Quick Hits: August 16, 2023
1) The Philadelphia Flyers recently released their annual Community Impact Report for 2023, looking at the programs, fundraising and direct impact the Flyers organization has had over the past year. Internally, one of the most notable developments was the combination of Flyers Charities and the Flyers Community segments of the organization into a single department.
In terms of public events, the past year saw the return of the Flyers Charities Carnival, the launching of the first Casino Night fundraiser (a major success, which will become part of the annual calendar), the yearly Gritty 5K, the launch of the player/community matching program that pairs every player on the Flyers roster with a local organization or cause of personal interest and the completion and public opening of the Scanlon Recreation Center project in conjunction with Snider Hockey and the City of Philadelphia.
Two of the main focuses of Flyers Charities/Community are the promotion of the sport of ice hockey and providing access to playing the sport. Through the work of amateur hockey program director Rob Baer, Brad Marsh, Bob Kelly and individual Alumni such as Riley Cote (for his work with the Learn to Play program), the Flyers have one of the best and furthest reaching connections to local amateur hockey. Over the last four years, the Flyers adopted the Flyers Warriors and the Flyers PowerPlay power wheelchair hockey programs as official affiliate teams, and also work closely with Flyers Special Hockey. Rob steers the Flyers Learn to Play and Quebec Pee Week programs. The Flyers Alumni have annually participated in Snider Hockey clinics. Periodically. they've donated time and money to the United Heroes League (for the kids of military families) and also advocated for Philadelphia Blind Hockey.
The Flyers Alumni Association and Flyers Charities/Community are separate organizations but there's a natural overlap because Brad Marsh is both Alumni Association president and the Flyers executive director of community development and Bob "the Hound" Kelly is both on the Alumni board and a community development director.
Specific to the Flyers Alumni Association, the Alumni reached the $1 million mark in direct donations to Snider Hockey (halfway to the $2 million pledge made in 2016), have built and donated 28 adaptive bicycles to local special needs children to date via the "Every Kid Deserves a Bike" program (in tandem with Help Hope Live), and surpassed $40,000 work of monetary donations and goods (not to mention many hours of volunteer time) to community groups during last year's edition of the "12 Days of Christmas" giving program during the holiday season. This past year, the Alumni had their first $1 million fundraising year with all of the money going to the aforementioned and other community projects such as the full renovation of the Pennell Elementary School library into a new library and multi-media center with a big assist from the Flyers Warriors.
On the Charities side, supporting non-profit organizations that benefit local families affected by cancer has a remained a primary focus of grant-giving, direct donations and volunteer time. Flyers Charities has already begun the process of considering grant requests for 2023-24.
This is but a very brief overview of just some of the programs that Charities/Communities and the organization as a whole have overseen in the past year. It should also be noted that the Hockey Operations department is integral to supporting and joining in these efforts, from new POHO Keith Jones, general manager Danny Briere, head coach John Tortorella (who is active in animal rescue and military family support causes) and the entire roster.
Whatever one wants to say about the Flyers on-ice results over the last decade and the prospects of the current rebuild, it cannot be said that the organization itself and the Alumni have been anything but exemplary in their dedication to the Delaware Valley community.
To see the 2023 Community Impact report,
2) A quick update on the Ivan Fedotov situation: CSKA Moscow has a seven-day window to appeal the IIHF's ruling on Monday that declared the Flyers have a valid contract for 2023-24 with the goaltender. The IIHF also sanctioned both CSKA (one-year ban from all international transfers, including NHL-to-KHL) and Fedotov (basically a four-month suspension from playing for any KHL or VHL teams as well as a ban from playing for the Russian national team in international tournaments including those played outside IIHFauspices against nations such as Belarus).
CSKA has pledged to appeal the IIHF ruling. The IIHF Disciplinary Committee will hear the appeal. While a complete overturn of the ruling is unlikely, CSKA will attempt to get the punitive sanctions lifted or significantly lightened. For his part, shortly before the case went to the IIHF, Fedotov said he'd abide by any ruling and that his only objective was to play hockey again as soon as possible (wherever that may be). Subsequently, the player has not been available for comment. The Russian Hockey Federation and the KHL have pledged to support CSKA's appeal.
CSKA, like all KHL teams. is currently in training camp and participating in preseason play. The regular season starts on Sept. 1. Reportedly, Fedotov is not with the team (at least not on the ice) pending the outcome of the situation.
3) Flyers 2018 first-round pick Jay O'Brien, who was not offered an entry-level deal by the Flyers organization, became an unrestricted free agent yesterday (Aug. 15). The Flyers will receive a 2024 second-round pick as compensation.
The Flyers traded a 2024 second-round pick in order to move up in this year's Draft and select goaltender Carson Bjarnason. They'd acquired a 2024 second-round pick from the LA Kings as part of the Ivan Provorov trade. LA's pick now belongs to the Chicago Blackhawks via the Bjarnason trade. Previously, last summer, the Flyers traded their own 2024 second-rounder to the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the Tony DeAngelo deal.
As such, the Flyers would not have had a 2024 second-rounder until the compensatory 2024 pick for not signing former firstr-rounder O'Brien put Philly back in the second round come next June.
4) Today in Flyers History: August 16
* 1971: The Flyers sign the brother duo of Larry and Wayne Hillman to new contracts.
* 1972: The Flyers sign defenseman Barry Ashbee to a three-year contract.
* 1979: The Flyers trad unhappy backup goaltender Wayne Stephenson to the Washington Capitals for a 1981 third-round pick (Barry Tabobondung). With Bernie Parent forced into retirement by an eye injury and Stephenson dealt to the Capitals, the Flyers' long-running duo of starter Parent and backup Stephenson (1974-75 to 1978-79 seasons) would be replaced in 1979-80 by the tandem of rookie Pete Peeters and veteran Phil Myre.
* 1994: The Flyers sign winger Brent Fedyk to a two-year contract. Early the previous season, the former "Crazy Eights" line Fedyk, Eric Lindros and Mark Recchi was replaced by a new trio of Lindros, Recchi and Calder Trophy finalist Mikael Renberg. Fedyk was moved to a line with Rod Brind'Amour and Kevin Dineen. With Patrik Juhlin (a 1994 Olympic standout for Team Sweden) arriving in Philadelphia, Fedyk's role was in flux with training camp -- and, soon a half-season lockout -- approaching.
* 2020: A 23-save shutout by Carter Hart lifts the Flyers to a 1-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal inside the bubble in Toronto. Jakub Voracek's first period goal stands as the lone tally for either side. Carey Price makes 19 saves on 20 shots in a losing cause for Montreal.