1) Eight Flyers players have been selected to participate in the World Cup of Hockey. The breakdown is as follows:

Claude Giroux (Canada)
Radko Gudas, Michal Neuvirth and Jakub Voracek (Czech Republic)
Sean Couturier and Shayne Gostisbehere (Team North America)
Pierre Edouard Bellemare and Mark Streit (Team Europe)

The Flyers are one of four teams with eight representatives, along with the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals. The teams with the most players chosen are the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning with 12 apiece.

Flyers checking center Bellemare issued a statement on his selection through the Flyers yesterday: "I am really surprised and excited. I am happy that the way I played with the Flyers has helped me get a chance to play in the World Cup for Team Europe. I think this is going to be a celebration of hockey and it is surreal that I get to be in the middle of it."

Giroux and Gostisbehere spoke to the media in a brief conference call on Friday. Both players, who are rehabbing together from recent hip and sports hernia repair surgeries, said they anticipate being ready to play in the World Cup.

The Flyers captain joked that he is eager to finish a check on Gostisbehere come the World Cup.

“I told him to keep his head up, and I’m pretty excited to go on the forecheck against him,”
Giroux said.

2) The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Rouyn-Noranda Huskies have advanced to the Memorial Cup championship game against the undefeated Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights. On Friday, the Huskies earned a 3-1 win over the tournament host Red Deer Rebels in the semifinals.

Flyers defense prospect Philippe Myers did not record a point but played a strong overall game including three shots on goal and a plus-one. Two of the Huskies' goals and the lone Rebels goal came on the power play. For game highlights click here.

The championship game will be held on Sunday afternoon.

3) Happy 61st birthday to Hall of Fame defenseman Mark Howe, my all-time favorite hockey player. Also celebrating birthdays today are former Flyers checking center and assistant coach Terry Crisp, goalie Gary Inness and defenseman Reid Bailey.




4) May 28 is the 19th anniversary of Game 6 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Final between the Flyers and Oilers, capped off by Brian Propp's game-tying goal and J.J. Daigneault's famous game-winner with 5:32 left in regulation. The final nerve-racking seconds are also frozen in time: Ron Hextall turned over the puck to Mark Messier and was caught way out of the net but somehow managed to recover.



For a retrospective on the Flyers' 1987 playoff run, click here.





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