Quick Hits: July 10, 2019
1) One of the most interesting facets of any NHL Development Camp, including the Flyers' recently completed 2019 edition in Voorhees, is the gathering of NHL hopefuls at many different stages of development. This year's edition in Voorhees had an especially wide array of developmental levels on display. Over on the Flyers official website, I wrote a feature article on how "taking it to the next level" can have very different meanings depending on the attendee in question. For more, click here.
2) Flyers goaltender Carter Hart has been in Voorhees this month, working out daily at the Skate Zone. Today, he will skate together with nine-year-old Brandon Hull; a CHOP patient who underwent 13 surgeries after a traumatic accident that forced a partial foot amputation. He is now fully recovered and rejoined his youth hockey team, where he plays as a goalie.
Flyers publicist Zack Hill explained how it came about. Brandon's mother, Amy, sent Hill a message asking for an autographed photo of Hart for her son's birthday, explaining that the young Flyers' netminder is her son's favorite player and filling Hill in on the backstory. When Hill approached Hart with the request, Hart asked if it could also be arranged for Brandon to come join him on the ice in Voorhees.
Hart, who is as grounded and caring of a young athlete as one could hope to find, does these sorts of "going the extra mile" deeds on a regular basis. Hill was not surprised by Hart's suggestion. The Flyers made it happen, and the one-on-one skate will take place on Wednesday.
For more about Brandon's story, click here.
3) Former NHL player Greg Johnson passed away in Detroit on Tuesday at the age of 48. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. No cause of death was announced. However, a hereditary heart abnormality prematurely ended his NHL career in 2006.
Johnson, who remains the all-time leading scorer for the University of North Dakota, played 785 regular season games in the NHL. He was originally drafted by the Flyers in the second round of the 1989 draft but never played a game for Philadelphia.
On June 20, 1993, Flyers general manager Russ Farwell traded the rights of the unsigned player to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for rugged winger Jim Cummins and a fourth-round pick in the 1993 NHL Draft (subsequently flipped to Boston). After playing for the silver-medal winning 1994 Canadian Olympic team, Johnson joined the Red Wings.
Although much of Johnson's NHL career coincided with an era in which non-star players his size (5-foot-10, 194 pounds) often had trouble sticking in the league, he made a solid 12-season career for himself with Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Nashville. Johnson served as the Predators captain from 2002-03 through 2005-06. He remains Nashville's all-time franchise leader for shorthanded goals (11) and points (17).
Off-the-ice, Johnson was immensely well-liked by teammates and reporters. He was a fan favorite in both Detroit and Nashville. Longtime Flyer Chris Therien, who played with Johnson on the Canadian national team, was among the many former teammates to express their grief on social media over Johnson's sudden passing.
At a total loss for words re the passing of former Preds captain and Olympic teammate of mine Greg Johnson. What an unbelievable guy. Kind hearted, soft spoken! A class act on and off the ice. RIP my friend. You will be sorely missed by many!
— Chris Therien (@ctherien6) July 9, 2019
Thursday, July 11 - 4-6 p.m. Albert Allen Memorial Park 2200 Delaware Ave. North Wildwood, NJ 08260 Tuesday, August 6 - 6-8 p.m. Somers Point Beach New Jersey and Bay Avenues Somers Point, NJ 08244 Saturday, August 10 - 3-8 p.m. Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic High and Gay Streets West Chester, PA 19380 Friday, September 6 - 5-8 p.m. First Friday on the Delaware Mill and Radcliffe Streets Bristol, PA 19007 Saturday, September 7 - 1-3 p.m. Kennett Mushroom Festival 300 E. South St. Kennett Square, PA 19348
5) July 10 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Mark "Trees" Laforest (1962), Glenn "Chico" Resch (1948), Ilkka Sinisalo (July 10, 1958- April 5, 2017), Blake Wesley (1959).