Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Musings: Simmonds, Lyubimov on Flyers, Trial on the Isle, Alumni Golf

July 13, 2016, 7:54 AM ET [199 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
MELTZER'S MUSINGS: JULY 13, 2016

1) Stick taps go out to Flyers power forward Wayne Simmonds, who hosted his fifth annual "Wayne's Road Hockey Warriors" ball hockey tournament on July 9.

Much like the large-scale work that Snider Hockey does year-round in the Delaware Valley, the tournament raises money for underprivileged youth that cannot afford to play hockey. Heading into this year, Simmonds' fundraising efforts provided brand new hockey gear for 270 local youths in his native Scarborough, Ontario and covered in full the hockey registration fees and equipment costs for close to 20 children.

Along with 150 participating kids, Flyers teammate Brayden Schenn joined Simmonds among the NHL players taking part in the 2016 Wayne's Road Hockey Warriors event. Others included Simmonds' lifelong close friend Chris Stewart, Devante Smith-Pelly, Darnell Nurse and Mike Cammalleri. The NHLers also took part in a celebrity game.

Simmonds has always been a hockey player and man who walks the walk both on and off the ice. People talk about hard work, sacrifice and selflessness but Simmonds has lived it. He's always been one of the most charitable of Flyers players, always quite generous with his time and willing to reach out to others when he learns of people in need, especially kids.

In general, Simmons is an emotional person who wears his heart on his sleeve. What you see is what you get with him. He cares about Hockey Fights Cancer more than the average NHL player because his beloved grandmother Catherine Mercury passed away from breast cancer in 1995. He has explained that the reason why he often sports a Toronto Blue Jays cap when out and about in public is because his "Nana" was a diehard Blue Jays fans and it's one of his ways of honoring her memory.

Likewise,when Ed Snider passed away earlier this year, Simmonds got genuinely emotional about his gratitude to the Flyers chairman for taking a personal interest in the Flyers' players and the team's fortunes. Shortly before Mr. Snider's death, it was Simmonds who promised a playoff spot clinching win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on the final weekend of the season. Then he went out and scored the tying and winning goals after the team got off to a skittish start.

Whether on or off the ice, Simmonds never forgets where he came from in life. He did not come from a youth of privilege -- far from it -- but he never lacked for love or priorities. As an adult, Simmonds deeply cares about kids who grow up under tough circumstances. The same loyal qualities that let teammates know he always has their back for better or for worse also manifest in his devotion to Scarborough and the Delaware Valley and Los Angeles communities that have supported him professionally.

For all the bad stories that come out about spoiled pro athletes behaving badly, there are still the guys like Wayne Simmonds who are just good, salt-of-the-earth human beings who believe not only in giving back to the community for its support but in directly paying it forward to other individuals.

Simmonds rewarded the sacrifices his family made for him to play hockey by doubling down on an already impressive work ethic. He's a good natural athlete but there are far more naturally talented hockey players in the NHL who get much less out of their ability than Simmonds does.

The number one reason: the burning desire that fueled a 19-year-old, whom Kings GM Dean Lombardi discovered was sleeping in his car at his first camp with the LA Kings and who was the first one on the ice each day and the last to exit, still burns just as strong nine years later. Money hasn't quenched the fire nor has it hardened the heart that beats inside one of the toughest pound-for-pound players in the game today. He doesn't always win his battles, but he never quits and he is never out-competed.

For more information on "Wayne's Road Hockey Warriors", visit Simmonds' official web site.


 photo a5169183-8a10-4e55-a0b5-eaa0e835b752.jpg

2) Recently signed forward Roman Lyubimov spoke with Sovsport.Ru's Pavel Lysenko shortly after signing with the Flyers. According to an automated translation of the original article, Lyubimov said he received interest from "seven to eight" NHL teams after the World Championships and elected to sign with the Flyers because they were the most persistent.

The player said that he realizes he is "not a world-class star" and is willing to play any role the Flyers ask of him. While he fully intends to battle for an NHL roster spot, he said that he's willing to spend time in the American Hockey League if it comes to that. The player, who said he speaks some very rudimentary English but not enough to be self-sufficient in conversation, has already started to work with a tutor and plans to make learning the language his top priority along with adapting to the North American style game.

As a north-south player whose strongest area is his two-way game and combination of size, skating ability and grit, Lyubimov already plays more of a small-rink style game.

3) Flyers goaltending prospects Merrick Madsen (Harvard University) and Matej Tomek (University of North Dakota) won the beach volleyball tournament that concluded yesterday's Trial on the Isle in Stone Harbor, NJ. Per the Flyers' official web site, the two-man teams were as follows:

 photo TOTI_volleyball_1.jpg




************

2016 FLYERS ALUMNI GOLF INVITATIONAL

 photo Alumni Golf 2_1.jpg

The 2016 Flyers Alumni Golf Invitational will be held on July 18 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. The event will raise money for the Flyers Alumni Association, Flyers Charities and BLOCS.

The Golf Invitational will offer a round of golf, lunch, cocktail reception and dinner program.

Subject to changes and additions, the following Flyers Alumni -- widely representing every decade of team history -- will be attending: Ray Allison, Bill Barber, Frank Bathe, Craig Berube, Brian Boucher, Jesse Boulerice, Danny Briere, Terry Carkner, Lindsay Carson, Jeff Chychrun, Bob Clarke, Bill Clement, Steve Coates, Riley Cote, Doug Crossman, Barry Dean, Eric Desjardins, Andre "Moose" Dupont, Doug Favell, Todd Fedoruk, Ross Fitzpatrick, Mark Freer, Larry Goodenough, TJ Gorence, Paul Holmgren, Ed Hospodar, Mark Howe, Kerry Huffman, Bob "the Hound" Kelly, Tim Kerr, Orest Kindrachuk, Mike Knuble, Ian Laperriere, Mitch Lamoureaux, Neil Little, Brad Marsh, Phil Myre, Bernie Parent, Dave Poulin, Brian Propp, Chris Pronger, Luke Richardson, Don Saleski, Dave "the Hammer" Schultz (attending but not golfing), Ilkka Sinisalo, Derrick Smith, and Joe Watson.

For more information, click here.
Join the Discussion: » 199 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Bill Meltzer
» Quick Hits: Flyers-Habs Wrap, Fedotov, Phantoms
» Flyers Gameday: 3/28/24 @ MTL
» Wrap: Flyers Lose 6-5 OT Game to Rangers
» Flyers Gameday: 3/26/24 @ NYR
» Quick Hits: Flyers-FLA Wrap, Flyers Daily, Phantoms, Bigger than Hockey