QUICK HITS: 11/7/17
1) Nolan Patrick, Radko Gudas and Michal Neuvirth did not practice on Monday. According to Flyers' general manager Ron Hextall. Patrick and Gudas remain day-to-day with upper-body injuries. Both players are believed to have suffered concussions. Neuvirth took a maintenance day, and a stand-in subbed for him at practice.
2) Once the Flyers' current four-night break (tonight is night 3) comes to an end, the team will embark on another very busy stretch of hockey. Between Thursday night and the league-wide Christmas break, the Flyers will play 21 games in 45 nights. Shayne Gostisbehere, Wayne Simmonds, Dave Hakstol and others talked yesterday about the keys to navigating the gauntlet to come. For more, click here.
3) After Monday's practice, current Flyers Wayne Simmonds and Brian Elliott along with Flyers Alumni members Brad Marsh and Bob "the Hound" Kelly hosted 12 members of the U.S. Air Force for an on-ice hockey clinic. Other participating Flyers included Matt Read and Taylor Leier. Marsh and Kelly remained on the ice as instructors until the end of the session.
4) The CIBC Canada vs. Russia Series (formerly known as the Subway Super Series) got underway on Monday in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Team WHL blanked Team Russia to the tune of 7-0. Flyers goaltending prospect Carter Hart earned a 20-save shutout. While Hart did not see a lot of shots in terms of quantity, he had some real tough ones along the way including three breakaways in the first period.
Canucks 2017 second round pick Kole Lind (two goals, one assist), LA Kings 2016 second-round Kale Clague (three assists, +5), Tampa Bay Lightning 2016 first-round pick Brett Howden (one goal, one assist), Vegas Golden Knights 2017 first-round pick Cody Glass (one goal, one assist) and Calgary Flames 2016 second-round pick Dillon Dube (one goal, one assist) led the way offensively for the Western Hockey League representatives.
The series continues on Tuesday in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Edmonton Oilers' 2017 third-round pick Stuart Skinner figures to get the start in goal rather than Hart (who recently returned after a lengthy absence due to mononucleosis) playing on back-to-back nights.
Flyers 2016 first-round pick German Rubtsov is on the Russian roster but will only play in the two games (Nov. 14 and Nov. 16) against Team QMJHL. Before that, the Russian side also have has a pair of games against Team OHL on Nov. 9 and 13.
5) Flyers' 2016 second round pick Wade Allison was named NCHC Offensive Player of the Week. He recorded five points (five goals, one assist) in two games for Western Michigan as they swept reigning NCAA Hockey champion Denver over the weekend. On Saturday, the sophomore power forward notched the first hat trick of his collegiate career.
6) The 5th Annual Faceoff Against Cancer (FOAC) event takes place this weekend. The Flyers Alumni, as usual, are taking part. On Saturday (Nov. 11), the Flyers Alumni Team will take on Team FOAC at 12:30 p.m. at Hatfield Ice. As part of the event, the legendary Bernie Parent will be on hand from 11:30 to 2:30 for a meet-and-greet. All proceeds raised at the yearly FOAC go directly to the benefit of local cancer patients and their families. To learn more about the event, beneficiaries and ticketing information, please visit the official 2017 Faceoff Against Cancer website for more details.