Across the NHL, it is hardly unusual for a slew of players to report to their team's training complex well ahead of their mandatory reporting date. It's an opportunity to catch up with returning teammates, get better acquainted with some new players on the team, and to work out together on the ice and the gym. As a matter of fact, it's more notable if someone waits until the official reporting date to arrive than it to show up early.
The Flyers, though, have a particularly high number of players who arrived at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees before Labor Day. By the time the Rookie Camp participants undergo pre-camp physical testing and have their off-ice meetings on the 14th, most if not all of the Flyers' returning veterans are likely to be working out daily at the FTC, too.
All non-injured players by now are doing intensive skating as part of their daily workouts, whether it's in Voorhees or at a rink near their off-season homes. The advantage of doing it at the FTC is that the Voorhees facility is state-of-the art and it can be helpful to get into some informal on-ice sessions with the same players who will be at training camp.
Among the incumbent and veteran position players who were in Voorhees before Labor Day are the likes of forwards Cam Atkinson, Patrick Brown. Sean Couturier, newcomer Nicolas Deslauriers,Joel Farabee (still rehabbing from off-season neck surgery), Kevin Hayes, Hayden Hodgson, Travis Konecny, Scott Laughton, Zack MacEwen, and James van Riemsdyk. Likewise, among the defensemen on the roster, depth defenseman Kevin Connauton, newcomer Tony DeAngelo, and returning veterans Ivan Provorov, Rasmus Ristolainen, Travis Sanheim and Nick Seeler are already on hand. So, too, is Cam York who no longer qualifies as an NHL rookie after playing 30 games in the NHL last season.
"It's a good way to get a jump on things," MacEwen said to Philly Hockey Now's Sam Carchidi. "It's always good to get familiar with all the guys going into camp, and obviously if you're here, you can work out and get yourself in the best possible shape for the upcoming season.".
Among players who qualify as NHL Rookies for the 2022-23 season, players such as a now fully healthy Wade Allison, 2020 first-round pick Tyson Foerster (fresh off a strong performance for Team Canada at the 2022 World Junior Championships), power forward Zayde Wisdom, and third-year Lehigh Valley Phantoms defensemen Wyatte Wyile and Egor Zamula are working out daily in Voorhees.
Note: This is only a partial list. More or more players arrive on a daily basis, and does not include Carter Hart and the other goaltenders who will be at camp. Goalies have their own preparation routines for camp.
