Career
He was also a box lacrosse player. Favell, along with future Flyers" teammate Bernie Parent, played his junior hockey for the Niagara Falls Flyers in the OHA. Over the next two seasons, Favell played in the Bruins" farm system. Favell, like Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Tony Esposito, was one of the few goaltenders to employ the now popular butterfly style often going down to the ice to block shots in an era where the stand-up style of play dominated.
The goalies split the work that first season and led the Flyers to a first place finish in the National Hockey League"s Western Division.
Favell had a stellar 2.27 Gaelic Athletic Association with four shutouts. Both goalies toiled for the Flyers until Parent was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs in February 1971.
Without Parent, Favell became the Flyers" workhorse goalie. He recorded seasons of 44, 54 and 44 games with GAAs of 2.66, 2.81 and 2.83 on an improving Flyers team
In 1973, the Flyers reached the league semifinals and Favell was one of the top players, appearing in 11 playoff games and recording a 2.60 Gaelic Athletic Association and one shutout.
Before the next season, Favell was traded to the Maple Leafs for none other than Bernie Parent. The Leafs had three veteran goalies but Favell played the most games in the regular season and playoffs. The following season saw the Leafs rely on two goalies, but Favell struggled in 39 games with the poorest goals against (405) of his career.
His third season with the team was his last with only three games played and extended time on the injury list.
Favell"s National Hockey League rights were sold to the Colorado Rockies for the 1976-1977 National Hockey League season. After appearing in 30 games that season, Favell became the Rockies #1 goalie the following year, appearing in 58 games and leading the team into the playoffs.
His final National Hockey League season saw him appear in only seven games, and he finished the season with the Philadelphia Firebirds of the American Hockey League. Colorado exposed him to the expansion draft in 1979.
Selected by the Edmonton Oilers, he opted to retire instead of start fresh with a new franchise.
