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Forty-nine days remain until the start of Flyers training camp on September 17. Here are the key dates over the next seven weeks.
- Rookie Camp Start: Friday, September 11, 2026
- Rookie Series vs. Rangers: Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026 (PPL Center, Allentown)
- Training Camp Start: Thursday, September 17, 2026
- First Preseason Game: Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Washington Capitals
Team Toyota Prospect Spotlight: Ty Murchison
Twenty-three year old Flyers defense prospect Ty Murchison forged a solid impression on the organization in just 36 games of professional hockey. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending upper body injury on January in Springfield. He underwent surgery several weeks later.
Prior to the injury, Murchison turned heads during his roughly half-season of action. Along the way, he made his NHL debut. Murchison dressed in three games with the Flyers in addition to 29 matches with the Phantoms.
Drafted by the Flyers in the fifth round (158th overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Murchison played four seasons of collegiate hockey at Arizona State and parts of the 2024-25 and current seasons in the American Hockey League with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
The California native, who started out with inline roller skating, started playing ice hockey a little bit later than the majority of players who reach the NHL. A product of the famed US National Team Development Program, Murchison’s role has never been focused on bringing offense from the blueline.
Consequently, Murchison largely flew under the pundit radar as he developed his game. Murchison’s assets are his size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and physicality combined with above-average mobility. He impressed in a four-game cup of coffee with the Phantoms in 2024-25 and built upon it this season. Prior to his call up, Murchison led the Phantoms with a plus-nine rating. Overall, he finished with six points (2g, 4a), 46 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating in his 29 games.
Murchison did not appear in any preseason NHL games before the Flyers assigned him to the Phantoms. However, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet liked what he saw during camp.
“He’s a culture guy. I thought from Day 1, he was really impressing me in practice. He was pissing guys off, he was blowing up guys on cycles and stuff like that,” Tocchet said in December.
As with all players making their NHL debut, Murchison’s teammates had him step out on the ice first and take a solo lap around the ice before they joined him for the pregame warmup. Murchison’s rookie lap was a bit different from most, however.
Teammates played a mini-joke on the player. When he went to put on his helmet, Murchison found that the visor had been removed. Only later did he get it back for the game.
World Junior Summer Showcase Update
Team Canada largely focused on taking a look at Draft-plus one hopefuls in Thursday’s match against Finland at the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor, Ontario. Flyers 2026 second-round pick Brek Liske played in this game. Meanwhile, 2026 seventh-round Max Laatikainen suited up for Finland. However, Flyers 2025 first-round pick Jack Nesbitt did not play for Canada.
Canada prevailed, 5-3.
Earlier, Sweden defeated Team USA by a 5-2 count. Both Jack Murtagh and Carter Amico dressed for Team USA.
Two games remain in the evaluation series. On Saturday, Sweden faces Finland and USA opposes Canada.
Hockey Writers Ink & Mission Control Hockey
Thank you to Ron Mont for having me as a guest on his Hockey Writers Ink podcast. I’ve guested two previous times and have enjoyed ever conversation. This week we look at whether, as of now, the Flyers and Phantoms have improved enough on paper to shape up as potential playoff clubs. We also discussed Jason Myrtetus and the bravery and sheer professionalism he exudes every single day.
Earlier this evening, Mike Augello and I guested on the Mission Control Houston hockey podcast, The focus: What are the traits of an expansion team that’s likely to succeed. Why the Vegas Golden Knights model will be very difficult to replicate?
Flyers Community Caravan Kickoff
On Wednesday, the Flyers kicked off their annual Community Caravan tour during Community Day at the FTC in Voorhees. The event featured appearances by Gritty, Flyers In-Arena Host Everett Jackson, members of the Flyers Ice Team, and Flyers Alumni Joe Watson, Bob Kelly, Orest Kindrachuk, Todd Fedoruk, and Chris Therien.
Additionally, fans also took part in free public skating, a free skating clinic, and other on-ice activities.
Every summer, the Flyers Caravan tour comes around to various areas to promote the upcoming season. There are always special autograph-signing appearances by Flyers Alumni. Likewise, Gritty, the Ice Team, and in-arena host Everett Jackson are regulars at these events. There are also swag giveaways, inflatables and other family-friendly attractions. Upcoming dates:
Tuesday, August 4 – Cape May, NJ
2:00-4:00 PM | Congress Hall Great Lawn | 200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ 08204
Wednesday, August 5 – Mays Landing, NJ
6:00-8:00 PM | Mays Landing Ball Hockey | 3155 Leipzig Ave, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Thursday, August 6 – Ocean City, NJ
12:00-2:00 PM | Sport and Civic Center | 6th St and the Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226
Wednesday, August 19 – Exton, PA
5:30-7:30 PM | Miller Park | 220 Miller Way, Exton, PA 19341
Phantoms Sign Berard and Perrot
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms announced two signings on Wednesday. The Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate added rugged defenseman Andew Perrot and depth center Brady Berard for the 2026-27 season.
Perrott, 24, played 51 games for the Rockford IceHogs this past season. The physical blueliner chipped in four points (1g, 3a) while racking up 117 penalty minutes. The 5’10” and 216-pound blueliner is entering his fifth season of professional hockey. He has bounced between the AHL and ECHL.
Perrot played 103 career AHL games with Rockford and Hershey, posting 204 PIM to go along with 15 points (4g, 11a). He has also played in 114 career ECHL games with Indy and South Carolina scoring 12-38-50 with 212 PIM.
Perrott is the son of former NHL/AHL tough guy Nathan Perrott.
Former BC Eagles and Providence college checking forward Berard will enter his first pro season. The 22-year-old center scored five goals with one assist for six points last season in 36 games with the Eagles. In his NCAA career overall, he played in 131 games scoring 12-10-22. Berard is an alum of the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP).
The rookie pro center is the son of longtime NCAA coach David Berard and is the younger brother of Brett Berard of the New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack.
Collectors Corner: Win a Broad Street Bullies Autographed Pic
Thanks as always to Hockey Hot Stove Sponsor Carl’s Cards and Collectibles of Havertown, PA, for providing our lastest random giveaway drawing price. Win an autographed photo, suitable for framing, of Dave “the Hammer” Schultz, Ande “Moose” Dupot, Bob “the Hound” Kelly and Don ‘”Big Bird” Saleski.
The winner will be chosen and contact at noon EDT on August 6. To enter: Follow Hockey Hot Stove (@HockeyHStove), Carls Cards (@CarlsCards) and the Flyers Alumni Association (@FlyersAlumni) on Twitter. Reply to all with “Hammer”.
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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