The Flyers blogs on Hockey Hot Stove are powered by Phans of Philly, Lights On Electric, Liberty Valuation Group, New Balance of Mount Laurel,The Mens and Boys Store and Carl’s Cards and Collectibles. Welcome aboard our new sponsor, Team Toyota.
Nineteen-year-old Flyers winger Porter Martone is back in action on Wednesday at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. He has five points (1g. 4a) through Team Canada’s first three games.Game time is 10:20 a.m. EDT.
On Tuesday, Team Sweden (2-2-0) defeated Slovenia, 6-0. Flyers prospect Jack Berglund centered a line with Jakob Silfverberg and Flyers unrestricted free agent Carl Grundstrom. Grundstrom helped set up an early goal by Lucas Raymond on the game’s first tally. Berglund and Grundstrom have two assists apiece in the tourney to date.
Sweden is idle on Wednesday. Tre Kronor plays Italy on Thursday.
Snow the Goalie: Projecting Zegras and Others
Along with co-hosts Anthony San Filippo and Russ Joy, Hockey Hot Stove’s Chris Therien discussed potential contract extension terms this offseason for Tevor Zegras and Dan Vladar. What else may be in the offing for general manager Daniel Briere in the next few weeks?
Team Toyota Spotlight: Sam Ersson
Swedish netminder Samuel Ersson entered training camp hoping to stake down a starting tandem role with Dan Vladar. Ersson struggled until the Olympic break with consistency and an injury. He played by far his back hockey of the season down the stretch, enabling the Flyers to selectively rest Vladar as the schedule dictated.
“I just kinda looked at it as a new chapter. I told myself, during that break, ‘Screw what happened, I’m gonna go on a run here.'”
After his strong stretch drive, Ersson backed up Vladar throughout the playoffs. Ersson is a restricted free agent this summer.
Following his Exit Day media availability after the Carolina playoff series, Ersson met with Jason Myrtetus for a one-one-one interview for Flyers Daily. Ersson discussed his overall tough season, strong finish and more.
An intangible: It is not a given for NHL teams’ goaltenders to be consistently supportive of one another. There is only one net, and both netminders crave as much playing time as possible. Thankfully, that’s never been a concern with Dan Vladar and Ersson. Each is in the other’s corner to the hilt. Don’t underestimate that factor in team chemistry. It matters.
Cold War in Philly Countdown: Six Days
Eleven days remain until the exclusive world premiere of the Cold War in Philly documentary at the Suzanne Roberts Theater in Philadelphia on May 27. Be sure to follow Hockey Hot Stove and the Flyers Alumni on Twitter/X for your chance to win two passes to the premiere (a $150 value). The package includes:
- Reserved Seating
- Alumni Panel Q&A
- Commemorative Program
- Cold War In Philly Gift Bag
Sporting uniform number six during the Broad Street Bullies era, rugged defenseman Andre “Moose” Dupont was an underrated key to how the Flyers became one of the NHL’s most successful — and feared — teams in NHL history.
The thick-framed 6-foot-1, 201-pound defenseman was selected in the first round (eighth
overall) of the 1969 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers. Debuting in pro hockey for the Omaha Knights (CHL), he became a favorite of Knights’ head coach Fred Shero, who later became his coach with the Flyers. Dupont broke into the NHL with the Rangers in 1970-71 and later spent a season-plus with the St. Louis Blues before coming to the Flyers.
On December 14, 1972, the Flyers acquired Dupont and a 1973 third-round draft choice (Bob Stumpf) from the St. Louis Blues in a trade for Brent Hughes and Pierre Plante. Dupont arrived at the right time, as the Flyers were beginning to emerge as an up-and-coming contender and the assembly of the Broad Street Bullies era teams was largely completed by this time.
Known for his frequent fisticuffs and celebratory “shuffle” after scoring goals, Dupont became one of the most colorful members of the Broad Street Bullies era Philadelphia Flyers. His sense of humor and inventive use of the English language kept the team loose and his aggressive style on the ice kept opponents looking over their shoulders. With the exception of Dave “the Hammer” Schultz, no Flyer fought as often or regularly got more emotionally worked up than the Moose. Reunited with Shero, Dupont stepped in immediately as a regular on the Flyers’ blueline.
Dupont would not relinquish his role for the rest of the decade, remaining a Flyers mainstay even as much of the roster changed in the years following the team’s 1973-74 and 1974-75 Stanley Cup championships and third straight Cup Final appearance in 1975-76.
Moose may not have been the fleetest of skaters or the most disciplined of players, but he gave his all in every game and every shift. Dupont played on emotion and was a frequent fighter and punishing body checker. He topped the 200 penalty minute mark four times and topped 160 penalty minutes six times.
Dupont also provided occasional offense, topping 30 points twice. His exuberant leg-pumping, arm-flailing goal celebrations (he had seasons of 10 and 11 goals among the 42 regular season goals plus 13 playoff tallies he scored in orange and black) came to be known as “the Moose Shuffle.”
The Flyers’ defenseman earned a spot in the NHL All-Star Game in 1975-76. The following year, he became the winner of the team’s best defenseman award named in honor of former teammate and assistant coach Barry Ashbee.
In Sept. 1980, after being given a contract extension as a “thank you” from general manager for his years of service to the team, Dupont was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. He finished out his NHL career with three seasons in Quebec.
Dupont played 573 regular season games for the Flyers between his 1972-73 arrival and his departure after the 1979-80 season, recording 177 points (42 goals, 135 assists), 1,505 penalty minutes and a career plus-269 rating. In the playoffs, he posted 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) and 306 penalty minutes in 108 games.
Save the Date: June 10, 2026
On June 10, 2026, our sponsors at New Balance of Mount Laurel will host a very special night with Flyers, Phantoms and Phillies Alumni. All proceeds raised support the community and Charity programs of the Flyers Alumni Alumni Association. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. EDT.
- List of scheduled attendees (subject to change): Mark Howe, Mark Recchi, Bill Barber, Bob Kelly, Joe Watson, Bob Kelly, Lou Nolan, Tommy Greene, Frank “the Animal” Bialowas.
- Food and refreshments.
- Sponsor information onsite.
- Price of admission: one non-perishable food item (for donation to Philabundance). Free photo opps and autographs.
Flyers Hall of Fame private signing: The LCB Line
If you want to get an item autographed by the members of the Flyers’ famed LCB Line — Bob Clarke, Bill Barber and Reggie Leach — now is the time. Carl’s Cards and Collectibles of Havertown, PA, is doing special private signing events with the three as well as fellow Cup team Alum Terry Crisp. Items for Barber, Leach and Crisp need to be dropped off at Carl’s by May 25. Items for Clarke to sign are due by June 24.
For autograph tickets and additional information, click here.
Home › Forums › Flyers Focus: Martone, IIHF Worlds, Ersson, and More
Tagged: nhl, philadelphia-flyers