I’m going to tell you right off the bat, today was something special and if you were lucky enough to be there you know exactly what I mean.
The Flyers Training Center in Voorhees was packed. It was standing room only as the 2025 development camp came to a close with a 5-on-5 scrimmage. Any prospect who wasn’t already aware that Philly is one of the great hockey towns got a great introduction to the loyal fanbase this afternoon.
At times you could hear a pin drop. People were so focused on every detail of an inter-squad prospect matchup in the middle of Summer. The Flyers fanbase truly knows and loves the sport. The young group of hopefuls put on a show that had the crowd on it’s feet cheering and banging on the glass by the conclusion of the game.
Intense
If you had to some up todays inter-squad tilt with one word “intense” would work just fine. The stakes are high for these young hockey players. This is a shot at playing in the most elite ice hockey league on the planet. They were not holding back. It was fast paced, physical, every man for himself style hockey.
Flyers Fans
I didn’t request press credentials for todays event. I wanted the full experience. Downstairs, up against the glass, surrounded by the best fanbase in sports. I spent time during the breaks talking to folks and getting their takes on the game and camp in general.
“It’s awesome, awesome. Fast paced, I mean these kids are trying to make the team“. Playing for keeps. “Exactly, it’s almost like playoff style hockey, with all the speed. Even though they are on the same team they’re still playing forceful, checking, using the body, it’s a good time“. – Mike Myers
“Like my dad said, it’s fast paced. I’m impressed, the 1st round picks this year are moving their feet well. The kid Alex Bump is really lighting it up at camp, and he’s showing it out here. It’s exciting for the Flyers“. -Nick Myers
Standouts
Alex Bump really has been lighting it up at camp and he lit the lamp twice during today’s scrimmage as well. There was definitely plenty of buzz about bump amongst the Flyers faithful. Matteo Giampa also netted a goal for Team Jones.
For Team Briere Jack Nesbitt had a pair of goals including the game winner in overtime. Santeri Sulku scored the tying goal with just 37 seconds left and the goaltender pulled. Jack Berglund also scored a goal for the winning team.
You also gotta give credit to the coaching staff for getting these guys ramped up to this level. There was a real competitive enthusiasm to the afternoon that was totally contiguous. The players left it all on the ice and the fans were eating it up. The Flyers drafted for grit and they got it.
There was an odd brother VS brother type of dynamic in place. Everyone wanted to see a Flyer land the killer hit. They wanted to see a Flyers score the big goal or make the great save. Every player was representing the Orange & Black so no matter what happened the whole place cheered.
“It’s exciting, really a lot of big bodies too, real physical for camp, so that’s fun to see“. What do you make of the level of play? “It’s good! It’s good, I really like Bump, Porter Martone is exciting to watch. I like Hunter McDonald too“. – Michael Taylor
It’s not a cop-out at all to say what stood out most in today’s event was the over-all effort, energy, and intensity of this entire class. If this is what is simmering in the pipeline lets hope it boils all the way up to the top. This group of prospects has a collective tenacity that had you leaving the building with a smile on your face and a positive feeling about the future of the Philadelphia Flyers.
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