WORLD JUNIOR SUMMER SHOWCASE: USA DOWNS SWEDEN, CANADA BEATS FINLAND
A three-goal outburst by Team USA in the second period was enough to overcome an early deficit and eventually hold off Team Sweden, 3-2, in World Junior Summer Showcase action on Wednesday in Plymouth, Michigan.
Flyers defense prospect Linus Högberg, skating on Sweden's top defense pairing, played his third straight strong game of the Showcase. He had a couple rough shifts in the second period, as did the entire Junior Crowns squad, but was very solid on both sides of the puck overall and was among his side's most effective players in the opening and final stanzas.
Högberg finished at minus-one for the game, He took a second period slashing penalty on the shift immediately after Lias Andersson's second goal of the game knotted the score at 2-2. Team USA converted the power play into a Quinn Hughes power play goal. Riley Tufte and Kailer Yamamoto also tallied for the Americans.
In Wednesday's other game, Team Canada downed Team Finland in a 6-5 overtime slugfest. Calgary Flames prospect Matthew Phillips tallied twice for Canada, including a late third-period go-ahead goal before Finland's Janne Kuokkanen (Carolina Hurricanes 2016 second-round pick) forced OT by tying the game at 5-5 in the final half-minute of regulation. Michael McLeod, chosen in the first round of the 2016 Draft by the New Jersey Devils, netted the game-winner at 2:39 of OT.
Neither Flyers prospect Carter Hart nor Vancouver Canucks 2017 draftee Michael DiPietro played in goal for Canada in this game. The Canadian goaltending chores were split between Edmonton Oilers' 2017 draftee Stuart Skinner (seven saves on 11 shots) and Edmonton 2016 selection Dylan Wells (22 saves on 23 shots). Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (17 saves on 23 shots) went the distance in goal for Finland.
There are no games on Thursday. On Friday, Team Canada opposes Team Sweden at 1 p.m. EDT while Team USA takes on Team Finland at 4 p.m. EDT. The games will be televised on NHL Network.
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FLYERS PROSPECT DIRECTORY, 2017-18
HockeyBuzz reader Mike Palko requested that I create a list of which leagues and teams the prospects in the Flyers' system represent. Excluding players who are locks to play pro hockey in North America this season -- whether in the NHL with the Flyers or in the American Hockey League with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms -- here is where the players in development chain are set to play at the start of next season.
Ontario Hockey League: Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Connor Bunnaman (Kitchener Rangers), Isaac Ratcliffe (Guelph Storm), Matthew Strome (Hamilton Bulldogs), Maksim Sushko (Owen Sound Attack), Anthony Salinitri (Sarnia Sting).
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League: German Rubtsov (Chicoutimi Sagueneens, AHL eligible if the Flyers opt to place him with the Phantoms instead), Pascal Laberge (Victoriaville Tigres), undrafted/unsigned training camp invitee Ivan Kosorenkov (Victoriaville Tigres).
Western Hockey League: Nolan Patrick (Brandon Wheat Kings if he is not in the NHL), Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips), Carsen Twarynski (Kelowna Rockets).
NCAA: Wade Allison (Western Michigan (NCHC) sophomore), Tanner Laczynski (Ohio State (Big-10) sophomore), Cooper Marody (University of Michigan (Big-10) junior), Brendan Warren (University of Michigan (Big-10) junior), Wyatt Kalynuk (University of Wisconsin (Big-10) freshman), David Drake (University of Connecticut (Hockey East) senior), Terrance Amorosa (Clarkson University (ECAC) senior).
USHL: Noah Cates (Omaha Lancers, committed to University of Minnesota-Duluth starting in 2018-19), Matej Tomek (Waterloo Black Hawks, left University of North Dakota after two seasons and will have two seasons of NCAA eligibility left come 2018-19).
SHL: Felix Sandström (Brynà¤s IF Gà¤vle), Linus Högberg (Và¤xjö Lakers), David Bernhardt (Djurgà¥rdens IF Stockholm), David Kase (Mora IK).
J20 SuperElit (Swedish junior hockey): Olle Lycksell (Linköpings HC J20, top junior club of the Linköping team in SHL).
MHL (Russian junior hockey): Kirill Ustimenko (MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg, parent team is Dynamo St. Petersburg of the VHL; the top Russian minor league below the KHL).
VHL (Russian minor league hockey): Ivan Fedotov (Toros Neftekamsk).
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Today in Flyers History: August 3, 2005
The Flyers signed unrestricted free agent center Peter Forsberg to a two-year, $11.5 million contract. He would go on to produce 115 points (30 goals, 85 assists) in 100 regular season games as a Flyer plus eight points (four goals, four assists) in six playoff games before the Flyers traded him to the Nashville Predators.