Photo Credit: Elite Prospects
On a beautiful Sunday, afternoon on July 2, 2023, Alexander Tertyshny sat at a podium answering questions from the Flyers media. It was a surreal moment not only for him, but more importantly his family, as he is the son of the late Dmitri Tertyshny, ““It’s really special. It means a lot to me. And it means a lot to my family and my mom,” Tertyshny said of being a Flyers Developmental Camp.
Dmitri Tertyshny went on a boating trip with friends in a summer skating camp in British Columbia and never returned on July 23, 1999. There was a high wave and Tertyshny went overboard and into water with his head hitting a propeller, “The thing about my dad was that his character was very strong,” Tertyshny said. “That’s what got him through his career. During training camp, I’m pretty sure when he arrived, he was pretty much ticketed for the Phantoms. But my mom was there and supported him and he was pretty set on his goal of playing for the Flyers.”
“So I just want to tackle adversity the way he did and I just want to be a person he can be proud of.” Tertyshny continued.
Now Alexander, 23, is trying to walk on the Flyers, and have a shot at making the team. He said being at developmental Camp is valuable for his hockey career, “I wish I did. I wish I did,” Tertyshny said. “The Flyers organization is classy and I am sure they would have helped me. Growing up, it was tough for my mom. Playing ice hockey is expensive, and it’s getting worse, actually. But she did everything she could to support me and make sure I could follow my dreams and kind of follow my father’s footsteps.”
He has built a personal connection with Flyers’ Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr, and former players with Dmitri in Keith Jones and John LeClair. Tertyshny will be attending Stone Hill College for the 2023-24 NCAA season, as he stands at 6’0 and is a Right-Handed defenseman. His game continues to evolve, and so does Tertyshny, even with his mom pushing through some health ailments, “She is dealing with some health stuff, but she is continuing to push through. She’s the strongest woman I have ever met, so this was super, super special for her,” Tertyshny said.
