Flyers All-Time, All-American Team
In honor of Independence Day here in the United States, here is an all-time, all-Flyers Team USA comprised of American players and dual U.S.-Canada citizens who have played internationally for Team USA. Players who were born in the United States but raised in Canada and represent Canada internationally -- Sean Couturier, for example -- are listed at the bottom but not eligible for the fantasy team. If I had extended it, Couturier would have made the team.
I tried to put the line combinations together as actual lines might be assembed, and not just assigning a "value" to the players' careers. In some cases where a player had a brief stint in Philadelphia but a strong overall career, I took it into account. For instance, Hal Gill was a seldom-used extra defenseman in his lone Flyers season but he enjoyed a 1,108-game NHL career and won a Stanley Cup. Career accomplishments and not just the Flyers portion of his career reflect John Vanbiesbrouck's inclusion.
Last but not least, yes, R.J. Umberger made it based on his first stint with the Flyers and not that second.
John LeClair - Jeremy Roenick - Mike Knuble Tony Amonte - R.J. Umberger -Paul Holmgren Shjon Podein - Joel Otto - Trent Klatt Paul Ranheim - Bob Corkum - Tom Gorence
Mark Howe - Eric Weinrich Derian Hatcher - Shayne Gostisbehere Matt Carle - Hal Gill
John Vanbiesbrouck / Brian Boucher
Here is the list of all U.S.-born and dual-citizen players in Flyers' franchise history:
Goalies
Brian Boucher United States Jeremy Duchesne United States Robert Esche United States Cal Heeter United States Jean-Marc Pelletier Canada (born in USA) Garth Snow United States John Vanbiesbrouck United States
Position Players
Andrew Alberts United States D Mark Alt United States D Tony Amonte United States RW Harvey Bennett United States C Jesse Boulerice United States RW Donald Brashear Canada (born in USA) LW Andy Brickley United States LW Aris Brimanis United States D Adam Burt United States D Matt Carle United States D Eric Chouinard Canada (born in USA) Bob Corkum United States C Sean Couturier Canada (born in USA) C Shawn Cronin United States D Mark Cullen United States C Jim Cummins United States RW Jim Cunningham United States LW Craig Darby United States C Niko Dimitrakos United States RW Jim Dowd United States C Mark Eaton United States D Nick Fotiu United States LW Jamie Fritsch United States D Hal Gill United States D Jere Gillis United States LW Tom Gorence United States RW Shayne Gostisbehere United States D Paul Guay United States RW Nate Guenin United States D Adam Hall United States C/RW Derian Hatcher United States D Wayne Hicks United States RW Paul Holmgren United States RW Ben Holmstrom United States C Ed Hospodar United States D Mark Howe United States D Brad Jones United States LW Trent Klatt United States RW Mike Knuble United States (born in Canada) RW Matt Konan United States D John LeClair United States LW Moe Mantha United States D Colin McDonald United States RW Freddy Meyer United States D Gary Morrison United States RW Joel Otto United States C Richard Park United States (born in S. Korea, later lived in Canada) C Mike Peluso United States LW Derek Plante United States C Shjon Podein United States LW Ryan Potulny United States C Nate Raduns United States RW Paul Ranheim United States LW Gordie Roberts United States D Jeremy Roenick United States C Jared Ross United States C Shaun Sabol United States D Joe Sacco United States RW Scott Sandelin United States D Tom Sestito United States LW David Sloane United States D Dave Snuggerud United States LW Kevin Stevens United States LW Billy Tibbetts United States RW R.J. Umberger United States W/C James van Riemsdyk United States LW Chris VandeVelde United States LW/ C Eric Weinrich United States D Chris Winnes United States RW Mike York United States LW Jason Zent United States LW
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Born on the Fourth of July
Happy birthday to Flyers Alumni power forward Mike Knuble, whose personal background and career are a great American Dream tale.
Born on July 4, 1972 in Toronto to American citizen Latvian parents, Mike was raised in Kentwood, Michigan near Grand Rapids. He went to college at the University of Michigan and he makes the Grand Rapids area his permanent home. He always represented the USA in international hockey play, despite his dual citizenship.
Knuble's NHL career was very unique. He was of the NHL's ultimate late-bloomers: He scored 228 of his career 278 regular season NHL goals from age 30 onward.
Mike scored between 27 to 34 goals in all four of his seasons in Philadelphia during his first stint. Off the ice, Knuble was a locker room leader and one of the NHL’s most articulate and analytical players. He was a galvanizing player both among younger and peer-aged teammates.
Happy birthday, Mike Knuble and happy birthday, USA!
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2016 FLYERS ALUMNI GOLF INVITATIONAL
The 2016 Flyers Alumni Golf Invitational will be held on July 18 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. The event will raise money for the Flyers Alumni Association, Flyers Charities and BLOCS.
The Golf Invitational will offer a round of golf, lunch, cocktail reception and dinner program.
Subject to changes and additions, the following Flyers Alumni -- widely representing every decade of team history -- will be attending: Ray Allison, Bill Barber, Frank Bathe, Craig Berube, Brian Boucher, Jesse Boulerice, Danny Briere, Terry Carkner, Lindsay Carson, Jeff Chychrun, Bob Clarke, Bill Clement, Steve Coates, Riley Cote, Doug Crossman, Barry Dean, Eric Desjardins, Andre "Moose" Dupont, Doug Favell, Todd Fedoruk, Ross Fitzpatrick, Mark Freer, Larry Goodenough, TJ Gorence, Paul Holmgren, Ed Hospodar, Mark Howe, Kerry Huffman, Bob "the Hound" Kelly, Tim Kerr, Orest Kindrachuk, Mike Knuble, Ian Laperriere, Mitch Lamoureaux, Neil Little, Brad Marsh, Phil Myre, Bernie Parent, Dave Poulin, Brian Propp, Chris Pronger, Luke Richardson, Don Saleski, Dave "the Hammer" Schultz (attending but not golfing), Ilkka Sinisalo, Derrick Smith, and Joe Watson.
For more information, click here.