Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Quick Hits: Sanheim, Reading Royals, Desnoyers, TIFH, Ashbee

May 12, 2022, 7:20 AM ET [215 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Quick Hits: May 12, 2022

1) Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim accepted an invitation from Hockey Canada to play for Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Championships in Finland (May 13 - 29).

A first-time winner of the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers' best defenseman and a second-time winner of the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the team's most improved player, the 26-year-old Sanheim posted 31 points and averaged 22:58 of ice time per game in 2021-22. He tied Ivan Provorov for the team scoring lead among defensemen and ranked second to Provorov's average 24:53 for the most average ice time.

Sanheim can become an unrestricted free agent after next season. The Flyers may try to get an extension done this summer (which would kick in for the 2023-24 season) in order to avoid a situation where they might end up having to trade the player by the next trade deadline.

Sanheim will be the only participating Flyers player in this year's tournament.Russia and Belarus are banned from this year's tournament.

2) ECHL: The Flyers-affiliated Reading Royals have taken a three games to one lead over the Newfoundland Growlers (Toronto Maple Leafs affiiliate) in the North Division Final of the 2022 Kelly Cup playoffs. On Wednesday in Newfoundland, the Royals skated to a 6-5 win in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series.

Flyers defense prospect Mason Millman assisted on a Trevor Gooch power play goal in the third period, which ultimately stood as the game-winning goal. Millman was minus-three at even strength.

The Royals can close out the series in Newfoundland on Thursday. If necessary, the series will move back to Reading for Game 6 on Saturday.

3) QMJHL President Cup Playoffs: Flyers prospect Elliot Desnoyers notched two assists in a losing cause as the Halifax Mooseheads lost to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in triple overtime, 4-3, on Wednesday evening in Halifax. The series is now tied at two games apiece. Game 5 will be in Acadie-Bathurst on Friday evening. Denoyers has compiled eight assists and nine points in the series to date.

4) Today in Flyers History: May 12, 1995

On May 12, 1995, the Flyers grabbed a commanding three games to one lead in their first-round playoff series with the Buffalo Sabres, skating off with a 4-2 road win. Eric Lindros, unable to play in the first three games due to an eye injury, made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut and assisted on goals by Eric Desjardins (power play) and John LeClair. Philly also got goals by Rod Brind'Amour and Brent Fedyk as it built a 4-0 lead. Ron Hextall (25 saves) took a shutout into the third period before yielding tallies to Alexander Mogilny and Pat Lafontaine.

5) May 12 in memoriam: Flyers Hall of Fame defenseman Barry Ashbee (July 28, 1939 – May 12, 1977) passed away on this day in 1977 after a battle with leukemia. Ashbee had been an inspirational leader and NHL All-Star during the team's Stanley Cup championship season in 1973-74 and, after suffering a career ending eye injury in the Stanley Cup semifinals against the New York Rangers, retired to become an assistant coach on Fred Shero's staff. The Flyers repeated as Stanley Cup champions in 1974-75 and made it three straight trips to the Cup Finals in 1975-76.

Join the Discussion: » 215 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Bill Meltzer
» Flyers Gameday: 3/28/24 @ MTL
» Wrap: Flyers Lose 6-5 OT Game to Rangers
» Flyers Gameday: 3/26/24 @ NYR
» Quick Hits: Flyers-FLA Wrap, Flyers Daily, Phantoms, Bigger than Hockey
» Flyers Gameday: 3/24/2024 vs. FLA; Phantoms Update