Ronnie Attard Has Big Chance Tonight in Preseason Game

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ronnie Attard, who has a chance to make the roster out of training camp, will play tonight against the New York Islanders. 

Felix Sandstrom will start in goal tonight for the Philadelphia Flyers and Sam Ersson will play the last two periods.

That’s according to Phantoms coach Ian Laperriere, who will coach the Flyers tonight at the New York Islanders in a preseason game.

Attard has played four games in two seasons for the Flyers. He played 68 games last season for the Phantoms. This past spring, Attard played for the United States in the World Championships. Attard is 24 from White Lake, Mich. He was a 2019 third-round pick, the 72nd overall player chosen.

“It’s day-by-day,” Attard said. “You can’t look too far in the future because you never know what’s going to happen. Just coming in here, putting my best foot forward and just working hard and see where it takes me.

“I’ve been doing it my whole life. I’ve never been a highly touted prospect or one of the key players to keep an eye on. So it’s nothing new to me. Continue to keep my head down and work and see where it takes me.”

For a guy like Attard trying to make the roster, every practice, every scrimmage and especially every preseason game is important.

“I want him to be assertive, especially in our zone,” Laperriere said Wednesday at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees.

“Ronnie’s got great abilities, big body, skates well, good vision, great shot. But you’re a defender, you have to defend. He’s been great so far at camp. I really like his camp, in scrimmages, in practice.

“Like we said the other day: Preseason’s different than scrimmages. It’s going to be a big step for him tonight.”

Emil Andrae looks like he will be the only defenseman to play tonight who also played in Monday’s preseason opener at the Devils.

Defenseman Cam York did not skate Wednesday — the second consecutive day away from the ice, as the Flyers were off Tuesday.

Travis Konecny returned to practice but didn’t give any specifics about his “body injury” as it was described by coach John Tortorella the other day.