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Flyers Sign Three Draft Picks

May 30, 2006

The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have signed three recent draft choices to contracts, according to club Assistant General Manager Paul Holmgren. Forwards Frederik Cabana and Steve Downie have each signed a three-year entry-level contract, while defenseman Jussi Timonen has signed a two-year entry-level contract.

"These three players are all athletes that we have drafted over the past few years,” said Holmgren in making the announcement. "Steve Downie was our first round draft pick from last year (2005). We are extremely excited to have him under contract. He has had a whirlwind year with what happened this past year. He got suspended from his team in Windsor and consequently was traded to Peterborough. He was one of the stars for Team Canada in the World Junior Championships where they won the gold medal. He ended up having a tremendous playoff run with Peterborough, making it to the Memorial Cup before losing out there. We think he’s going to be a very good prospect. He still has another year of junior eligibility so he will most likely go back to playing with his junior team. Steve is a hard-nosed, gritty, two-way player who has good skills. He is a lot like Mike Richards as to how he plays the game. He’s a plugger with extremely good hockey sense and ability.

Cabana is a guy who we drafted in 2004 and he has come on nicely. He is another kid that works really hard, knows the game and skates well. He has not put up great numbers in juniors, but he is a good, well-rounded player. He really understands the game and will be a good player in our organization with a chance to develop over the next few years.

Timonen was drafted in 2001. His brother, Kimmo, plays in Nashville and has been a good player in the NHL. Jussi is actually bigger than his brother. He is a good skater and good with the puck. It was time for him to come over here. He was excited when we contacted him and is looking forward to coming over here and getting started. We will see how he can adapt and adjust to the North American game.

They all will be here for Training Camp." [.continue.]

It will be interesting to see how well they do.

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Written by Mike · Filed Under Hockey, Off Ice, Philadelphia Flyers | 2 Comments 

Veronica Varekova on Maxim

May 21, 2006

Petr Nedved's hot wife Veronica Varekova is on this month's cover of Maxim
I guess that is one reason to keep Nedved next season. :)

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Written by Mike · Filed Under Former Flyers, Off Ice, Philadelphia Flyers | 1 Comment 

Primeau Kapanen Gagne Updates

May 21, 2006

More surgery updates, first Captain Keith Primeau.

Keith Primeau on his nose surgery.

Q: You had your nosed operated this morning. How did it go?
Primeau: "Actually it went really well. I was really pleased that I had it done. I have been thinking about it upward of two years because of the pressure I felt from behind my nose. After having it done this morning I felt terrific immediately afterward. After my surgery I felt real relief and I am really looking forward to the recovery the next couple of weeks."

Q: Did this sinus pressure from behind your nose have anything to do with your post concussion symptoms that kept you out last season?
Primeau: "I’m really not sure. There have been a lot of different things. There was obviously head trauma. But this is kind of the final stage in the healing process. It was important that I got it done. As I said, I just felt like because my nose is so off centered, the pressure that I was getting from the muscles was causing some of the lingering effects. I am just hoping this operation rectified that a bit."

Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin talks about Sami Kapanen’s surgery.

Q: Can you tell us about Sami Kapanen?
McCrossin: "Sami underwent surgery today to clean-up his right shoulder. Dr. Peter DeLuca at Hahnemann Hospital performed the surgery. Sami’s bicep tendon was frayed a bit and Dr. DeLuca cleaned it up. Dr. DeLuca also repaired a small tear in his rotator cuff muscle."

Q: What is rehab for Sami?
McCrossin: "I picked up Sami today. He is doing great and he will be starting rehab with me tomorrow. We are looking at about eight-to-10 weeks recovery time."

Simon Gagne on his surgery
Read more

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Written by Mike · Filed Under Hockey, Injuries, Off Ice, Philadelphia Flyers | Leave a Comment 

Flyers Pink Jerseys

April 14, 2006

For the ladies or, umm, anyone else that is interested the Flyers have Pink Jerseys on sale now. I have read the pink jerseys selections include Forsberg, Gagne, Carter, Richards, Niittymaki, Primeau, Handzus, and Knuble versions.

The pink jerseys are on sale at the Wachovia Center Fan Gear stores. The jerseys are $150 and can only be purchased during home Flyers or Sixers games.

It is my understanding that there was interest in these at the Flyers Carnival and the Women’s Hockey 101 event.
This was something I should have written about this past week.

Over 300 female hockey fans attended a free clinic on the basics of the game from Flyers and Phantoms personnel on Monday night at the Sovereign Bank Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey.

Women’s Hockey 101 featured presentations by Flyers TV Color Analyst Steve Coates on the new NHL rules; Flyers Equipment Manager Harry Bricker gave an overview of hockey equipment and Flyers Athletic Trainer and Conditioning Coach Jim McCrossin on importance of nutrition and conditioning in the sport.

Phantoms Head Coach John Stevens and his wife Stacy were also in attendance and spoke on the everyday life of a pro hockey family. Following the presentations, the attendees participated in a fundamentals clinic led by Coates and a locker room tour led by McCrossin.

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Written by Mike · Filed Under Hockey, Off Ice, Philadelphia Flyers | 5 Comments 

Flyers Victory Song

April 14, 2006

The Flyers have introduced their new victory song, “The Orange and Black”, to be played at the Wachovia Center after each home win.

Too bad with the way the Flyers are playing that song might not get played this year.

