Hockey is back!!!! The Philadelphia Flyers have reassembled, returning home to the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ from all different parts of the world; to pick up where they left off before the stoppage of play.
This Playoff Training Camp will be important for a multitude of reasons. It will help get the Flyers regulars back in shape for what hopes to be a long playoff run. But, it will also be a great learning experience for others. With the Flyers bringing in a number of talented prospects to camp, as well from the AHL and Juniors with the likes of Morgan Frost, Carsen Twarynski, Egor Zamula, the newly resigned Mark Friedman, and goaltender Kirill Ustimenko. Doing so to provide a chance to compete in drills alongside some of the best in the business, giving these young guns a chance to learn from the veteran players and show Head Coach Alain Vigneault just how much they have progressed since the start of the season.
These players should take this audition very seriously seeing that everyone has been off for an extended period of time there will likely be injuries that will occur. Possibly giving these prospects the shot they need to prove themselves on the highest stage (one that every kid growing up dreams of) getting a chance to hoist the Stanley Cup.
Center Morgan Frost the Flyers 2017 1st round pick got the chance to play in 20 games this season in the NHL, recording two goals and five assists in the process. Although, he looked to be in the right position most of the time while out on the ice for the Flyers showing off his great speed and defensive abilities he was largely skate bitten most of the year unable to capitalize on most of his chances. Once sent down to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms the Flyers American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Frost took advantage of the increased ice time and began to regain his confidence and point production. Scoring 13 goals and 16 assist in 41 games played with the Phantoms.
22-year-old winger Carsen Twarynski the Flyers 2016 3rd round pick made the Flyers opening night roster out of camp this season. Getting to play with the big club for 15 games this season before getting sent down to the AHL. Carsen showed tremendous hustle while up with Flyers; generating a lot of good energy for the fourth line. Twarynski’s determination and strong work ethic should earn him another shot in the NHL sooner rather than later.
Defenseman Mark Friedman who is now 24-years-old showed a lot in the little time he spent with the Flyers this season, only getting a chance to play in six games in the NHL this season so far. In that time though Friedman was able to showcase enough of that mistake free style of hockey that he’s known for to earn him a new two year one way contract worth $725,000 with the Flyers starting next season. Friedman’s new deal most certainly shuts the door on any chance of defenseman Justin Braun returning next season.
The one guy that is sure to get a long look from every one of the Flyers top brass is 20-year-old 6’3 defenseman Yegor Zamula. This former undrafted free agent has done nothing but impress since signing with the Flyers. Zamula averaged a point per game this season in the Western Hockey League playing for the Calgary Hitmen (Before his season was halted due to back surgery). Yegor didn’t stop there though; Zamula was able to play at an extremely high level while representing his home country of Russia at the World Junior Championships, standing out as one of the best players in the tournament where he earned a silver medal for his efforts.
Goaltender Kirill Ustimenko the Flyers 21-year-old 2017 3rd round pick got a camp invitee due to his great showing in thirty one games for the Flyers East Coast Hockey League affiliate the Reading Royals this season. Fans flocked to Reading packing the stands in the Santander Arena like never before to watch this young Russian dominate in his first season state side. Ustimenko did so well that Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher made a trade deadline move sending then Phantoms goalie Jean-Francois Berube packing in order to make room for Kirill to be called up to Lehigh Valley, where Ustimenko only got a chance to play in five games before the COVID stoppage in play occurred.
All of these talented young prospects did enough this season to get a call to attend this never before perceived Playoff mini camp. Now they will have to try and soak up as much knowledge as they can while there and continue to work harder than anyone else on the ice to prove to Chuck Fletcher and Alain Vigneault that they did not make the wrong decision calling on them to attend the camp, and are in fact deserving of a shot to help their team at winning the Stanley Cup.
