Bobby Clarke

Bobby Clarke at the induction of Philadelphia (www.wikipedia.com (S.I.))

Robert Earle Clarke, better known as Bobby Clarke, was born on August 13, 1949, in Flin Flon, Canada. Clarke was raised in a household that revolved solely around hockey. His father played for the Flin Flon Bomber which soon, Clarke too would play for. At the young age of 13, Clarke hit what could have been a huge setback to play professional hockey in his life. He was diagnosed with diabetes and was told he would never be able to play in the big leagues. But Clarke knew he could overcome his illness and prove all the doubters wrong. Doctors told Clarke that if he could keep control and take care of himself, he could play in the NHL. So that is what he did. In 1969, Clarke would start his fifteen year career with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Clarke played as a professional hockey player in the NHL for his one and only team of the Philadelphia Flyers. Bobby started playing hockey when he was 8 years old for a junior team in the Saskatchewanian league for 10 years old and up. Bobby smashed his competition in the ground from the very beginning scoring a hat trick, which is three goals, and 2 assists in his very first game. From then and on, Clarke's father knew his son would make it big time. When only sixteen, Clarke was drafted to his local junior league team the Flin Flon Bombers. He scored the most goals in the league his very first year at a thirteen plus rating which, today is a very hard feat to accomplish. Clarke's main point for his team can be summed up in his quote during his best season as "Winning's a habit and not winning's a habit... The important thing is to get back into that good habit of winning."

Bobby Clarke 1967 Season opener (Legends Of Hockey (S.I.))

That year, The Flin Flon Bombers never lost more than three games in a row. Scouts for all NHL teams in the United States and Canada came to look at the hot prospect Clarke. All of them tried to win over his decision to go straight to their team but instead, Clarke went to the NHL draft where he was drafted 17th overall to the Philadelphia Flyers. Said by the NHL critics of 1975, Clarke was a man of great determination, overcoming diabetes to become a professional hockey player in the NHL.

Clarke has always been a huge advocate in the charity world. HE has given back to his community from the start when he was only 8. As soon as he hit thirteen years old and was diagnosed with diabetes, he started donating to the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. Throughout all his years playing in the NHL, Clarke never forgot about any charities. He gave over one quarter of all his earnings back to the community he was raised in and another quarter to The Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. He still to this day is a huge donor to the causes he believes in and says he will donate till the day he dies.

Bobby Clarke's impact on the hockey society was a great mark. He has encouraged many kids that have had second thoughts on whether or not to play hockey. He has even gone so far as to set up his own school for hockey. He has been to many national conferences for diabetes and told the story of his overcoming on the illness. He has inspired many kids with diabetes to do whatever they want and to not let diabetes stop them. He encourages them through his speeches to not let diabetes stop them from doing what they love. One of those kids is me. I have read many books on the great Bobby Clarke and his journey to beat diabetes and crush the NHL. He is easily my hero for the sole reason he has encouraged me to, even though I have diabetes, not to let it slow me down and to still pursue and accomplish the things I love. I too, like Clarke, have diabetes and play hockey. I have not yet let this illness slow me down and limit me to what I can and cannot do. I, through the words of Clarke, will never let diabetes beat me.