Flyer’s rookies show stuff

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The first hockey of the new season was played at the Wells Fargo Center, Thursday evening, as the rookies of the Flyers and Capitals organization battled it out. The Flyers rookies came out on top, 3-2, thanks to the play of a few of their young stars. It wasn’t the cleanest hockey to hit the ice, but there were a few stand-outs among the rookies. Tyler Brown, the 21-year-old forward, got the Flyers on the board, with an amazing goal off of a feed at center ice. His speed and moves proved too much for a Caps defender and their goaltender, as he tied up the score with a huge goal. Brown, at 6’2” and 184-pounds, hasn’t seen much press, but Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said he was one guy that seems to be shining through the first stages of training camp. He’s likely a year to two from the Flyers, but if injuries occur, he could see a call-up. Another player who stood out, was the recently signed, Blake Kessel, who finished the game with a goal and an assist. Kessel, a 6’4” 210-pound defenseman, is 22, and the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leaf forward Phil Kessel. He was drafted in the sixth round by the NY Islanders, and has spent the past three seasons playing for the University of New Hampshire. Since being dropped by the Isles, he’s chosen to leave the collegiate level to turn pro, and signed a two year contract with the Flyers, paying him $925,000 a season. He’ll begin the season with the Phantoms, and Holmgren believes the young defenseman is at least a couple of years away from the NHL. However, he showed a great offensive up-side, and his size makes him a great addition to the Flyers defensive depth chart. As goaltending isn’t much of a concern for the Flyers, since Ilya Bryzgalov was signed, and the team is deep at that position, goaltending was one position that wasn’t under scrutiny at the rookie game. However, the backup goalie on the night, Michael Houser, proved to be a remarkable puck stopper. Brad Phillips started the night for the Flyers, stopping 13 of 14 shots faced, and Houser came on in relief half way through, as had been decided before the game to give each goalie a chance to play. Houser stopped 11 of 12 shots faced, and looked great in keeping the Flyers on top in the closing moments, as the Caps rookies hit him with a barrage of shots with a man-advantage. He was good enough to incite the crowd to chant, “Doogie,” a reference to the show, “Doogie Howser M.D.” After the game when asked about it, the young netminder, said he’d been called the nickname before. The 19-year-old will likely be returning to his junior team, the London Knights, for the next season, but will possible be seen again next season. It wouldn’t be much of a rookie review if neither of the two stars were touched on. Braydon Schenn didn’t show up on the score sheet, but he looked crisp and effective in all of his action around the ice. He was used in all situations, even strength, powerplay, and penalty kill, and after the game said, he’d been focusing more on the defensive side of the puck, which would be consistent with how the team views him as a two-way centerman to take over the roll left by Mike Richards. Sean Couturier, the number eight overall pick, in this season’s draft, played the wing along-side Schenn, and although he got an assist on the night, he looked slow of foot, and not nearly as explosive as a top draft pick should look. He played hard in the corner, and helped the team, but wasn’t nearly as gifted as was previously stated. It’s hard to say this early in training camp, but so far he hasn’t impressed, and will more than likely be returning to his junior team for another season of development. As for what the game means, it was a rookie game for the Flyer’s organization to see their youngest members perform in game action. Of the youngsters who hit the ice, aside from Schenn and Couturier, only a handful of them have a hope of seeing time with the Flyers, and even then it won’t be for another two to three seasons. Contact Chuck.Tay@prohockeynews.com Photographer Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com