Before the Flyers would entertain the Anaheim Ducks Thursday in the Wells Fargo Center, in the home opener of the 50th season, Dave Hakstol met with the press.

This was the conversation:

On 50^th year, particularly Ed Snider:

“I think he's a central figure to everything our team does and I think his presence is always here and always felt. I'm not sure exactly what's in store for the pregame ceremonies, but I am looking forward to it. I think there's going to be a lot of emotion that comes with it and is attached to it, and those are emotions that are positive for our team.”

No championship for a long time, but much success, Hall of Famers, good teams, more. Can that tradition provide a benefit on the ice?

“You always build on your history and your tradition. You have a responsibility to those who have come before you, to those who have built this organization that have come before us. We have a responsibility to them to not just respect that but to also build on it.”

How would you characterize that first road trip?

“I haven't looked for a way to characterize it. We played a (heck) of a game in L.A. We found a way to get a point on a tough back-to-back the next night. And it was a disappointing finish to the road trip in Chicago. But there were a lot of real good spurts of hockey. There was not a full, complete 60-minute hockey game really in any of the three. So it's early in the year. But those are things that you have to work on and build on.”

Was the comeback something that can be built upon?

“That's a positive. I'm not looking for positives. I know what the positives are. We didn't like getting into a hole. Quite honestly, we played a pretty good first period in Chicago. We played a pretty darn good first period, and all of a sudden, we were down, three-nothing. We got through the second, didn't get a whole lot done. I am impressed with our players, to go out and tie the game up. And like I said, from there, we are disappointed to not come away, once we were back, to not get some road points.

Cardinal O’Hara 16, Conwell-Egan 13

Card. O’Hara 7 7 0 2 — 16

Conwell-Egan 0 0 7 6 — 13

First Quarter

COH: Santilla 16 pass from O’Hara (Calamita kick), 1:38

Second Quarter

COH: Kutufaris 48 run (Calamita kick), 7:58

Third Quarter

CEC: Garwo 2 run (Bareras kick), 7:40

Fourth Quarter

CEC: Garwo 34 run (kick blocked), 2:38

COH: Safety. Gould tackles Jones in end zone.

TEAM STATISTICS

COH CEC

First downs  13 13

Rushes-Yards  31-158  44-153

Passing yards  168 136

Total yards 326 289

Passing  9-21-0    7-10-0

Punts-Average  3-31.3     4-36.5

Fumbles-Lost 1 4

Penalties-Yards  5-30    6-60

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Card. O’Hara — Kutufaris 2-91, O’Hara 17-37, Santilla 2-16, Henderson 7-8, Johnson 3-6. Conwell-Egan — Garwo 14-82, Bronson 10-26, Jones 17-22, Bentley 2-18, Majors 1-5.

Passing: Card. O’Hara — O’Hara 9-22-0, 168. Conwell-Egan — Jones 7-10-0, 136.

Receiving: Card. O’Hara — Santilla 3-66, Johnson 3-48, Redd 1-44, Jones 1-5, Kutufaris 1-5. Conwell-Egan — Bronson 3-84, Cohen 3-50, Goldsby 1-2.

Interceptions: None.

By Jack McCaffery

jmccaffery@21st-centurymedia.com

PHILADELPHIA >> The first formal indication of Matt Klentak's offseason disposition was revealed Monday: He will be patient … to a point.

Confirming what sources revealed Sunday, the Phillies have officially released Steve Henderson, who had been their hitting coach since 2013. However, despite finishing 20 games below .500, the rest of the staff will be retained, including Larry Bowa (bench), Rick Kranitz (bullpen), Bob McClure (pitching), John McLaren (catching), Mickey Morandini (first base) and Juan Samuel (third base).

Manager Pete Mackanin is under contract through the 2017 season. The Phillies hold a club option to extend that agreement through 2018.

