QUICK HITS: SEPTEMBER 20, 2021
1) One day after the Flyers rookies saw a 3-0 lead go by the wayside but rebounded for a 6-4 win over the New York Rangers rookies in Tarrytown, the Flyers rookies were unable to build upon or protect a 2-0 lead and went on to lose, 3-2, in the Rookie Game rematch in Voorhees. The Flyers got goals on back-to-back first period shifts by Cam York (PPG, assisted by Tyson Foerster and Morgan Frost) and Matthew Strome (assisted by Nolan Ritchie and Quinn Schmiemann).
Samuel Ersson got the start in goal on Sunday, going a period-and-a-half before Kirill Ustimenko went the rest of the way. New York got a pair of deflection power play goals in the second period by Will Cuylle and a third period even strength goal by defenseman Nils Lundkvist.
The Flyers had two golden opportunities late in the game to tie the score. Tanner Laczynski had a shorthanded scoring opportunity, while Foerster had a look at the net on a 6-on-5 one-timer teed up by Frost. The former scoring chance was saved while the latter missed the net.
For more on Sunday's game, including highlight clips,
click here. For Saturday's game wrapup,
click here.
2) Sunday's game result was overshadowed by an injury suffered by Flyers power forward Wade Allison in the second period. On a check near the boards in the Flyers' zone, Allison went to the ice awkwardly with his foot pinned under him. He started crawling back toward the bench and then received assistance to leave the ice. The play had the look of a high ankle sprain but the nature and severity of the injury is unconfirmed by the Flyers.
"I’m sure he is going to take it hard. No matter what. If it’s a week, two weeks, a month or two months. You put in all that work in the summer. You came in. He looked great all week. He looked great yesterday. He played the way he should be playing, in a rookie game. He only knows one way to play. Again, I really feel bad for him. Unfortunately, it’s part of the game. Injuries are part of the game, especially when you play that style of hockey. Again, I don’t know what the injury is and hopefully it’s going to be a quick one," said Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere, who was behind the bench for the two Rookie Games.
"I can’t say it enough. I feel for kids like him, just doing all that work and playing the right way. He could have come to camp. He played NHL games last year. Could have taken it easy, flowed out there but he didn’t. He played his style. He played physical, probably why he got hurt."
If the injury is, in fact, a high ankle sprain, Allison would be looking -- at a minimum -- of about a six-week absence. However, that particular injury is a tricky one that can require a lengthy recovery. Allison had ankle surgery prior to the 2020-21 season. Previously, during his sophomore season at Western Michigan, he suffered a torn ACL.
4) Anthony San Filippo tweeted on Sunday afternoon that defenseman Sam Morin suffered another serious knee injury while in training. There were rumors one day earlier of another Morin knee injury -- reputed to be to the same (right) knee in which Morin had twice a suffered torn ACL -- but the Flyers higher-ups have not, as of this writing, confirmed or refuted, an injury, the extent or the nature of it.
5) Monday is an off-day for all Flyers players in Voorhees. Alain Vigneault will address the media on Tuesday. There were also likely be some injury updates offered by that time via Chuck Fletcher. On-ice work at the Flyers' NHL camp will begin on Thursday.
6) On Sunday, the Flyers Warriors wrapped up their third annual training camp in Voorhees. For Wayne Fish's first-hand account of camp -- Fish suited up as a participating player with the Warriors' Tier 2 roster --
click here.
the Flyers Warriors will play host to the 2021 USA Hockey Warrior Classic, Nov. 4-7, in New Jersey. Games will be staged at two rinks: the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey, and Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, New Jersey.
7) Today in Flyers History: Sept. 20, 1995
Rather than exposing left winger Andre Faust to the preseason waiver draft, the Flyers were able to at least get something in return. On this day in 1995, the Flyers traded the 25 year old to the Winnipeg Jets for a 1997 seventh-round pick. Faust was coming off a strong AHL season for the Hershey Bears and previously dressed in 37 NHL games for the Flyers during the 1993-94 season (eight goals, 13 points). Faust was ultimately cut from the Jets' roster on the final day before opening night rosters were filed, and spent the 1995-96 season in the AHL with Springfield.
