Patrick Burke (left), Rick Mercer of the CBC (center), and Brendan Burke (right), marching in the Toronto Pride Parade on Sunday, July 1.

You Can Play: Three small words, one monumental message

By Kim Pollock
Posted on 07/06/2012 at 12:00 pm

This past Sunday, when most hockey GMs were poring over endless notes and taking phone call after phone call regarding potential free agent signings, Toronto’s Brian Burke marched in the Toronto Pride Parade in honor of his late son, Brendan. Brendan’s brother, Patrick, a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, marched with his father and other family members, alongside members of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). Brendan was the first person who was associated with the hockey world as being openly gay. He was the student manager of the University of Miami hockey team, and had a …

Then and Now: Niko Dimitrakos

By Craig F
Posted on 06/13/2012 at 9:00 am

Before suffering a groin injury in the middle of February this season, Tom Sestito had played in 14 games for the Philadelphia Flyers posting an assist and 83 PIMs. The Orange and Black obtained Sestito in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets in February of 2011, where the Flyers shipped Greg Moore and Michael Chaput to Ohio in exchange for the hulking forward. Columbus was able to draft Sestito with the third-round pick they acquired in a draft-day deal with the San Jose Sharks in 2004, which sent a fourth-rounder in 2006 and a second-rounder in 2007 San Jose’s …

Flyers West Update: Carter Comes Alive

By Kim Pollock
Posted on 05/17/2012 at 12:00 pm

Before the Kings traded Jack Johnson and a conditional first-round pick to the Blue Jackets back in February, they were the lowest goal-scoring team in the league. They needed a proven scorer, and they also needed someone who could provide depth. Enter Jeff Carter, apparently now the jewel in the crown. Despite Carter’s impressive regular season numbers — he led the Flyers in goals his last three seasons with the team and has had four 25-plus goal seasons in the NHL — his playoff performance has always been questioned. In Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, Carter made a …

Then and Now: Mike York

By Craig F
Posted on 05/16/2012 at 9:00 am

In his first few weeks as General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, Paul Holmgren made a handful of trades in an attempt to pull Philly out of last place in the NHL. With the Orange and Black in the midst of a seven-game losing streak to drop to a record of 8-21-4, Holmgren pulled the trigger on his fourth deal in office. After he acquired Darren Reid, Todd Fedoruk, and Alexei Zhitnik in separate deals, Holmgren grabbed Mike York from the New York Islanders in exchange for Randy Robitaille and a fifth-round pick in the 2008 NHL draft. The Isles chose Matt Martin with the …

Minor League Update: 4/9-4/16

By Craig F
Posted on 04/16/2012 at 9:00 am

The Adirondack Phantoms finished 10th in the Eastern Conference for the 2011-2012 regular season, as the club missed a playoff berth by five points. As they headed into the final week of the campaign with an outside chance to make the postseason, the Phantoms dropped two of their final three tilts to miss an opportunity to win the Calder Cup. On Friday night, the Phantoms traveled to the MassMutual Center and lost 4-2 to the Springfield Falcons (Columbus Blue Jackets). Wade MacLeod potted two goals in the midst of the Falcons’ three-goal third period including the game-winner at the 12:33 …

Atlantic Watch: 4/4-4/10

By Craig F
Posted on 04/11/2012 at 9:00 am

The Flyers finished their 2011-12 regular season with a pair of games that didn’t have any kind of effect on the standings, as they beat the Buffalo Sabres and lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s those same Penguins that the Flyers will play in the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, which starts tonight. Philly’s final home game of the regular season was also their final win, as they beat the visiting Sabres 2-1 on Thursday night. Ville Leino may have had a disappointing year, but he recorded his eighth of the year and second against the Flyers in the second period …

Image Courtesy of Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images

Atlantic Watch: 3/28-4/3

By Craig F
Posted on 04/04/2012 at 9:13 am

In their four-game schedule this week, the Flyers posted a record of 2-1-1 and picked up what might be there most intense victory of the 2011-2012 regular season with their win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. It’s those same Pens that the Flyers trail by three points for fourth in the conference and the chance for home-ice advantage in the clubs’ first-round playoff series. The Orange and Black still have a shot for fourth, but they’ll need to beat a team fighting for their playoff lives along with the Pens this week. The Broad Street Bullies started off the week with …

Penguins Get Calls, Flyers Win 6-4 In Pitt

By Craig F
Posted on 04/01/2012 at 4:58 pm

In a game of importance for home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, the Philadelphia Flyers walked into Pittsburgh today and left with a 6-4 victory. “We haven’t talked about home-ice or the Rangers, or the Penguins or the Senators. We talked about the two points. That’s really all we can control right now,” said Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette. “Eventually we’ll either have home-ice or we won’t.” Not only did they move to within one point of the Pens in the standings, the visitors overcame numerous non-calls from the officials and drew an end-of-the-game line brawl and hissy …

Image Courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Atlantic Watch: 3/21-3/27

By Craig F
Posted on 03/28/2012 at 10:08 am

In their three home games this week, the Flyers were able to clinch a playoff spot with a pair of wins over teams currently sitting outside the postseason scenario. Unfortunately, Ilya Bryzgalov suffered a chip fracture in his right foot. Hopefully for Philly, Bryzgalov will be back by the end of next week when the club takes on the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers as part of their four-game schedule over the next few days. On Thursday, the Orange and Black earned two points against the Washington Capitals with a 2-1 shootout win at the Wells Fargo Center. Wayne Simmonds potted …

Minor League Update: 3/19-3/25

By Craig F
Posted on 03/26/2012 at 9:00 am

In response to their three-game losing streak last week, the Adirondack Phantoms came out and won all three of their contests this week. After they allowed one goal in their first two wins, the Phantoms allowed four goals last night, but were able to come up with a one-goal win against a team they have struggled against all year. Although the Phantoms only moved up to 11th place in the standings, they are now four points behind the Syracuse Crunch (Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate) for eighth in the Eastern Conference. Jason Akeson’s 11th goal of the season was all Michael …

READ:«1 2 3 456 7 8 »