Glens Falls, NY – Today the Adirondack Phantoms, in collaboration with their NHL Affiliate Philadelphia Flyers, proudly announce that Joe Paterson has been hired as the team’s Head Coach. Paterson returns behind the bench after taking over the coaching duties on an interim basis on December 20th of last season. His record of 25-16-2-6 was near the top in the AHL during that period of time. “It goes without saying; we were pleased with the results of the hockey team as the season progressed. Joe was able to pass on his passion and knowledge of the game to the players …
Winnipeg-O-Meter
For the first time since the Jets left Winnipeg following the 1995-96 season, NHL hockey is closer than ever to returning to the capital of Manitoba. With Phoenix already ruled out for a return to its Great North roots, it appears that the Atlanta Thrashers are the most likely franchise to relocate at the moment. On Monday, the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Winnipeg Free Press combined to provide a brief glimpse into the wheels currently in motion to get a franchise back into the Canadian Prairies. The AJC reported that Atlanta Spirit, the group which owns the Atlanta Thrashers as well …
Carcillo suspended for off-ice incident
File this one under WTF…the National Hockey League issued a two-game suspension for Flyers forward Dan Carcillo for actions between periods in Philly’s season-ending Game 4. Here’s the official release from the NHL: “Philadelphia Flyers’ forward Daniel Carcillo has been suspended for the period covering two regular season games, without pay, for his actions off the ice following the first period of Game #4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Bruins on May 6, the National Hockey League announced today. National Hockey League Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy reached the decision following a hearing into …
Report: Flyers-Rangers Winter Classic in Philly to happen on January 2
Courtesy of NHL.com Multiple media reports in Philadelphia, New York and Canada are reporting the Philadelphia Flyers will host the New York Rangers in the 2012 NHL Winter Classic. According to the reports, the game will be played Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. If the reports are accurate, it would be the first time the game has been played on a day other than Jan. 1. However, New Year’s Day next year falls on a Sunday. If the NFL plays this season — that league currently has locked out its players …
Happy Chelios Revenge Day!
Hard to believe it was 22 years ago today that Ron Hextall really lost it for the first time in his career. Unlike his slash across the back of Kent Nilsson’s legs in Game 4 of the ’87 Finals against Edmonton that was a spur-of-the-moment brain cramp, Hextall’s attack on Montreal Canadiens defenseman Chris Chelios in the waning moments of Game 6 in the 1989 Wales Conference Finals was payback for a specific incident earlier in the series. In Game 1 at Montreal, in the second period, Chelios unloads onto Flyers forward Brian Propp: Even though we’ve been desensitized to …
Pronger to have another surgery
The Philadelphia Flyers announced this afternoon that defenseman Chris Pronger will have back surgery. The procedure, which is called a discectomy, will take place on Thursday in New York by Dr. Frank Cammisa at the Hospital for Special Surgery. A discectomy aims to remove any material in a herniated disc that presses on a nerve root or the spinal cord, by cutting out the middle portion of an intervertebral disc which causes pain by putting stress on the spinal cord or radiating nerves. It will be the fourth surgery in a calendar year for the veteran rearguard. Pronger’s most recent …
Flyers’ offseason surgery roster revealed
No less than eight Flyers, including captain Mike Richards, have at least the possibility of surgery if not the spectre of actual repairs, looming in the offseason, according to club general manager Paul Holmgren. Holmgren revealed the news during his end-of-season news conference and said Richards, who has been bothered by a wrist injury since training camp, will need to have surgery done. Holmgren also revealed that four additional players will have a date with the surgeon’s table: defenseman Andrej Meszaros (wrist); forwards Kris Versteeg (stomach muscle) and Blair Betts (finger) along with goaltender Michael Leighton (hip). Forwards Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell will be evaluated further to see if …
Mothers and Zebras
Admit it. There are times in the heat of the battle played out in front of your eyes while in the stands or on the couch, you’ve called one or more officials some word that begins with “Mother…” You’re convinced the dudes in the stripes, and in particular the pair with the orange armbands, are conspiring against your favorite team. But what about their side? The recently-retired Kerry Fraser is doing an occasional series over at TSN.ca focusing on the wheres and whys of the NHL referee. He has a new one up today, and as a public service, Flyers …
Counterpunches, Part II
The second — and regrettably, last – in what was planned to be an occasional series, in which Flyers Faithful scans the papers of the opposition to see how they’re portraying events. We make no assurance of journalistic integrity here. From the venerable Bob Ryan, columnist for the Boston Globe, Saturday morning: “Round 2 is over. With last night’s convincing 5-1 triumph before 17,565 enraptured followers at TD Garden, the Bruins swept the Philadelphia Flyers out of the NHL playoffs. Revenge is theirs. Retribution is theirs. Peace of mind is theirs.” Hold on a minute there, Buster…er…Bob. While no one can dispute …
Burn After Viewing
One of the best assets of the day-to-day living of an NHL player or coach, especially when the pressure is on, is the ability to play a game and then forget the outcome. Hopefully, there are 20-some Flyers who possess that trait, in the wake of Saturday’s 7-3 drubbing at the hands of Boston on home ice. Losses of this magnitude are maddening, if not historical. It was the first time the Bruins put up seven goals since Game 5 of their 1988 Wales Conference Final against New Jersey, and the first time the Orange and Black surrendered that many …