On Dec. 15, 1996, the Flyers used the acquired draft pick as a minor piece in the trade package to acquire defenseman Paul Coffey from the Hartford Whalers. Relocating to Carolina after the season, the newly dubbed Hurricanes selected left winger Andrew Merrick in the seventh round (169th overall) with the pick acquired from the Flyers.
8) Sept. 20 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Sergei Bobrovsky (1988), Jan Hlavac (1976).
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ROOKIE GAME 2: POSTGAME TRANSCRIPTS
Courtesy of the Flyers' Allie Samuelsson, below are transcripts from the postgame media availability following Sunday's 3-2 Rookie Game loss to the Rangers.
LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS HEAD COACH IAN LAPERRIERE
Any updates on the Wade Allison injury?
Well, I’m sure he is going to take it hard. No matter what. If it’s a week, two weeks, a month or two months. You put in all that work in the summer. You came in. He looked great all week. He looked great yesterday. He played the way he should be playing, in a rookie game. He only knows one way to play. Again, I really feel bad for him. Unfortunately, it’s part of the game. Injuries are part of the game, especially when you play that style of hockey. Again, I don’t know what the injury is and hopefully it’s going to be a quick one.
How difficult is it to see given the development camp that he had? He fights the day before to stand up for a teammate.
Yeah, I can’t say it enough. I feel for kids like him, just doing all that work and playing the right way. He could have come to camp. He played NHL games last year. Could have taken it easy, flowed out there but he didn’t. He played his style. He played physical, probably why he got hurt. Again, I do really feel for a kid like that.
What did you think of Cam York today?
He was good. I feel like he’s got another gear. I’m sure he’ll tell you the same thing. First game in a long time and main camp is around the corner. I’ve been there before - sometimes you think about main camp before just a scrimmage like that. He did a lot of good things out there. I really do feel like he’s got another step that he can take, and he will.
Samu Tuomaala could play junior hockey or pro next year. What did you think of him?
I liked him. He was better than yesterday. It’s a lot for him. He came over and didn’t speak much English. We taught him some stuff this week. He’s got that look on his face that he understands, but sometimes he doesn’t. It’s part of it. He’s a Finn, again, that doesn’t speak much English. I thought he looked good today. Yesterday was an adjustment for him, but if he keeps going like that, I don’t know what they’re going to do with him. If he’s going to play with me or he’s going to play junior, we’ll see.
What are your thoughts on the goalies?
I like both of them. I know we gave up 2 PK goals there, but [Ersson] made a couple of big saves, explosive saves. That’s the new generation of goalies. You think that they’re beat, but all of the sudden they are over there. It was pretty cool to watch. I’ve never seen [Samuel] play. I saw Usty play, well practice with us last year. It was nice to see just the way he was moving out there. Both of them had great weeks. They look great all week. I felt like they looked good today.
MORGAN FROST
Do you feel stronger? Do you feel more physically ready to play? The skills are ready. Do you feel more physically stronger?
Yeah. 100%. The difference in the last three years has been huge for me. Obviously, not playing last year was tough, but I feel re-energized. I feel stronger. I'm a little older now. I feel more confident. I think everything's kind of coming together for me.
Does that mean the biggest thing is that confidence that you know you could do versus thinking about can I do it?
I think so. I think confidence is huge for everyone. I was up and down a little at the start when I came here. I was excited to get a chance to play last year. Then obviously, the injury happened, but now I feel good again. It's nice to go through a camp like this and for me especially, to finally get to play some games. Get through them and get through battles with no issues with my body. I'm pretty happy.
Ian said that he told you that if you're in the Lehigh, he wants you to kill penalties. I know you killed penalties in junior. Is that another thing you feel like you can show that you can do?
I think any chance you have to get on the ice is what you want to do. I think I've always been labeled as an offensive player. If I can bring that 200-foot game and especially play on the penalty kill, I think it's huge for me and huge for ice time. I think it just makes me more versatile player. I'm willing to learn and work at it. I don't think I'm fully there on penalty kill type stuff yet. Like I said, I'm willing to learn and willing to play to penalty kill obviously.
Did you happen to see Wade’s injury? I'm not sure where you were if you were on the bench or the ice. Can you maybe take us through what you saw?
