QUICK HITS: MAY 28, 2018
1) The Acadie-Bathurst Titan are the 2018 Memorial Cup champions. On Sunday night, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey champions defeated the Regina Pats, 3-0. Playing what was almost certainly the final junior-level hockey game of his career, Flyers 2016 first-round pick German Rubtsov did not record a point (he hit a post, had three shots on goal and was blocked on an other attempt) but played a very strong all-around game.
Come next season, Rubtsov is likely to debut as a pro as a member of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. It remains to be seen if he plays his natural center position or is deployed as a right winger as he was most of this season after being traded from the Chicoutimi Sagueneens to the Titan.
Former NHL player Sylvain Couturier, the father of Flyers center Sean Couturier, is the general manager and part owner of the Acadie-Bathurst team. Sean is among the other part owners. The Flyers' center was raised in Bathurst and still makes his offseason home there. The street where the Titan's home arena (K. C. Irving Regional Centre) is named in Sean Couturier's honor.
2) With the conclusion of the Memorial Cup, the 2017-18 season is completed for all players affiliated with the Flyers' organization. Below is a roll call of Flyers-affiliated players to win championships, win an individual award for the season or be nominated for an award.
* T.J. Brennan (AHL): AHL All-Star Game.
* Sean Couturier (NHL): Selke Trophy finalist (winner TBA).
* Morgan Frost (OHL): OHL Most Valuable Player finalist (1st runner-up, won by Jordan Kyrou).
* Claude Giroux (NHL): NHL All-Star Game.
* Carter Hart (WHL): World Junior Championship gold medal (Team Canada), WHL Goaltender of the Year, WHL Most Valuable Player, CHL Goaltender of the Year, Finalist for CHL Player of the Year (won by Alex Barré-Boulet).
* Linus Högberg (SHL): SHL championship (Và¤xjö Lakers), World Junior Championship silver medal (Team Sweden).
* Oskar Lindblom (AHL/NHL): AHL All-Star Game.
* Wayne Simmonds (NHL): Mark Messier Award finalist (winner TBA).
* Matthew Strome (OHL): OHL championship (Hamilton Bulldogs).
* German Rubtsov (QMJHL): QMJHL championship (Acadie-Bathurst Titan), Memorial Cup championship (Acadie-Bathurst Titan).
* Kirill Ustimenko (MHL): MHL All-Star.
* Phil Varone (AHL): AHL Most Valuable Player.
3) On July 15, Chris Therien will be captaining a team at the 2018 Toyota Flyers Charity Classic. His team will be called Bundy's Chariots of Flyers. Other teams include Brad Marsh's "Ides of Marsh", Team Guffaw (captained by Brian Propp), and the Flyers Alumni Team (featuring Bob Clarke, Bernie Parent, Danny Briere, Paul Holmgren, Ian Laperriere, and many more). All teams are open to the public to join and proceeds raised by Flyers Alumni Association members will benefit Snider Hockey. For more information, visit FlyersCharityClassic.com.
3) May 28: Mark Howe celebrates his 63rd birthday, while Terry Crisp celebrates his 75th birthday.
4) May 27 marked the 43rd anniversary of the Flyers' 2-0 clinching win in Game 6 of the 1975 Stanley Cup championship against the Buffalo Sabres.