Then and Now: R.J. Umberger

By Craig F
Posted on 05/15/2013 at 11:00 am

R.J. Umberger may have been born in Pittsburgh, but some of his best memories so far in the NHL have come with the franchise located on the other side of the state. Although his first NHL game came with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2005-06 season, Umberger was a member of two other NHL organizations before he made his way to Philly. The skater was picked 16th overall in the 2001 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, as he was the first American forward to be selected. Mike Komisarek was the first American picked by the Montreal Canadiens with the …

Image courtesy of forsytheandtheflyers.blogspot.com

Then and Now: Randy Jones

By Craig F
Posted on 05/01/2013 at 11:00 am

Randy Jones joined the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization for the 2003-2004 campaign. After he totaled 53 points in 68 games with Clarkson University over the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons, Jones participated in a combined 60 games with the Flyers and the Philadelphia Phantoms in the season before the lost year of 2004-2005. Jones played in just five games with the Flyers during the 2003-2004 season, as he failed to record a point and was plus-1 in his stretch with the Orange and Black. He suited up in five games from March 6th to March 27th, as Philly went 2-3-0 when …

Former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymaki announced his retirement from professional hockey today. Photo courtesy of NHL.com

Former Flyers G Niittymaki calls it quits

By Russ Hryvnak
Posted on 04/13/2013 at 10:00 am

After a National Hockey League career that included 234 games played, former Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymaki officially retired from the sport on Friday. Niittymaki played seven seasons in the NHL including his first five (2003-04; 2005-09) in Philadelphia. He retired with a record of 95-86-31, five shutouts, a save percentage of .902 and a goals-against average of 2.95. The 32-year-old goalie was plucked in the 1998 draft by Philadelphia in the sixth round (168th overall). After leaving the Flyers, Niittymaki played in Tampa Bay and San Jose and after playing the 2011-12 season in the American Hockey League for Worcester …

The Gagarin Cup Playoffs: KHL Postseason Starts Today

By Craig F
Posted on 02/20/2013 at 3:17 pm

The KHL playoffs start today, as 16 of the league’s 26 clubs compete for the Gagarin Cup. Since the NHL and KHL are huge competitors, it’s interesting to look at the players on the current KHL playoff teams to see just how many are former Philadelphia Flyers or NHLers. On top of that, some clubs’ prospects are in the 16-team field. It’s also worth noting some of the teams that received help from current NHL players who played a good chunk of the season with a certain KHL season before the lockout concluded. With that being said, here are the previews …

Phantoms announce additional season in Glens Falls

By Casey Lumbra
Posted on 01/04/2013 at 4:40 pm

Due to the delays in constructing the new Allentown, PA arena, the Phantoms were virtually homeless for the 2013-14 season. That changed today when the Phantoms and the city of Glens Falls made a joint announcement that they have come to an agreement for the Phantoms to play one more season at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Despite the fans being loyal to what ever team is playing in Glens Falls at the time, there was immediate concern that another season of Phantoms hockey would impede the search for another team. The co-owners of the Phantoms, Rob and Jim Brooks, …

Then and Now: Nolan Baumgartner

By Craig F
Posted on 01/02/2013 at 9:00 am

After the New York Islanders picked Brett Lindros ninth overall in the 1994 NHL Draft, the Washington Capitals selected defenseman Nolan Baumgartner. The four players picked after the Canadian d-man were former San Jose Shark and New Jersey Devil Jeff Friesen, Wade Belak, Mattias Ohlund, and Ethan Moreau. All four of those players turned out to play more seasons in the NHL than Baumgartner, who totaled 10 years at hockey’s highest level. Baumgartner suited up for the Caps, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, and the Pittsburgh Penguins before he became a member of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2006. The blue liner signed …

Then and Now: Lars Jonsson

By Craig F
Posted on 12/19/2012 at 9:00 am

The first six picks in the 2000 NHL Draft were players who played several years in the league and enjoyed either popularity or notoriety. The group of Rick DiPietro, Dany Heatley, Marian Gaborik, Rostislav Klesla, Raffi Torres, and Scott Hartnell are recognizable names across the NHL for several reasons. With the seventh overall pick in 2000, however, the Boston Bruins selected defenseman Lars Jonsson, who only played in eight NHL games. The blue liner played all his games in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, as he never suited up for the team that drafted him. Jonsson appeared in a string …

Then and Now: Jon Sim

By Craig F
Posted on 12/12/2012 at 9:00 am

Jon Sim became a member of the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization during the 2004-2005 season, when he became a member of the Philadelphia Phantoms in exchange for Peter White. After he played in 10 games alongside Keith Ballard, Kiel McLeod, and Fredrik Sjostrom for the Utah Grizzlies in their final season in the American Hockey League, Sim joined the 2005 Calder Cup winners for the final 63 regular season games of the title year. He recorded the second-most points for the Phantoms with 35 goals and 26 assists for 61 points, four shy of R.J. Umberger’s total. The difference was Umberger …

Trenton Update: 11/30-12/6

By Craig F
Posted on 12/07/2012 at 9:00 am

Despite the fact that the Trenton Titans allowed 12 goals in their pair of games this past weekend against the Elmira Jackals — the Ottawa Senators’ affiliate — the Titans managed to split the series at the Sun National Bank Center. Trenton’s record improved to 2-2-0 against the Jackals this season and 8-10-1 for the 2012-2013 campaign. The Titans look to move up in the standings with two contests this weekend in Charleston against the South Carolina Stingrays. The madness began when Trenton edged out the Jackals on Saturday with a 7-6 shootout win. Niko Hovinen was pulled after the …

Then and Now: David Laliberte

By Craig F
Posted on 11/28/2012 at 9:00 am

Ryan Callahan has played five seasons with the New York Rangers. Before the start of the 2011-2012 NHL campaign, Callahan was named the Rangers’ captain, an honor he holds at the moment as well. His first season as captain of New York was also his first 50-point year in the NHL, as he was just one goal shy of the 30-goal plateau. Not bad for a right winger who was picked 127th overall in the fourth round of the 2004 NHL Draft. The last right winger selected before Callahan came just three picks earlier, as the Philadelphia Flyers chose David …

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