Henderson, 65, played for the Mets, Cubs, Mariners, A's and Astros and was a .280 major-league hitter in 16 major-league seasons. But the Phillies hit .240 this season, the second-worst average in baseball. Their 1,376 strikeouts were the third most in the National League.

Mackanin supported Henderson throughout the struggle, often mentioning how he was teaching the proper things around the batting cage. The message was not getting through, however, and the manager also routinely lamented a poor team-wide approach at the plate, particularly with two strikes.

“I think our group as a whole has done a really nice job this year,” Klentak said in a recent interview. “We talked a lot in spring training about the energy level, staying positive, particularly with a young group. And we’ve had one of the youngest rosters all year long. The effort level of this team and this staff has been very good. I won’t say we’re going to commit to anything at this stage for next year, but at the end of the year Pete and I will sit down and talk about it.

“Generally speaking, I’m pleased.”

When asked if he alone would make those decisions, the general manager replied, “Pete and I will talk about it together.”

The decision to part ways with Henderson was made Sunday and confirmed by sources. Though coaching-staff changes immediately after Game No. 162 are common in baseball, it's likely the Phillies chose to wait a day rather than to allow any announcement to clutter their tasteful tribute to Ryan Howard, who has played his last Phillies game.

Though Klentak appreciated Henderson's effort, the results were too drastic to ignore.

“That’s a challenge in any organization, separating process from results,” the general manager said. “The effort level has been there, not only from Steve, but from the whole staff. They can only play the players that are on the roster. Some players are going to naturally be better at certain things than others. It’s just the reality of business and the way things work. I agree with what Pete has said. It’s certainly not for a lack of effort.”

Klentak remains supportive of Mackanin.

“Our relationship has really grown as the year has gone on, not surprisingly,” he said. “Our communication has been very open. I think he’s done a pretty good job. It’s not easy to keep a team that’s likely out of contention playing hard until the very end, but this team continues to fight every day. That’s a very good sign as an organization.”

This is a press release from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association:

CONTACT: PSWA President Sam Carchidi

215-313-3315

RELEASE DATE: IMMEDIATELY

NOMINEES NEEDED FOR BILL CAMPBELL, STAN HOCHMAN AWARDS;  PSWA BANQUET TICKETS AVAILABLE

Two of the most iconic figures in the history of Philadelphia sports media _ broadcaster Bill Campbell and columnist Stan Hochman _ will again be honored with awards named in their memory at the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association's Feb. 3 banquet at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill.

 “If something important happened in Philadelphia sports during most of our lifetimes, there’s a good chance Bill and Stan were there to cover the event,” said Sam Carchidi, PSWA president. “For a Philadelphia sports journalist, I can’t think of a more prestigious local honor.”

The PSWA is accepting nominees for the second annual awards.  Writing entries should be submitted to Rob Parent at parentr1@hotmail.com, and broadcast entries can be sent to Carchidi atscarchidi@phillynews.com.

This is the second year the awards have been presented. Eagles announcer Merrrill Reese won the Bill Campbell Broadcast Award last year, while The Inquirer's Mike Sielski won the Stan Hochman Writing Award.

The Hochman award is given to the best-written sports story in the calendar year, whether in a newspaper, magazine, book, or online.

The Campbell award is presented for excellence in broadcasting; local sportscasters, talk-show hosts, and radio/TV reporters or commentators are eligible.

Campbell, whose remarkable career touched parts of nine decades, was a broadcaster for the Eagles, Philles, and  Warriors/76ers and also a sports talk-show host. A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, he died in 2014 at 91.

Hochman, known for his distinctive writing style and his incomparable interview ability, was an award-winning sports columnist for the Daily News for 55 years before his death in 2015.

Numerous Flyers captains from their history will be at the PSWA banquet, celebrating the franchise's 50th anniversary. Several other local pro athletes and teams will be honored, and it will be a night to salute Villanova's national men's basketball championship.

Tickets are available at phillysportswriters.com.