COMCAST BUYING SNIDER OWNERSHIP SHARE FROM ESTATE
Yesterday, Comcast announced that it is purchasing the 24 percent ownership interest in Comcast-Spectacor, the Flyers' parent company, from the estate of the late Ed Snider. When the deal closes and is approved by the National Hockey League next month, Comcast will become the 100 percent owner of the Flyers.
The announcement is not a surprise. The plan was in place for many years before Mr. Snider passed. Not much is likely to change from a macro managerial decision-making standpoint because Comcast already owned more than three-quarters of the team.
Nevertheless, the transfer underscores the end of an era. It will feel very strange for the Sniders to have no part in team ownership, let alone the absence of Ed Snider's commanding presence and passionate devotion to the franchise he co-founded.
On the other hand, the legacy that Ed Snider left is indelible to the Flyers' identity. Men such as team president Paul Holmgren and general manager Ron Hextall are committed to upholding the principles that defined the organization from a hockey operations, player relations and community standpoint.
The Flyers, along with the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, are Mr. Snider's greatest legacies along with his many other business and philanthropic endeavors.
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WORLD CUP UPDATE
Team Czech Republic (1-1-1) salvaged a measure of pride from the World Cup of Hockey as it defeated winless Team USA (0-3-0) in an otherwise meaningless final game of the round robin portion of the tournament. Jakub Voracek recorded one assist in the game. Michal Neuvirth backed up Petr Mrazek in net for the second straight game. After a couple of mandatory days off, Voracek and Neuvirth will join the Flyers in training camp.
Likewise, Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Couturier will be available shortly for Flyers camp following the elimination of Team North America (2-1-0) as Russia (2-1-0) advanced via head-to-head tiebreaker after shutting out Finland.
Claude Giroux (Team Canada) and the Team Europe duo of Mark Streit and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare remain in the tourney for the semifinals.
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FLYERS TRAINING CAMP UPDATE
As I write this, Group A is on the ice for the first day of Flyers training camp at the Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ. A report will follow in tomorrow's blog, along with some prospect updates.
Here are the two #Flyers' camp groups today: pic.twitter.com/AUKAezPI6X
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) September 23, 2016