Flyers, Rangers rookies to meet this weekend
First-round draft picks Tyson Foerster and Oliver Bonk will be among a talented group of 25 prospects on the rookie series roster as the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers play Friday and Saturday night at the PPL Center.
The Flyers rookies and Rangers rookies will play at 7:05 p.m. Friday and 5:05 p.m. Saturday in the second Rookie Series.
The Flyers’ rookie camp begins on Thursday with a practice session at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, New Jersey, before the games in Allentown.
The Flyers’ rookie roster is packed with recent and future players from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as well as some who have played for the Philadelphia Flyers, including first-round picks Foerster (2020) and Bonk (2023).
There are also four players on the rookie team with NHL experience after making their regular-season debuts with the Flyers last season or the year before: Bobby Brink, Elliot Desnoyers, Tyson Foerster, and Adam Ginning.
A number of 18-year-olds are skating for the first time after being drafted earlier this year, including defenseman Bonk, goaltender Carson Bjarnason (2nd round), Denver Barkey (3rd round), Alex Ciernik (4th round), Carter Sotheran (5th round), and Matteo Mann (7th round).
There are 11 players on the roster who skated for the Phantoms last season or the year before: Emil Andrae, Bobby Brink, Elliot Desnoyers, Tyson Foerster, Brendan Furry, Adam Ginning, Nolan Maier, Mason Millman, Samu Tuomaala, Zayde Wisdom, and Will Zmolek.
The Flyers are 10-3-2 all-time in rookie games including 2-0-1 at PPL Center.
This weekend marks the eighth time that PPL Center has hosted the NHL. The Flyers are 5-0-2 all-time in Allentown in previous preseason and rookie games. Flyers Rookie Series Roster
Forwards (2022-23Team) 85J.R. Avon (Peterborough – OHL) 52Denver Barkey (London – OHL) 46Bobby Brink (Lehigh Valley) 38Matt Brown (Boston Univ. – NCAA) 45Alex Ciernik (Sodertalje – Allsvenskan/Sweden) 73Elliot Desnoyers (PHILADELPHIA / Lehigh Valley) 87Jonathan Fauchon (Blainville-Boisbriand – QMJHL) 71Tyson Foerster (PHILADELPHIA / Lehigh Valley) 91Brendan Furry (Minn. State NCAA / Lehigh Valley) 78Jacob Gaucher (Reading – ECHL) 92Alexis Gendron (Gatineau / Blainville-Boisbriand – QMJHL) 56Samu Tuomaala (Kettera Imatra – Mestis, Finland) 60Zayde Wisdom (Lehigh Valley / Reading – ECHL)
Defensemen (2022-23Team)
36Emil Andrae (Lehigh Valley / HV71, Sweden) 59Oliver Bonk (London – OHL) 50Adam
Ginning (PHILADELPHIA / Lehigh Valley) 3 Helge Grans (Ontario, Cal. – AHL) 76Matteo Mann (Chicoutimi – QMJHL) 63Mason Millman (Lehigh Valley / Reading – ECHL) 75Ethan Samson (Prince George – WHL) 67Sam Sedley (Owen – OHL) 65Carter Sotheran (Portland – WHL) 80Will Zmolek (Lehigh Valley / Bemidji St. – NCAA)
Goaltenders (2022-23Team)
34Carson Bjarnason (Brandon – WHL) 35Nolan Maier (Lehigh Valley / Reading – ECHL)
Tickets for the games are available at PPLCenter.com