Quick Hits: August 31, 2018
1) On Thursday, the Flyers announced their promotion night schedule for the 2018-19 season, including the new addition of Jakub Voracek Chia Pet Night in honor of the Flyers right wing's famously oft-unkempt beard and hair. Promotion notes are below:
Oct. 16 - Jakub Voracek Chia Pet Giveaway Oct. 22 - Schedule Magnet Giveaway pres. by Rothman Orthopaedics at Jefferson Health Nov. 10 - Toyota Military Appreciation Day Nov. 15 - Dietz & Watson Dollar Dog Night Nov. 23 - Annual Black Friday Game Nov. 27 - Toyota Hockey Fights Cancer Night Dec. 6 - 90s Night | T-shirt Giveaway Dec. 22 - Holiday Light Spectacular Jan. 3 - 2019 Wall Calendar Giveaway pres. by Rothman Orthopaedics at Jefferson Health Feb. 2 - Season Ticket Member Appreciation Day Feb. 4 - You Can Play Night Feb. 7 - Heart Health Night Feb. 26 - Superpretzel Dollar Pretzel Mar. 11 - Dietz & Watson Dollar Dog Night Mar. 14 - St. Patrick's Day Game Mar. 19 - Fan Appreciation Night | Toyota Team Poster Giveaway Mar. 27 - Autism Awareness Night Apr. 6 - Flyers Team Awards
2) The Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League preseasons get underway tonight. Most notably from a Flyers standpoint, the defending OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs (Matthew Strome) are on the road against the Flint Firebirds, while the Everett Silvertips (Wyatte Wylie) are home against the Tri-City Americans.
3) Sweden: In SHL preseason action, Brynà¤s (Marcus Westfà¤lt) hosts Fà¤rjestad today. In Allsvenskan preseason action, Và¤sterà¥s (Samuel Ersson started last game, so he is more likely to be the backup in this one) hosts Trà¥nas.
4) Flyers Alumni Team: The Flyers Alumni Team have announced two games on their upcoming 2018-19 season docket of local fundraising games.
* The 3rd Annual WCRE Celebrity Charity Hockey Game will take place on Sat. Sept. 22 at the Skate Zone in Voorhees at 5 p.m. A buffet after-party and auction event follows from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Victory Bar and Grill on Rte. 73 in West Berlin. Tickets cost $15 for the game and $40 ($20 for children 12 and under) for a combination ticket to the game plus the after-party.
For the game, Brian Propp, who works for WCRE (Wolf Commercial Real Estate) as its director of strategic relationships, will be joined on the ice by fellow Flyers Alumni Kjell Samuelsson, Brad Marsh, Todd Fedoruk, Doug Crossman, and Andre Faust. Other participants include iconic Flyers public address announcer Lou Nolan as the emcee, longtime NHL referee and South Jersey resident Kerry Fraser officiating, as well as more than 30 local business leaders, and 85 sponsors.
* The 5th Annual Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA) showcase will be held in October, with the main event being the Flyers Alumni Team playing Team AHA at Revolution Ice Gardens (1621 Mearns Rd, Warminster, PA) on Oct. 12 at 7:35 p.m. ET. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Flyers Alumni participating players are TBD but will likely include most of the regular participants in the local series of games, such as Joe Watson, Marsh, and Larry Goodenough.
* The Sixth Annual Faceoff Against Cancer, with proceeds directly benefiting selected local cancer patients, will be at Hatfield Ice (350 County Line Road, Colmar, PA) on Oct. 13. Flyers Alumni Team roster is TBD.
5) Today in Flyers history: On Aug. 31, 1978, the decade-long Philadelphia playing career of Flyers Hall of Fame defenseman Joe Watson came to an end as the Flyers sold his contract to the Colorado Avalanche. Flyers general manager Keith Allen had given the two-time NHL All-Star Game participant a choice of staying with the Flyers as a spare defenseman or being traded somewhere where he could still play more regularly while mentoring young teammates. He chose the latter and Allen obliged by sending him to Colorado. Unfortunately, Watson suffered a career-ending leg injury just 16 games into his brief stay with the Rockies. After retiring, he returned to the Flyers organization, where he's been (in many different capacities) ever since.
On Aug. 31, 1995, veteran defenseman Kjell Samuelsson returned to the Flyers for a second stint, signing a three-year contract. Samuelsson enjoyed a strong 1995-96 campaign, during which he was typically paired with second-year NHL defenseman Chris Therien, but his was his last healthy season in the NHL. He played out the duration of his contract in Philadelphia, finished his NHL career with the Tampa Bay Lightning and then returned to the Flyers organization in a coaching capacity. He has been coaching in the organization for 18-plus season, first with the Phantoms (including a stint as head coach) and then as a development coach for defensemen.