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Flyers shut out in Team USA Olympic orientation invites
On Tuesday, USA Hockey announced 44 NHL player invitations to the Team USA Olympic orientation camp. The camp runs from August 27 to 28 in Plymouth, Michigan. Twenty-four different NHL teams are represented in camp. However, the Philadelphia Flyers are not among them.
Coming off a down year in 2024-25, Flyers defenseman Cam York never seemed like more than a long shot for orientation camp inclusion. Likewise, new Flyer Trevor Zegras seeks a bounce-back campaign in 2025-26. Both are former products of the US National Team Development Program, which sometimes gives guys a leg up in getting selected for higher-level international competitions. Nevertheless, their exclusions from the Orientation Camp pool were unsurprising.
Additionally, I’d have been shocked if Bobby Brink received an Orientation Camp. He took a big step forward as an all-around player this past season. Even so, there was just too much competition for Team USA.
Conversely, the exclusion of Noah Cates from the pool of 44 players invited to orientation camp came as a bit of surprise. He’s coming off a strong 2024-25 season (at least the latter three quarters of the season). He’s not a player who puts up gaudy offensive stats. However, Cates is exactly the type of player that coaches love: versatile enough to play center or left wing with equal comfort, team oriented and unselfish, well suited to playing on a national team fourth line, killing some penalties and not being a player who needs a ton of ice time or puck touches to make a positive contribution.
A national team, like any team, needs role players as well as offensive stars. Yes, it’s offensive stats that tend to get players noticed in national team consideration. Even so, Cates DID show notable offensive progress this past season and was often more effective than other players (both on the Flyers and other teams) who get more media attention.
Put another way: I think USA Hockey dropped the ball here by not even considering Cates in their Orientation Camp pool of 44 players. His center/wing versatility and two-way responsibility should have pulled him through this stage of Team USA roster consideration. Two Flyers players (winger Travis Konecny and defenseman Travis Sanheim) received Hockey Canada invited for Team Canada’s orientation camp.
Flyers Daily: Behind the scenes at Paintzoo
Jason Myrtetus features famous goalie mask painter Franny Drummond from Paintzoo. Drummond talks about how he has designed and decorated many Flyers goalies’ masks through the years. The episode also takes a look at Jason’s own mask collection. This is a fun 30-minute episode for goalie mask enthusiasts.
Fantasy Camp: Behind the scenes, wrap-up
The Flyers Alumni 2025 Fantasy Camp was arguably the best edition of its 11-year history: highly competitive hockey games, loads of fun off the ice with really well-planned activities. The best touch: The retro Flyers farm team uniforms (Quebec Aces, Richmond Robins, Maine Mariners, Philadelphia Phantoms) worn on game days by each of the four teams. Flyers Alumni webpage designer Bill Booth (who also created the Hockey Hot Stove logo and fundamental design concept) created accompanying t-shirts with the historic farm team logos and vintage look.
To answer a common question, the Alumni do not typically sell merchandise. However, if there’s enough demand for a run of the Fantasy Camp jerseys, perhaps that’s possible as a fundraising event supplement at some point. I don’t know if it’s in the card (it hasn’t been discussed), but I’d personally love to see it in. Meanwhile, for the annual Fantasy Camp unofficial awards, click here.