Yeah, I was on the bench. I saw him go to hit the guy. I didn't really see what happened after that. I just saw him kind of struggling to get back to the bench. I hope he's okay. He's a warrior and one of my really good buddies. I hope all is well.
Coaches and management are watching obviously all four days, but especially the last two games. What do you think you need to show them to earn an NHL spot?
I think just that I got stronger. I can win battles and hold my own out there. The offensive stuff can come on its own for me. I think if I can show that I can play out there against the other team’s top lines and win face-offs and be strong in the zone. I think that's the major thing that'll get me to the NHL and hopefully keep me in the NHL.
TANNER LACZYNSKI AND MATTHEW STROME
How does it feel back out there being fully cleared?
TL: Awesome. Anytime you take some time off, I think you're so eager to get back on the ice. I think there's great stuff for me. That's what I've been working towards is just getting on the ice. To play a game again, I felt good. Felt awesome.
Are you restricted at all in terms of skating?
TL: No, I felt pretty good. I’m confident in the hip and everything. I think that's a good sign moving forward.
You were playing on a line with Wade today. What did you see before his injury?
TL: Honestly, I was going back the other way, turn back and the whistle blows. Obviously, as a good buddy of mine, to see him hobble off the ice and to know all his previous injuries, I know what he's feeling. I know it sucks. Kind of take him off the ice. Just try to keep it positive and just let him know that this isn't the end, obviously. There are great players that come back from it. He always has. He's a big-time guy. He's positive about it, so it's good to see.
Matt, was it good for you just to get out here playing a game and kind of show what you can do?
MS: Yeah, definitely. I think missing development camp and you never want that to happen. I just got some rest and was told to be ready for rookie camp. I think it was. I'm back and good now. It felt good to get out there.
Was it mostly just like lacerations to your face? Was that what it was?
MS: Yeah.
TYSON FOERSTER AND CAM YORK
Tyson, did you happen to see the play were Wade got hurt? Just what did you see on the bench from him because it looked like he was in some obvious pain.
TF: Honestly, I didn't see it from the ice. I saw him limping off. When Wade does that, he's a pretty tough kid. I don't think it's that good. You never know. I'm hoping for the best.
It's sad to see anyone get hurt. This is one of the leaders in camp. He stood up for his teammates yesterday.
Just how tough is it to see his camp kind of end like that?
TF: Yeah, it's obviously tough if anyone gets injured. For Wade, he's been through a lot these past couple of years, so it almost makes it more sad. Hopefully it's all right like I said.
Were has the biggest step in your game been to get you to stay in the American League or get your shot with the Flyers?
TF: I think probably my skating. I feel more confident with it. I feel like I can beat the D wide now. Use my size in the corners and battles. Breakthrough in the battles and the corners and take it right to the net. I feel good there.
Cam, how'd you feel out there? Obviously scored a goal and didn't play yesterday. How do you feel for you?
CY: Yeah, first game back in a long time. Obviously, I'm a little rusty. All things considered it was good just to be back there and play hockey again. It's been a long off-season so felt good to be back. Definitely a little rusty.
Do the games at the end of this camp basically get you more motivated?
CY: Definitely. Just to get a taste of game action. Like I said, it's been so long. It feels really good. It's good to get a hard skate out there and get the legs ready for the big guys.
Ian Laperriere said that you still have another gear that you can kick into that we didn’t get to see. How much more do you think you have?
CY: First game back. It's been a while. I feel like the more games I get under my belt, the better I feel out there.
You got a few games in the NHL and kind of a feel of that pro experience. Did it feel different the two days here? Do you feel comfortable now more so in an NHL environment?
CY: Yeah, definitely. It gives you a little bit more confidence. You know what the NHL level was like so you can kind of compare the differences. I felt comfortable out there. [Playing at bit at] the NHL level, it just gives you a bit more confidence in a situation like this.
What do you think you still need to show the coaches?
CY: It sounds weird but be dirty. Don't let guys off the hook. Be as physical as I can. Stuff like that. Guys at the next level are really tough and hard to defend against. I think just being as gritty as I possibly can.
Do you think that’s like a misperception of you just because you're a smaller guy that likes to move with the pocket? Maybe that you're not as tough.
CY: I like to throw the body around when I can. I'm not going to do it every shift and light guys up. You know when the time’s right, I'll definitely be physical.
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