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IIHF Worlds: Martone to play for bronze
Flyers winger Porter Martone and the rest of Team Canada will play Norway for the bronze medal on Sunday at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. in Saturday’s semifinal match, Finland upended the previously unbeaten Canadian side, 4-2. Canada took a 2-1 lead to the second period before the Finns exploded for three goals in the middle frame.
Meanwhile, for the fifth straight game, Martone played sparingly on the fourth line for Canada (6:06 TOI). All five of Martone’s points (1g, 4a, +5, 6 PIM) in the tournament came over the first three games, when he played higher in the lineup. Overall, he averages 9:24 of ice time through nine games.
The Canada vs. Norway bronze medal game on Sunday is at 9:30 a.m. EDT. Later, Finland plays Switzerland for the gold at 2:20 p.m. EDT.
Flyers prospect plays for Memorial Cup
Flyers defense prospect Luke Vlooswyk and the rest of the Everett Silvertips (WHL) play the undefeated Kitchener Rangers (OHL) on Sunday for the Memorial Cup championship. The huge-framed Vlooswyk (6-foot-5, 210 pounds) joined Everett mid-season in a trade with the Red Deer Rebels. The Flyers selected Vlooswyk in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Vlooswyk, 19, will play another junior season in 2026-27. He will likely need two seasons of American Hockey League experience thereafter if he progresses to the point of signing an entry-level contract.
Also of note to Flyers fans: Vlooswyk’s fellow Silvertips defenseman, Brek Liske, grew up as a big Flyers fan himself n his native Manitoba. Liske (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) will be selected in the upcoming NHL Draft. He’s raised his stock over the course of the season to where it’s no longer a question of whether he’s drafted but of where. Some pundits place Liske as a potential latter second-round pick. Others project him in the middle rounds. Liske came on strong offensively during the Western Hockey League playoffs (17 points in 18 games).
Flyers Draft Party in Atlantic City
The Flyers announced on Thursday that they will once again hold their NHL Draft headquarters at the Hard Rock Hotel in Atlantic City. Correspondingly, the organization will hold a public Draft part at Hard Rock on June 26 from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. EDT. The Flyers currently hold the 21st overall pick of the first round.
The night includes a first-round watch party. Later in the night, there will be a live musical performance (artist TBA). Current Flyers management, Alumni, Gritty, the Flyers Ice Team and More will also make appearances during the night. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to enter raffles to win autographed Flyers and musician memorabilia.
In upcoming weeks as we count down to the Draft, Hockey Hot Stove will profile various potential candidates of interest for the Flyers. We will also continue the tradition of selecting a Sleeper of the Draft candidate.
Snow the Goalie: Rising Expectations
After posting 98 points during the regular season and winning a playoff series, the Flyers enter the off-season riding a wave of good feelings. They seen to on the right track. However, the last thing the organization wants to needs is a repeat of the mid-to-late 2010s alternating pattern: make the playoff one year, miss the next.
The Snow the Goalie crew (Anthony SanFilippo, Russ Joy, and Chris Therien) recently tackled the question of heightened expectations. The team still has clear needs: a power play quarterback and a bonafide top-line center, for starters.It’s a weak free agent market. Meanwhile, the potential for trading to fill these needs without ripping open a different hole is nebulous even with ample cap space. The Flyers also have a couple of contract extensions of their own (Trevor Zegras and Dan Vladar most notably) to hammer out this summer.
Team Toyota Spotlight: Garnet Hathaway
Agitating veteran checking winger Garnet Hathaay had a very frustrating season until the stretch drive. Now 34, Hathaway even sat as a healthy scratch multiple times this season. Accustomed to being roughly a 10-goal, 20-point contributor on his team’s fourth line (and penalty kill), Hathaway had only one goal and three points for the entire regular season.
Although he is not one to make excuses, Hathaway seemed to miss the presence of Ryan Poehling (now with Anaheim) as his center on the fourth line. When Sean Couturier’s role changed a bit after the Olympic break and the Flyers claimed Luke Glendening off waivers, Hathaway finally started to play to his accustomed standards. Hs play picked up significantly down the stretch and in the eight games he suited up in the playoffs.
One of the most articulate and philosophical players in the National Hockey League, Hathaway had a host of insightful observations about the now-finished season and the next steps. The player has one season remaining on his contract ($2.4 million AAV).
Cold War in Philly: Upcoming Showings
The Cold War in Philly documentary will show at select Delaware Valley locations in upcoming weeks. Here’s the schedule and particulars of various showings.
- June 2nd: Newtown Theater (Newtown, PA) — SOLD OUT
- June 8th: County Theater (Doylestown, PA) — Following the film, there is Q&A moderated by Mike Sielski, featuring a conversation with director Joe Amodei and Flyers Red Army game alum Larry “Izzy” Goodenough. Tickets are $13.50, click here
- June 9th: The Ambler Theater (Ambler, PA) — Post-screening Q&A moderated by Sam Carchidi with Flyers Hall of Fame brothers Joe and Jimmy Watson. Tickets are $13.50. Click here.
- June 16th: Newtown Theater (Newtown, PA) — Post screening Q&A with Joe Amodei. Tickets are $14. Click here.
- June 18th: Bryn Mawr Film Institute (Bryn Mawr, PA) — Post-screening Q&A moderated by Sam Carchidi with Joe Amodei, Joe and Jimmy Watson. Tickets are $16.25. Click here.
- June 25th: White Rabbit Theater (Phoenixville, PA) — Post-screening Q&A moderated by Sam Carchidi with Joe Amodei, Joe and Jimmy Watson. Tickets are $18 or $20. Click here.
Collectors Corner: Clarke and Vladar
Hall of Fame legend Bob Clarke is doing a private signing event at Carl’s Cards and Collectibles in Havertown, PA. Items for Clarke to sign are due by June 24. Clarke will be in the store that day to sign the items. For more info, click here.
Additionally, Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar will do an open-to-the-public in-store signing at Carl’s on Saturday, August 29. Autographs are $49 each. Photo ops are $39 each. Inscriptions are $20 each.
Guffaw Cigars
Five-time NHL All-Star and Flyers Hall of Fame inductee Brian Propp introduced his own line of top-quality hand-crafted Dominican cigars . The Guffaw Cigar collection is highly rated for its balanced boldness, sophistication and premium-aged tobacco. Brian himself is a longtime cigar aficionado. He wanted his signature line to reflect the qualities he values in a cigar.
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