FLYERS PROSPECT PLAYOFF UPDATES
* WHL: The Calgary Hitmen narrowed the gap in their semifinal series with the Brandon Wheat Kings on Tuesday night, earning a 2-1 overtime win at home in Game Three. Brandon still leads the series, two games to one. Flyers 2014 first-round pick Travis Sanheim assisted on Adam Tambellini's third-period power play goal that forced overtime. Tambellini scored again in the extra frame to win the game. Flyers 2014 sixth-round pick Radel Fazleev did not record a point in the game. Game Four is Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m. EDT.
* WHL: The Kelowna Rockets dropped their second straight game in their semifinal series with the Portland Winterhawks, losing a 7-3 blowout in Game Three. Portland now leads the series two games to one. Flyers 2013 third-round pick Tyrell Goulbourne had a rough night. He did not record a point for Kelowna, finished at minus-two at even strength and collected 18 minutes in penalties (three that resulted in Portland power plays, all of which were converted into power play goals on night where the Winterhawks went 4-for-8 on the man advantage). Game Four is Wednesday night at 10:00 p.m. EDT.
* QMJHL: The Rimouski Oceanic put a three games to zero stranglehold on their semifinal series against the Val-d'Or Foreurs with a 4-2 road win on Tuesday night. Val-d'Or recovered from 3-0 series deficit last round to beat Baie-Comeau but the powerhouse Oceanic have by far been the better team in the semis. Flyers 2013 first-round pick Samuel Morin assisted on his team's late-game empty goal but, more importantly, played a dominating physical game against Val-d'Or's top line. Flyers 2014 second-round pick Nicolas Aube-Kubel is a member of that line and has been an offensive non-factor throughout the series (one assist, very few scoring chances). Aube-Kubel, who was also fairly quiet in the second round after dominating earlier in the playoffs, had no points, two shots, was minus-one and picked up a late first period charging penalty that was converted into a Tyler Boland power play goal to get Rimouski on the board first.
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FLYERS 2015 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATES
* Jakub Voracek will wear the captain's "C" at the upcoming 2015 IIHF World Championships for the national team of host country Czech Republic. The Czechs open against Sweden in Prague on May 1 at 2:15 p.m. EDT.
* The Flyers trio of Claude Giroux, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier will be part of a stacked forward lineup that Team Canada general manager Jim Nill (Dallas Stars) has assembled for head coach Todd McLellan (formerly with the San Jose Sharks) to have at his disposal for the tournament. Others include Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), the Dallas trio of Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza and Cody Eakin, the Colorado Avalanche trio of Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon and Ryan O'Reilly, the Edmonton Oilers duo of Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, Buffalo Sabres forward Tyler Ennis and the LA Kings' Tyler Toffoli. Canada opens on Friday in Prague against Latvia at 10:15 a.m. EDT.
* Flyers defenseman Mark Streit and the rest of Team Switzerland will open on Saturday in Prague in a head-to-head matchup against Flyers forward Michael Raffl and the rest of Team Austria. Game time will be at 6:15 a.m. EDT.
* Phantoms defenseman Oliver Lauridsen and the rest of Team Denmark will open against Slovakia in Ostrava on Saturday at 6:15 a.m. EDT.
* Team Germany announced its tournament roster on Tuesday. Phantoms goaltender Rob Zepp, who started four games for the Germans last year, is not participating this year.
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FLYERS ALUMNI UPDATES FROM
* The Flyers Alumni will host a fantasy hockey camp from August 21-24 in Atlantic City, open to anyone age 21 and older. Instructors and Alumni participants will include Bernie Parent, Brian Propp, Ian Laperriere, Todd Fedoruk, Andre "Moose" Dupont, Dave "the Hammer" Schultz, Joe Watson and Bob "the Hound" Kelly.
The registration deadline is June 1. Participation costs $3,000 apiece but it is free to register a spot online. Over on the Flyers' Alumni website, there is more information on camp-related activities and on-ice schedules.
* Today in Flyers History: After once trailing their 1989 Wales Conference semifinal series by a three games to two margin, the Flyers stun the favored Pittsburgh Penguins on the road to skate off with a 4-1 win in Game Seven. Brian Propp gets the Flyers on the board first. After Mario Lemieux ties the game for the Penguins, Flyers captain Dave Poulin soon responds with a shorthanded goal to restore a 2-1 advantage for the Flyers. Mike Bullard (power play) and Scott Mellanby (empty net goal) add insurance in the third period. Mark Howe collects a pair of assists. Playing in place of Ron Hextall, backup Ken Wreggett authors a 39-save performance. The Flyers go 7-for-8 on the penalty kill and 1-for-5 on the power play. Combined with Poulin's shorthanded goal, the Flyers win the special teams battle in the series' final game in addition to outscoring the Penguins at even strength. For other notable April 29th games and events in team history, click here.
* April 29, 2015 marks the four-year anniversary of the passing for former Maine Mariners and Philadelphia Flyers enforcer Jim Cunningham. Cunningham, a minor league tough guy who became a fan favorite while a member of the AHL's Maine Mariners, played his lone NHL game for the Flyer on Feb. 28, 1978, when the Flyers visited the Boston Bruins. Looking to make an immediate impression, he made a beeline for Boston's Terry O'Reilly. The linesmen pulled them apart before a full-fledged fight developed, so the two were sent off on double roughing minors rather than fighting majors. Cunningham finished the game, which ended in a 4-4 tie, as a plus-one. He did not register a point. On April 29, 2011, Cunningham died near his home in Shoreview, Minnesota, after being struck by an oncoming train. The 54-year-old was walking along the tracks, possibly trying to take a photograph. He had regularly taken walks on the same path since childhood, and did not feel endangered going along the tracks. After playing hockey at Michigan State University, Cunningham spent four-plus years in the minor leagues, including parts of four seasons over two stints with Maine. As with many players who were once scoring-line players at hockey's lower levels (he collected 36 points in 34 games for Michigan State in 1976-77), Cunningham had to find a different niche at the pro level. In the AHL, he was mostly an agitator and secondary enforcer. His best season for the Mariners came in 1978-79, when he racked up 223 penalty minutes and 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 78 games. Cunningham's pro career came to an end in 1981, although he made a three-game return to pro hockey in 1983-84 for the IHL's Toledo Gold Diggers. He spent the remainder of his life in his native Minnesota.