Quick Hits: June 2, 2023
1) As I blogged about last week, the Flyers have officially promoted Alyn McCauley to assistant GM. Riley Armstrong becomes director of player development and Nick Schultz is now assistant player development director. Kjell Samuelsson, John Riley & advisor Mike O'Connell have been let go.
2) Flyers prospects J.R. Avon and Brian Zanetti played a major role in the OHL champion Peterborough Petes' comeback 5-4 overtime victory against the tournament host Kamloops Blazers in the quarterfinal game on Thursday at the 2003 Memorial Cup. The Petes trailed, 4-1, by early in the second period. However, Peterborough pushed back for four unanswered goals to win the game.
Mobile defenseman Zanetti, drafted by the Flyers in the fourth round (110th overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, scored at 18:50 of the second period to knot the score at 4-4. On the play, Avon collected a Kamloops turnover along the attack zone boards and passed to Tucker Robertson. Seeing a wide open lane through the slot, Zanetti jumped in and tipped the puck home as Robertson put it at the net. The goal was Zanetti's first (1g, 2a) of the tournament.
Don’t look now! The @PetesOHLhockey have come back to tie on a goal by Brian Zanetti! pic.twitter.com/azVCqCjxij
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) June 2, 2023
After a scoreless third period, the game went to overtime. At the 10:54 mark, after Owen Beck went wide and took the puck at the net, Avon scored to win the game. Avon had a open lane over the middle, took a pass from Beck and fired a quick shot past Kamloops goalie Dylan Ernst for this third goal in four games.
J.R. AVON SENDS THE PETES TO THE #MemorialCup SEMIS! pic.twitter.com/jSz4WKpE7s
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) June 2, 2023
3) On Thursday, the Flyers met with 10-year-old Make-A-Wish recipient and Egg Harbor, NJ resident Zachary Wertz and extended his honorary two-day "contract" from last season in order for Zachary to join the Flyers contingent at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in Nashville on June 28.
Meeting in person with Keith Jones and Danny Briere, Zachary was presented with an official 2023 Flyers draft hat, an oversized ticket, and a gift bag to prepare him for his trip. At the Draft, Zachary will meet with the team's first draftee and get a behind-the-scenes look at the prospect's first day with the Flyers organization. Last season, Zachary was Travis Konecny's special guest at the FTC in Voorhees.
🔒🆙 for the 2023 #NHLDraft. https://t.co/ZnzU1VzyUj pic.twitter.com/Tv4pEiFkUU
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) June 1, 2023
Overall, between the minor leagues and the NHL, Shero coached his teams to seven championships and 12 championship series. Shero, who passed away in 1990, was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Bulders' category posthumously in 2013.
5) Shero left the Flyers for the Rangers on May 22, 1978. He was still under contract for one more season and did not have permission from Ed Snider or Keith Allen to seek the Rangers' job. The Flyers filed a tampering claim against the Rangers. The case was settled on June 2, 1978, as the Rangers traded their 1978 first-round Draft pick (Ken Linseman) as compensation for hiring Shero.
6) Today in Flyers History: One June 2, 2010, Claude Giroux's overtime goal in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final gave the Flyers a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks to reduce their deficit in the series to two games to one.