Playing career

Favell, along with future Flyers' teammate Bernie Parent, played his junior hockey for the Niagara Falls Flyers in the OHA. After the club won the Memorial Cup in 1965, both goalies began their professional careers in the Boston Bruins organization, who held their rights. 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.

With the arrival of the six new expansion clubs for the 1967-68 NHL season, Favell and Parent were drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers. The goalies split the work that first season and led the Flyers to a first place finish in the NHL's Western Division. Favell had a stellar 2.27 GAA 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 GAA 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. He recorded a strong win-loss record with a solid 2.71 GAA in 32 games. The following season saw the Leafs rely on two goalies, but Favell struggled in 39 games with the poorest goals against (4.05) 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 NHL rights were sold to the Colorado Rockies for the 1976-77 NHL 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 NHL 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.

Achievements and facts

• Favell also played lacrosse professionally for the Philadelphia Wings.
• Holds the distinction of being the only player selected in both the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft and the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft.
• While Bruin goaltender Gerry Cheevers (Favell's goaltending partner for the Oklahoma City Blazers) was the first goaltender to have artwork on his mask, Favell was the first to use a painted design, just before Halloween 1970.
• Favell was known for an abruptly curved blocker pad on his stick hand.
• Favell was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2005.

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1962-63	St. Catharines Black Hawks	OHA		1				60	2	0	2.00
1963-64	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA		28				1748	98	3	3.36
1964-65	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA		22				1320	79	0	3.59
1964-65	Minneapolis Bruins	CPHL		1	1	0	0	60	3	0	3.00
1965-66	Oklahoma City Blazers	CPHL		18	4	8	5	1060	59	0	3.34
1965-66	San Francisco Seals	WHL		2	1	1	0	120	6	0	3.00
1966-67	Oklahoma City Blazers	CPHL		33	14	13	4	1860	88	1	2.83
1967-68	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		37	15	15	6	2192	83	4	2.27	.931
1968-69	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		21	3	12	5	1195	71	1	3.56	.902
1968-69	Quebec Aces	AHL		4	0	4	0	199	16	0	4.82
1969-70	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		15	4	5	4	820	43	1	3.15	.917
1970-71	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		44	16	15	9	2434	108	2	2.66	.915
1971-72	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		54	18	25	9	2993	140	5	2.81	.916
1972-73	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		44	20	15	4	2419	114	3	2.83	.913
1973-74	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		32	14	7	9	1752	79	0	2.71
1974-75	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		39	12	17	6	2149	145	1	4.05
1975-76	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		3	0	2	1	160	15	0	5.63
1975-76	Oklahoma City Blazers	CHL		4	3	1	0	240	12	0	3.00
1976-77	Colorado Rockies	NHL		30	8	15	3	1614	105	0	3.90
1977-78	Colorado Rockies	NHL		47	13	20	11	2663	159	1	3.58
1978-79	Colorado Rockies	NHL		7	0	5	2	380	34	0	5.37
1978-79	Philadelphia Firebirds	AHL		32	12	15	4	1834	137	1	4.48
NHL totals				373	123	153	69	20771	1096	18	3.17
CPHL/CHL totals				56	22	22	9	3220	162	1	3.02
OHA totals				51				3128	179	3	3.43
AHL totals				36	12	9	4	2033	153	1	4.52

Post season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1964-65	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA		3	2	1	180	9	0	3.00
1964-65	Niagara Falls Flyers	M-Cup		2	1	0	80	3	0	2.25
1965-66	San Francisco Seals	WHL		2	0	2	113	10	0	5.31
1967-68	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		2	1	1	120	8	0	4.00	.871
1968-69	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		1	0	1	60	5	0	5.00	.861
1970-71	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		2	0	2	120	8	0	4.00	.867
1972-73	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		11	5	6	669	29	1	2.60	.920
1973-74	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		3	0	3	181	10	0	3.31
1977-78	Colorado Rockies	NHL		2	0	2	120	6	0	3.00
NHL totals				21	6	15	1270	66	1	3.12

[ Source: Wikipedia ]