You can hear the song here.
I heard it on MySpace earlier in the week.

Here are the lyrics.

Wake Up Philadelphia, and let me hear ya sing
The Orange and the Black
The Orange and the Black!

Across the blue line we attack, we are
The Orange and the Black
The Orange and the Black!

Re-load, and shoot again, we are
The Orange and the Black
The Orange and the Black!

And a 1-2-3,
Let the hats to flyin’ for a Flyers victory
And a 4-5-6,
Our bold battalion, may they take us all the way!

Down my family it was passed, we are
The Orange and the Black
The Orange and the Black!

Kick the boards and pound the glass, we are
The Orange and the Black
The Orange and the Black!

And a 1-2-3,
Let the hats to flyin’ for a Flyers victory
And a 4-5-6,
Our bold battalion, may they take us all the way!

Wake Up Philadelphia, and let me hear ya sing
The Orange and the Black
The Orange and the Black!

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Written by Mike · Filed Under Hockey, Off Ice, Philadelphia Flyers | 4 Comments 

Forsberg commercial

April 6, 2006

Peter Forsberg trying to sell bread.
At least I think he is pushing bread, don’t know the Swedish.

Written by Mike · Filed Under Hockey, Off Ice, Philadelphia Flyers, Video | 1 Comment 

Flyers Sign Ryan Potulny to Contract

March 29, 2006

2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist joins Flyers organization

The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have signed 6’0”, 192-pound center Ryan Potulny (poh-TUHL-nee) to a two-year entry-level contract, according to club Assistant General Manager Paul Holmgren.

“We are excited about having Ryan in our organization,” said Holmgren in making the announcement. “If you look at his track record in the USHL and in the WCHA playing for the University of Minnesota, he has always been a point producer. He is more of a goal scorer than a playmaker. He has an exceptional release and an elusiveness, an ability to get open, in the offensive zone. He is one of those guys that has demonstrated at each level that he has played that he can score goals.” [.continue.]

Under the rules of the new CBA Potulny can not currently play for the Phantoms because of his age. So for now he will be skating with the Flyers.
He took part in his first practice Tuesday.
Hitchcock – "As he moves along into next week we’ll take a hard look at him. One day out there, I’ve got to tell you, he looks like a very smart, skilled player."

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Written by Mike · Filed Under Hockey, Off Ice, Philadelphia Flyers | Leave a Comment 

29th Annual Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Carnival

March 27, 2006


The 29th Annual Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Carnival took place yesterday at the Wachovia Center. This is a huge fundraiser the Flyers do every season. Unfortunately there wasn’t one last year with the lock out. About 10,000 fans showed up for the event. Fans got to meet and chat with their favorite players. Pictures, autographs and games were the agenda for the day.
Through money raised at the Flyers Wives Fight For Lives Carnival and through charitable efforts throughout the year, the Comcast-Spectacor Foundation provides donations, random gifts of kindness and player appearances to numerous non-profit groups, organizations and individuals to improve the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia Region. To date, the Comcast-Spectacor Foundation has contributed more than $20 million to various charities.
If you missed the carivnal and would like to donate to the Flyers Wives Charities, you can do so here. The Flyers Wives Charities also has an online auction that is taking place over the remainder of the season.
Here are few photos from the event.


Robert Esche signing an autograph


A whole lot of stuff


Program Front Cover


Forsberg Picture from the Program - Just for Jes GÅ‘lbez


Bernie Parent, Gary Dornhoefer and some clowns.

Thanks to Lady Nic for providing the Fan Picts.
More Carinval pictures can be found here.

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Written by Mike · Filed Under Hockey, Off Ice, Philadelphia Flyers | 1 Comment 

Flyers Sign Denis Gauthier to Three-Year Extension

March 23, 2006


Flyers sign recently acquired Denis Gauthier to a 3 year extension.

Bob Clarke - “When we traded for Denis, we obviously liked him and wanted him on our club. We knew his contract was up at the end of this year and he was going to be unrestricted so we pursued him and we were able to come to a deal. We think he adds a lot to our club. Besides being a solid NHL defenseman he brings a physical part to his game that we felt is necessary for our team.” [.continue.]

Signing Gauthier for three years will mean someone else won’t be back. So right now you have Gautheir, Hatcher, Rathje, Meyers, Jones. Both Meyers and Jones can be sent down to the Phantoms

Pitkanen, Johnsson, Therien and possibly Desjardins will have to be resigned after the season.
Even if you send both Meyers and Jones down you will still only keep three out of the other 4. So who will it be?

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Written by Mike · Filed Under Hockey, Off Ice, Philadelphia Flyers | Leave a Comment 

Neil Little Selected To Phantoms Hall Of Fame

March 23, 2006


Former Philadelphia Phantom Neil Little has been selected for the Philadelphia Phantoms Hall of Fame. Little, one of the original Phantom players was goalie for the first 8 years of the Phantoms existence. He is the only Phantom to play on both Calder Cup champion teams, 96-97, 04-05.
Little only played two games for the Flyers.
He is the third inductee, after Bill Barber and Frank Bialowas.
There will be a pre-game ceremony for Neil Little’s induction on April 7 at the Spectrum when the Phantoms host the Hershey Bears.
He is currently playing hockey in Europe. [.contine.]

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Written by Mike · Filed Under Former Flyers, Hockey, Off Ice, Philadelphia Flyers | Leave a Comment 

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