We continue our weekly check-in on the Flyers’ prospects currently playing in the AHL, overseas or at the junior and college levels.
In this report, we’ll start with a goalie who made his season debut for Lehigh Valley over the weekend:
Anthony Stolarz, G, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
The 6-foot-6 netminder, who is serving as the Phantoms' backup behind veteran Jason LaBarbera, was strong in his first start of the season on Friday. He turned aside 19 of the 20 shots fired his way to help Lehigh Valley to a comfortable 4-1 win over the Springfield Falcons. He had no chance on the only shot that passed him, which deflected off a Phantoms stick before bouncing across the goal line. Stolarz went 9-13-4 with a .905 save percentage and 3.28 goals-against average in 31 games last season, his first as a professional. The Flyers, who selected him in the second round back in 2012, would like to see Stolarz take the next step in his development and seize a starting role in the minors. We'll be keeping a watchful eye on the 21-year-old.
Travis Konecny, C/RW, Ottawa 67's
This guy is a magician. Konecny assisted eight goals in three outings for Ottawa last week and now has an eye-popping 13 helpers during a six-game point streak. The 18-year-old captain of the 67's is simply electrifying with the puck on his tape. He's got future playmaker written all over him.
Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon Wheat Kings
Provorov is constantly showing why the Flyers were quick to nab him with the seventh-overall pick in this past summer's draft. The smooth-skating defenseman is known to put up impressive numbers, which he has, but is also doing a spectacular job in his own end. He recorded a pair of assists and was a plus-6 in Brandon's two victories last week and now has a team-best 12 helpers and plus-19 rating through nine games.
Travis Sanheim, D, Calgary Hitmen
Even with Sunday's 5-1 win over Regina, last week is one Sanheim and Calgary would like to forget. The Hitmen were blown out by Moose Jaw, 10-2, on Thursday and followed up that massacre with a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Medicine Hat on Saturday. Sanheim, a first-round pick in 2014, was a combined minus-4 in those games but responded nicely against the Pats with three assists and six shots on goal. Fellow Flyers prospect Radel Fazleev had a goal and two assists in that victory, as well.
Oskar Lindblom, LW/RW, Sweden Brynäs IF
The 19-year-old Swede is coming along nicely. He’s currently skating on the top line for Brynäs IF with high-scoring forwards Anton Rodin and Greg Scott and earned three assists in two games last week. Lindblom, a fifth-round pick in 2014, is making the most of his near 16 minutes of ice time per game, too. He has eight points (one goal), 21 shots, six hits and four blocks in 10 games this season.
NHL
Cooper Marody, C/RW, University of Michigan Wolverines
The 2015 sixth-round pick was a standout in Michigan's season-opening 6-4 victory over Mercyhurst on Friday. Marody, who played center on the third line, finished the game with a goal on five shots and added an assist in his collegiate debut. The Wolverines handed the Lakers another loss on Sunday, but Marody didn't factor in on any of his team's three goals. He was active again, however, firing three shots on goal. Solid start for the 18-year-old.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel, C/RW, Val-d'Or Foreurs
The 19-year-old entered Sunday with six goals and five assists during a seven-game point streak but was held off the scoresheet in a 3-1 win over Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. Aube-Kubel, a second-round pick, still boasts impressive offensive numbers for Val-d’Or this season, though. He has nine goals and seven assists to go along with a plus-12 rating in 11 games.
Shayne Gostisbehere/Sam Morin, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
There have been a lot of ups and downs for Gostisbehere and Morin in the early going. That's to be expected, though. They have a new head coach in Scott Gordon, have had to deal with a few injuries on the back end and still aren't sure who they're going to be paired with on a consistent basis. That said, the Phantoms have played only three games so far. No need to panic in October. Gostisbehere is receiving top-pair minutes and Morin is a first-year pro. Give them time.
Felix Sandstrom, G, Sweden Brynäs IF
Sandstrom helped Brynäs IF to a 4-3 victory over Modo on Thursday. The 18-year-old turned aside 29 shots to improve to 4-1-0 with a .921 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average this season.
Nick Cousins, C, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Cousins, a key fixture on the Phantoms right now, is looking like a player determined to get back to the NHL. He has already produced a goal and three assists in Lehigh's first three games and has continued to play a strong, all-around game. But don't forget about Petr Straka, either. The winger, who had a brief stint with the Flyers in 2014-15, has goals in back-to-back contests for the Phantoms and has been buzzing in the early going. Potential injury call-ups? You bet.
Mark Friedman, D, Bowling Green Falcons
Friedman made his first point of the season count. The 2014 third-round selection picked up an assist on Kevin Dufour's equalizer late in the third period of Saturday's 2-2 tie with Rochester Institute of Technology. Bowling Green, ranked No. 10 in the country, is 3-1-1 in its first five games but now faces a long layoff. Friedman and the Falcons are off until Oct. 31, when they open up a two-game set against Anchorage in Alaska.
Mikhail Vorobyov, C, Tolpar Ufa
The big Russian added another goal in Tolpar's 3-2 win over Ladya on Sunday. He now has four markers and eight assists in his last five games.
Philippe Myers, D, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Myers continued his hot start to the 2015-16 season by tallying a goal and an assist in two games for Rouyn-Noranda last week. Through 10 games, the 18-year-old already has more goals (five) and points (10) than he did in 60 contests for the Huskies last season.
