Quick Hits: July 20, 2023
1) The Flyers Community Caravan is at Excursion Park in Sea Isle City today at 3 p.m. EDT. In addition to all of the usual inflatables, giveaways, music, and Gritty appearance, today's lineup of Alumni on hand to sign autographs including Flyers Hall of Fame left winger Brian Propp, Doug Crossman, Scott Hartnell, Bob "the Hound" Kelly and Dave "the Hammer" Schultz.
Yesterday in Ocean City, Joel Farabee and Tyson Foerster made surprise appearances, along with Keith Jones, Dan Hilferty and the Alumni. Jones entered the Ocean City Sports and Civic Center holding boxes of pizza for kids attending a ball hockey camp. The Flyers donated 50 hockey sticks, balls, and Flyers pinnies to Ocean City Sports and Civic Center for future ball hockey programming.
Yesterday at the @NHLFlyers Community Caravan event in Ocean City, a host of @FlyersAlumni were on hand to join in the fun. pic.twitter.com/pdslQWFBU4
— Flyers Alumni (@FlyersAlumni) July 20, 2023
2) Two-stint former Flyers center Nate Thompson has announced his retirement as active player at age 38. Thompson played in 844 career regular season games plus 86 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He spent last season in the American Hockey league with the Ontario Reign (LA Kings' affiliate), where fellow former Flyer Tyrell Goulbourne and current Flyers defense prospect Helge Grans weer among Thompson's teammates. Alaska native Thompson's pro career spanned from 2004-05 to 2022-23 with the 2008-09 to 2021-22 seasons spent in the National Hockey League.
From the time I was 4 until 38 hockey has been my life and best friend. I’m beyond grateful and thankful for all the great people I’ve met and friendships I’ve made. All good things must come to an end so thank you to all who supported me along this journey.✌ðŸ¼â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/38a773D0ko
— Nate Thompson (@NateThompson44) July 20, 2023
3) Today in Flyers History: July 20, 1995
Over the course of his NHL career, which was primarily spent with the Calgary Flames, center Joel Otto gained a reputation as an elite defensive forward, dominating faceoff man, physically aggressive and tough, as well as someone who was solid enough offensively to produce 40 to 60 points over a full season. By 1995, however, Otto was 34 years old with a lot of wear-and-tear on his body.
Nonetheless, there was an active bidding war for his services when Otto became an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 1995. The two most interested teams were the arch-rival Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers.
Dethroned as reigning Stanley Cup champions by a second-round sweep at the hand of the Flyers in a series that saw Eric Lindros run roughshod over the Blueshirts, the Rangers particularly wanted the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Otto as someone they could match up with the Hart Trophy winner. Meanwhile, the Flyers wanted Otto as a matchup option against New York's Mark Messier (his longtime nemesis from the wars between Calgary and Edmonton), Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux (returning to the NHL after taking off the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season), Boston's Adam Oates, and other top centers.
On July 20, 1995, Otto made his decision. He signed a three-year contract with the Flyers.
When healthy, Otto was everything the Flyers hoped he'd be, especially during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons. He also played an underrated role in Team USA winning the 1996 World Cup of Hockey championship. In 1998, Otto was selected to represent Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Unfortunately, the injuries continued to pile up. Otto missed 15 games due to injury his first season with the Flyers, five games (four regular season, one playoff) in 1996-97 and 14 games in his final season. By his final year, Otto was moved down from the third to the fourth line. He retired at the end of the 1997-98 campaign.
4) July 20 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Terry Murray (1950), Murray Craven (1964), Nick Cousins (1993).