Charles LeClaire- USA TODAY Sports
With the 2013-14 NHL season fast approaching, hockey fans are getting anxious for their team to get back on the ice. Philadelphia Flyers fans shouldn’t have to wait too long. on Aug. 29, the Flyers announced the roster for their rookie camp, slated to start Sept. 6.
Notable names on the 25-man roster include newcomers Samuel Morin and Tyrell Goulbourne. Both were drafted in the 2013 NHL Draft, with Morin taken at No. 11 and Goulbourne at No. 71. Morin is a big defenseman, with many comparing him to Chris Pronger. Goulbourne, meanwhile, is a gritty, aggressive forward, who isn’t afraid to drop the gloves.
Notable absentee from the roster is Robert Hagg, the Flyers second pick of the draft at No. 41 overall. Hagg is another defenseman, similar in play style to Kimmo Timonen as opposed to Pronger.
Other players that may make splashes in the NHL include forward Scott Laughton, who enjoyed a brief stint with the Flyers last season, 6-foot-5 goaltender Anthony Stolarz and OHL standout Nick Cousins, who tallied 103 points last season.
The camp will take place at the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Vorhees, New Jersey, from Sept. 6-8. The practices will be open to the public. The camp culminates with a Sept. 9 trip to Arlington, Vir., to take on the rookie team for the Washington Capitals.
Many of these players won’t spend time in the NHL this season, but it’s a good chance to see potential stars at the start of their careers. Either way, each practice is another step toward the 2013-14 season, something all fans should be excited about.
Andrew Fitzgerald is a Philadelphia Flyers writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @awfitz. “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
