Quick Hits: Feb. 10, 2022
1) The Flyers held a 50-minute-long practice on Thursday at the FTC in Voorhees. There were a couple of fairly intensive battle drills (board work and one-on-one), which interim head coach Mike Yeo confirmed was to emphasize correcting "compete" issues in Wednesday's night's 6-3 home loss to Detroit. The team also did a short-range puck exchange drill on the offensive side boards with the puck recipient skating with it over the middle and shooting.
There were three players missing from practice. Team captain Claude Giroux took a routine maintenance day, per Yeo. Cam Atkinson is under the weather. Rasmus Ristolainen got banged up in Wednesday's game and is questionable to play on Saturday when the Flyers and Red Wings rematch in Detroit.
Watch live as Flyers interim head coach Mike Yeo meets with the media from the @FlyersTCenter. https://t.co/RoPtwS2DRl
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 10, 2022
2). I was Jason Myrtetus' guest today on the Stick2Hockey podcast. We discussed last night's debacle against Detroit, the NHL trade deadline, Flyers collegiate hockey prospects and various other Flyers-related topics.
Episode 20 of @Stick2HockeyPod with @jasonmyrt!
— Parx Sportsbook (@parxsportsbook) February 10, 2022
His guest today was @billmeltzer, Official site contributor https://t.co/wjb4wsZbva
They discuss the NHL trade deadline, If Giroux waves his no trade, what teams will he do it for? Also they discuss the impact of his cap hit. pic.twitter.com/3nMY7enmPS
3) The Flyers announced two new hires to the Hockey Analytics department, bringing the department to five employees. The organization added Kathryn Yates as a hockey analyst and Cole Anderson as its lead data scientist, Per the official press release:
Yates joins the front office after two seasons with the University of Massachusetts Men's Hockey team where she served as the Director of Analytics. In addition to her role at UMASS, she has been working as a Graduate Student Research Fellow within the Analytics department for the NHL's Boston Bruins since May of 2021. She is on track this spring to graduate from the University of Massachusetts with a dual-Masters in Business Administration and Sport Management, and will join the Flyers at the conclusion of UMASS hockey season. A native of Harrison, NY, Yates also served as the Director of Analytics and Hockey Operations Coordinator for the Boston University men's ice hockey team. She graduated magna cum laude from Brown University in 2014 in biology, concentrating in physiology and biotechnology. She completed a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering at Boston University in 2016 while part of the Terriers' hockey staff. Anderson joins the Flyers staff as Lead Data Scientist and previously worked in the same role across various industries, most recently in software and e-commerce. He has applied his quantitative skills in hockey analytics in the public domain as well as various consulting roles including Sportlogiq, a sports statistics vendor, and as an analytics advisor for the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
In addition to the two new hires, the Flyers Analytics department consists of Ian Anderson (director of hockey analytics), Jacob Hurlbut (assistant director of hockey analytics) and Matthew Karliner (hockey data analyst).
4) Flyers Alumni/ Flyers Warriors Walk, Run, Stroll
On April 23, 2022, the Flyers Alumni and Flyers Warriors will cohost the inaugural Walk,Run, or Stroll in Washington's Crossing Historic Park on April 23, 2022 at 10 a.m. ET. Participants have a choice between 1k, 5k or 10k distances.
Registration for adults starts at $50, while registration for kids 13 and under starts at $25. There are also VIP-level registrations, which include an after-party event with the participating Flyers Alumni.
Proceeds benefit Flyers Warriors and YMCA of Bucks County’s Veterans Wellness Initiative (VWI).
Participants are encouraged -- but not required -- to raise money or make additional donations to the event. The top level of fundraising/donation incentive is the "First-Star Teammate" level ($1,000).
First-Star fundraisers receive a private meet-and-greet in the new Flyers Alumni Lounge at the Wells Fargo Center and tickets to the April 29 game against Ottawa. Located at event level of the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers Alumni Lounge is typically open ONLY to Alumni themselves, their families and/or personal guests. In addition to being a mini Flyers museum of sorts -- filled with vintage photos, artifacts (including the infamous Holmgren/Cashman gate), hockey sticks and more -- the lounge has big-screen TVs, comfortable couches, and catered food and drink.
Anyone who donates/raises at least $1,000 for the Walk/Run/Stroll will be the Alumni Association's guest in the Alumni Lounge before the season finale game. They will also receive all of the incentives from the Second-Star and Third-Star levels:
* A pair of New Balance 880 running shoes in your size. * An Eddie Bauer cooler bag with the Flyers Alumni logo. * Flyers Alumni Yeti. * Flyers Alumni ball cap.
For registration and more event information, see the official Flyers Alumni/Flyers Warriors Walk, Run or Stroll Event website.