Flyers’ Rookie Camp to Get Intense This Week

Philadelphia Flyers rookies will be back on the ice Monday morning at a ramped up Rookie Camp in Voorhees.

Players had Sunday off after a two-game Rookie Series against the Rangers over the weekend — 4-2 and 3-1 losses for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Phantoms coach Ian Laperrière, who coached the Flyers rookies against the Rangers said about the next two days of Rookie Camp: “We’re going to raise the compete level and see what they got.”

Training camp begins Thursday.

Laperrière was pleased with the play of Flyers camp invitee Matt Brown over the weekend. Brown had a goal and an assist against the Rangers. He also was in the middle of plays, forechecking, backchecking and looking like, well, a player.

Brown is an undrafted 24-year-old forward who spent the past two seasons at Boston University, a Frozen Four team last spring. He spent the previous two seasons at UMass-Lowell. He is 5-9, 190 pounds and is from Wood-Ridge, N.J.

Matt Brown gives the Orange & Black a 1-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/JyQFes2YJu

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 16, 2023

Brown played 39 games last season for BU and scored 16 goals and 31 assists (47 points). The previous season he had seven goals and 10 assists in 24 games.

“They’re battling out there like they want to make the team, like they want a contract,” Laperrière said. “That’s what training camp should be.

“Brown’s like that. Since Day One of camp, [Brown] he’s been pushing, he’s been working hard, he’s doing everything we’ve asked him to do.”

Tuomaala Gets Noticed

Laperrière also singled out forward Samu Tuomaala, a 2021 second-round pick (46th overall) from Finland. His game is speed, and a wicked shot.

“One guy I really like is Samu Tuomaala,” Laperrière said. “He had a couple good looks on the power play. He had a couple good looks five-on-five.

“He’s another kid who is impressing me right now. He was with us [Phantoms, for only two games] two years ago. His English was so-so. Now he’s elevated his game. I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Tuomaala, 20, scored 26 goals and 20 assists last season in 29 games for Kettera Imatra in the Mestis league, the second-highest league in Finland.

Practice is 11 a.m. Monday and another practice is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday. Rookie Camp on-ice sessions at Flyers Training Center are free and open to the public.

J.R. Avon Injured

The Flyers released news regarding prospect forward J.R. Avon: “Forward J.R. Avon will miss the remainder of Rookie and Training Camp with a PCL sprain in his left knee. He has been cleared for rehab and is expected to be out approximately 4-6 weeks.”

We wrote about Avon back in June when he scored the winning goal for the Peterborough Petes in a Memorial Cup game. Click here to read that story.