to have fun. I really looked up to Robbie and he had a positive influence on me and no doubt many others who got to know him.”

Moore is survived by his wife Cheryl Kohut, children Erin and Wesley, and stepchildren Ashley and Arley. A celebration of life service will be held later.

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Moore played for the Sarnia Bees before heading to the University of Michigan. He later played one season at the University of Western Ontario and then turned pro.

The Detroit Red Wings declined his request for a tryout in 1978, so he reached out to former Port Huron Flags head coach Bob McCammon of the Flyers, according to a Philadelphia Daily News story.

Moore began his pro career in 1978-79 with the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Maine Mariners. He was called up to Philadelphia after goalie Bernie Parent suffered an eye injury.

He helped the Mariners win the Calder Cup as AHL champions in 1979. He was also a co-winner of the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award, which goes to the AHL team with the lowest goals-against average, for three straight years from 1979 to 1981.

His next three seasons included time in the American, Central and International leagues, plus one game with the Washington Capitals. Moore retired in 1984.

His charitable efforts in his hometown included a stint as president of the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton. He also coached minor hockey.

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