Moore: For Wayne Fish, honor is a career in the making - The Intelligencer

The longtime Flyers writer will receive the Stan Hochman Award at Monday’s Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s banquet

Wayne Fish loves what he does. And it shows.

Fish, the Flyers beat writer for the Bucks County Courier Times since 1976, remains as prolific and vital as ever.

Journalism may have changed dramatically over the years, but Fish hasn’t. He’s still cranking out clean, precise copy and making tight deadlines. When Flyers games end, you can count on him filing his story immediately and explaining why the game turned out the way it did.

"I just have a naturally inquisitive nature," Fish said. "I always wanted to know what makes the athletes tick. You just want to tell the story behind the story. It never gets old. The story is still compelling."

And so is Fish, who will receive the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s Stan Hochman Award for sustained writing excellence during Monday’s 116th annual banquet at the Cherry Hill Crowne Plaza (more info: https://ift.tt/2ueaFjg). Hochman was the renowned Daily News sports columnist who died in 2015.

"I feel tremendously honored," Fish said.

Fish started playing ice hockey at the age of 5 and was a center at Colorado State during his four years in college. He’s as comfortable on the ice as his subjects are with him off of it.

"Wayne is a true professional," said Flyers senior advisor Paul Holmgren, who Fish covered as a player, general manager and Flyers president. "His rapport with team management, coaching staff and players is second to none and his coverage has always been honest and fair."

Fish and Inquirer writer Sam Carchidi co-authored the book "The Big 50: Philadelphia Flyers: The Men and Moments that Made the Philadelphia Flyers" that came out in September.

Though Fish began covering the Flyers after they won their Stanley Cups in 1973-74 and 1974-75, he was the Courier Times’ secondary reporter to Paul Giordano on those championship teams.

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"I like to see how athletes fit into teams and how players play for each other," Fish said. "It was just a joy to watch players do what they did in the early ’70s. That set the tone for the rest of my career."

And what a career it’s been.

Fish has written a weekly running column for 36 years — at 70, Fish remains an avid runner, having competed in 30 marathons and finished 10th in the 800 meters at the National Senior Games in 2009 — covered four Winter Olympics, the Indy 500, Super Bowl. He’s won numerous awards, including first place from the Keystone Press Association in 2016 for best sports story about the life and passing of Flyers chairman Ed Snider.

Fish, who lives in Washington Crossing with wife MaryAnn, operates the website FlyingFishHockey.com and continues as director of the Sesame Place Classic and Bucks County Duathlon, which have raised more than $600,000 for worthy causes.

Excited to announce our new book on #Flyers is available. The Big 50: Philadelphia Flyers: The Men and Moments that Made the Philadelphia Flyers: Sam Carchidi, Wayne Fish: 9781629376202: https://ift.tt/2G53pce Books https://t.co/grrCTmEXR1

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) September 27, 2019

And to think Fish, a native of Summit, New Jersey, was hired sight unseen by former Courier Times sports editor Dick Dougherty.

After graduating from Colorado State in August 1971, Fish sent resumes to papers all across the country.

"Dick Dougherty called me up (a few months later) and said ‘Send me some clippings,’" Fish said. "I sent him some clippings and he said, ‘Are you coming home for Christmas? (If so) plan on staying.’ I said, ‘You’re hiring me over the phone?’"

Fish was so eager to start his job as sports copy editor that he arrived two hours early and sat in the parking lot until his work day began.

Forty-nine years later, Fish maintains the same mindset.

"As long as I’m excited to tell the story, I’ll keep writing," Fish said. "When that ends, I’ll put the keyboard away."

Looking back, Fish, who was a history minor at Colorado State, said he planned to become a history teacher if writing didn’t suit him.

Thankfully, it did.

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly

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