Quick Hits: August 11, 2018
1) It is rapidly getting to the time of summer when players increasingly start to come to the Skate Zone in Voorhees to prepare for training camp. There's a handful of Flyers and Phantoms players already there, and the numbers will greatly increase ahead of the start of camp.
Duplicating the same routine from last summer that set up his best pro season to date, Flyers defenseman
Shayne Gostisbehere has spent the entire summer working out in Voorhees. Injury-rehabbing Flyers goalies
Brian Elliott and
Michal Neuvirth along with Phantoms goalies Alex Lyon and Anthony Stolarz are there as well, along with Phantoms forwards
Cole Bardreau and
Carsen Twarynski.
James van Riemsdyk also gave the facilities a test drive when he was in town for his "reintroductory" press conference.
An upcoming article on the Flyers official website will look at the behind-the-scenes renovations that made the Flyers' training facility into one of the most state-of-the-art centers across the NHL. Back in March, the Flyers opened the normally off-limits training facilities to the media for a tour. Flyers prospects also make extensive use of the facilities during Development Camp in July and Rookie Camp in September.
2) Second-year left winger
Oskar Lindblom is also slated to return to the area soon. Earlier this summer, he spent two-plus weeks in Voorhees, focusing on skating work with Flyers skating coach
Slava Kouznetsov. Adding just a bit more quickness is the biggest key for Lindblom to translate his SHL and AHL success to the NHL level from the standpoint of getting to the scoring areas a bit more effectively. The two-way game and the offensive instincts are already there.
3) Preseason hockey is underway in Sweden's SHL and minor league Allsvenskan. Flyers defense prospects
Linus Högberg (Växjö Lakers) and
David Bernhardt (Djurgården) were in action over the last two days. Paired on the blueline with former Flyers prospect
Jesper "Pit Bull" Pettersson, Bernhard scored a power play goal in a 3-0 win over minor league club Huddinge. Pettersson also chipped in a goal.
4) Hlinka Gretzky Cup: The tournament championship will be decided on Saturday, as host Canada opposes Sweden (9 p.m. EDT, NHL Network). In the earlier game for third place, Team USA takes on Team Russia (5 p.m. EDT, NHL Network). Both games will be held at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Team Canada defeated Team USA, 6-5 in overtime, in semifinals on Friday night.
2019 Draft-eligible Team USA center
Nicholas Robertson (Peterborough Petes, OHL) tallied a hat trick in a losing cause while 2019-eligible Team Canada right winger
Josh Williams (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL) scored twice for Canada, including the game-winning goal. Top 2020 Draft candidate
Alexis Lafreniere (Rimouski Oceanic, QMJHL) notched a goal and an assist for Canada. Team USA goalie
Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips, WHL) stopped just 28 of 34 shots for an .824 save percentage while Team Canada's
Nolan Maier (Saskatoon Blades, WHL) stopped 34 of 39 shots.
In Friday's other semifinal, Sweden defeated Russia, 2-1.
2019 Draft-eligible Little Crowns goalie
Hugo Alnefelt (HV71 J20, SuperElit), who has stopped 49 of 50 shots in two outings, almost singlehandedly kept the game scoreless through the first period as the Swedes were outshot, 12-2, and to kill three penalties. The Swedes picked up the pace in the second period but the score remained 0-0 until the third period when a power play goal by 2019 Draft-eligible defenseman
Philip Broberg (AIK J20, SuperElit) broke the deadlock. Gifted Russian forward
Vasili Podkolzin (SKA-1946 St. Petersburg, MHL) scored his fifth goal of the tourney to forge a 1-1 tie with 1:54 left in regulation. However, with just 44 ticks left on the clock in regulation, 2019-eligible
Karl Henriksson (Frölunda J20, SuperElit) put the Swedes ahead for good on a chance set up by highly touted 2020 Draft candidate
Lucas Raymond (Frölunda J20).
5) Courier Post Flyers beat writer Dave Isaac
has the rundown of the annual Checking for Charity event taking place this weekend at the Skate Zone locations in Voorhees and Pennsaulken. Among the participants are Flyers 2018 first-round pick
Joel Farabee, Phantoms defenseman
T.J. Brennan, Phantoms rookie forward Twarynski and Northeastern goaltender
Cayden Primeau. For additional information, visit the official
Checking for Charity website.
6) August 11 Flyers Alumni birthday: Two-stint Flyers center
Ken "the Rat" Linseman celebrates his 60th birthday.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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