Photo Credit: The Flyers
Sean Couturier’s presence on the ice is being felt by the youth. He is the first one of the first players on ice at practice, and the last one to leave it. Last night, he was named the 20th Captain in Flyers history by Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere, “Sean Couturier is an ideal choice to be the next leader of the Philadelphia Flyers,” Briere said. “Sean was drafted here and has made Philadelphia his home. I have personally seen his development from a responsible forward to one of the best two-way centerman in the game and a playoff performer. The adversity he has had to overcome has only strengthened his proven leadership. In this New Era of Orange with Dan Hilferty, Keith Jones and John Tortorella at the helm, we couldn’t be more proud to call him captain.”
Couturier finally played in the Flyers home opener for the first time in two years. From there he’s been a leader on and off the ice, teaching youth how to win face off, teaching the youth how to become better pros, teach the youth to become a bit more selfless. That is who he is, a leader. Many players have spoken out in favor of Couturier, while calling him a leader in the same token.
“It’s such a great honor. It’s a really prestigious organization so this makes it even more special. This city is my home and I love it here,” Couturier said. “It’s going to be business as usual for me. Nothing is really going to change from me or my game and how I approach things. I love my teammates, how we have grown as a group and I want to make sure we keep going on the right path here.”
“This city is my home and I love it here.” Flyers’ number one Center Sean Couturier
Couturier has grown a lot over the course of the past few years. He is the embodiment of a leader as he is one of the first players on the ice for practice and one of the last ones off. Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella noticed that and he did say his locker room has grown under the guidance of Couturier. Couturier loves to help others, as he tries to teach his teammates on how to win face offs, and as John Tortorella notes he tries to make people better pro’s.
The 20th Captain in Flyers history stated that he received a text message from Claude Giroux, congratulating him on becoming the 20th Captain in Flyers history. The two were very close during Giroux’s tenure as a Flyer.
Why did Torts choose a Captain and another Alternate Captain?
“I think our room has grown from when we started the year,” Tortorella said. “We subtracted last summer in order to get our room and order. We’ve grown, and I think it’s time that we added to the leadership group.”
Tortorella has said over and over again as the season has worn on that the locker room is more fresh and vibrant this season. He did allude to the fact that that has been one of the biggest changes from last season.
it is evident with the product on the ice. One can sense from watching them that this team loves one another, as they continue to stick up for one another. It should come as no surprise that a captain has been named, and that Travis Konecny has been named as the Alternate Captain, “He leads by example. He’s got an engine on him that doesn’t sto,” Tortorella said of Konecny. “He’s made big plays at big times. I hate to think of where we would be if we didn’t have his energy in the lineup. Where he is at a pro, I think there’s more there.”
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