Chris Zarb

A Prospect’s Tale: Chris Zarb

When a hockey player is drafted by a pro team, it opens countless doors and presents endless possibilities. Sometimes, a player’s dreams come true, and he makes the big club and has a successful career. Other times, players remain in the minor leagues for the duration of their careers, never reaching the highest pinnacle of their dreams. Chris Zarb didn’t consider himself “on the map” until he went to play for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. It was there that he developed immensely, under coach Bliss Littler and defensive coach Tom Rudrud. Leading up to the 2004 NHL Entry …

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Then and Now: Denis Tolpeko

Denis Tolpeko spent two seasons in the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization, as he endured the majority of his time during the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons with the Philadelphia Phantoms. However, the undrafted Russian left winger enjoyed 26 games with the Orange and Black during the 2007-2008 campaign in which his lone goal in the NHL came at a crucial point in a game against one of the best goaltenders in the league. After he posted 11 goals and 19 helpers in 58 games for the Phantoms during the season of 2006-2007, Tolpeko tasted his first NHL action on October 4, 2007, …

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Then and Now: Jared Ross

Jared Ross may not be a name every Philadelphia Flyers’ fan remembers for his performance on the ice or his activity off the ice, but many will remember where Ross was born and raised. Several NHL players have been born in the United States of America, but Ross became the first player born in Alabama to play in the National Hockey League, as he comes from the city of Huntsville. Since his time in Philadelphia, this Southerner has played for two different clubs and has posted almost a point-per-game average. Going undrafted out of the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Ross joined the …

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Then and Now: Mark Greig

Drafted in 1990 by the Hartford Whalers, Mark Greig played for 10 different teams in three different leagues over eight seasons before he found his way to the Philadelphia Flyers. Signed as a free agent in July of 1998, Greig took part in seven games for the Flyers during the 1998-1999 regular season and 67 games for the Philadelphia Phantoms. With a goal and three assists for the Orange and Black, the right winger finished third on the team with 46 points and fourth on the team with 69 points. Greig suited up for both the Flyers and the Phantoms …

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Then and Now: Kyle Greentree

Kyle Greentree has played in 373 AHL games, but has only taken part in four NHL games. Two of his four games in the NHL were with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2007-2008 season. Although he has yet to register a point in the NHL, Greentree has four 20-goal seasons in the AHL. After his third season at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Greentree joined the Philadelphia Phantoms for the end of the 2006-07 season. The left winger deposited two goals in eight games, as he scored in back-to-back contests. Greentree’s presence on the team didn’t matter much, as Philadelphia …

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Then and Now: Josh Gratton

Tim Ramholt never played a game for the Philadelphia Flyers. In fact, the only NHL game Ramholt ever took part in was as a member of the Calgary Flames in the club’s  4-1 defeat to the Anaheim Ducks on November 29, 2007. In the 2008-09 season, Ramholt was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization, taking part in seven games for the Philadelphia Phantoms before being shipped to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Chris Gratton’s cousin, winger Josh Gratton. Potting two goals and three assists in seven contests to start that season with the Milwaukee Admirals, Gratton split time between …

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Then and Now: Niko Dimitrakos

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 …

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Then and Now: Matt Ellison

In the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Philadelphia Flyers in six games for their first title in 49 years. The team from The Second City had nine players record at least 10 points in their 22-game playoff run. One of those players was forward Patrick Sharp, who tied Dustin Byfuglien for a team-high 11 goals and finished third in points behind Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Sharp used to be a member of the Philadelphia Flyers until December of 2005, when he and Eric Meloche were traded to the Blackhawks for Matt Ellison and …

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Minor League Update: 3/26-4/1

With six games remaining in their schedule, the Phantoms did enough this week to stay within striking distance of the eigth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Four points behind the Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings’ AHL affiliate) with a game in hand, Adirondack has a chance to gain the final spot for the postseason, which will surely result in being swept by the Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay Lightning’s AHL affiliate). Since they play a total of three games this week against two teams currently out of the playoff scenario, the Phantoms can easily gain ground towards a …

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Minor League Update: 3/19-3/25

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 …

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