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Quick Hits: June 4, 20201
1) The Flyers announced yesterday that they have signed 21-year-old goalie prospect Samuel Ersson to an entry-level contract. Ersson is expected to come to North America for the 2021-22 season, where he may compete for playing time in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. It is possible that the Phantoms could have an all-Swedish goalie duo with Felix Sandström and Ersson, although Kirill Ustimenko (now healed from hip surgery that cost him the entire 2020-21 season) remains in the equation as well.
The Flyers drafted Ersson in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. He developed rapidly thereafter, sweeping Rookie of the Year, Goalie of the Year and League MVP honors at the Allsvenskan level for Västerås in 2018-19. He was Sweden's starting goalie at the the World Junior Championships, where his 3-1 record and 2.23 GAA and a .922 save percentage backstopped the Swedes into the medal round with an undefeated record through round robin play.
Ersson moved up to the SHL and back to his parent club, Brynäs IF Gävle in 2019-20. He had an OK season at Sweden's top level, holding his own but not dominating as he did in his Allsvenskan season for VIK the previous campaign. This season. Ersson quietly had a very strong season for a very weak BIF team. He also represented the national team, appearing in one game at the 2021 IIHF World Championships.
"We're excited to get Samuel under contract with the Flyers,” team vice president and assistant general manager Brent Flahr said in a statement. “He's steadily progressed since his draft year and has had success in junior, the SHL and at the International level. We look forward to watching his continued development as he makes the transition to North America."
2) Danny Briere has been added to the list of participating Flyers Alumni players in the Flyers Alumni vs. Flyers Warriors Showcase fundraising game at Ice Works in Aston, PA, on June 27, 2021. Other confirmed participants include Mark Howe, John LeClair and Joe Watson (who is the special honoree for Alumni Weekend).
As noted yesterday, the initial allotment of VIP tickets sold out within a few days but a limited additional number of spots have been made available. VIP admission ($100) includes a post-game reception with the Flyers Alumni and a private viewing area during the game. General admission tickets are just $20. To purchase, click here.
3) Today in Flyers History: June 4, 1975
Shortly after celebrating their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, the Flyers announced that center Bill Clement had been traded to the Washington Capitals, along with veteran goalie Don "Smokey" McLean and the Flyers' first-round selection in the 1975 NHL Draft in exchange for the first overall pick in the Draft. The Flyers used the pick on rugged two-way center Mel Bridgman. The 1975 Draft is the only time in franchise history that the Flyers have had the first pick of the entry draft.
4) Today in Flyers History: June 4, 2010
After winning Game Three of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final in overtime, the Philadelphia Flyers made an early statement in Game Four that they were driven to send the series back to Chicago knotted at two games apiece. The message came through loud and clear.
Early tallies by Flyers captain Mike Richards (power play) and Matt Carle gave the Flyers a quick 2-0 lead. Former Flyers forward Patrick Sharp cut the gap to one goal at 18:32 but the red-hot Claude Giroux restored a two-goal margin in the final minute of the opening period to send the Flyers to the dressing room with a 3-0 advantage. The goal was Giroux's 10th of the playoffs.
A scoreless second period followed as goaltender Michael Leighton made 13 of his 31 saves for the game, and Chicago counterpart Antti Niemi countered with 10 of his 26 saves.
At 6:43 of the third period, the scorching Ville Leino notched his seventh goal of the playoffs (fifth in his last seven games) to build a 4-1 lead. The extra insurance proved vital, because Dave Bolland and Brian Campbell soon scored closely spaced back-to-back goals to trim the Flyers lead to 4-3 with 4:10 remaining in regulation. Finally, Jeff Carter iced the win for Philadelphia with an empty net goal.
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