Jr. Flyers 2010 Team Continues Impressive Run

Last season the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers put together one of the strongest Bantam Minor teams in the country. The 2010 group finished the season with an impressive 55-8-1 record, and made it to the finals of USA Hockey’s National Championship in Plymouth, Michigan. Surprisingly despite all of the team’s previous success, they had a significant amount of roster turnover during the offseason. Of the 18 players on last season’s Jr. Flyers’ roster, 9 moved on to play at other programs, including 2 who went to Mount St. Charles in Rhode Island, and 4 that were picked up by Bishop Kearney Selects out of Rochester. 

Despite the changing roster, Coach Doug MacCormack was able to re-tool his lineup in the offseason, and has this year’s Jr. Flyers’ team ready to make a repeat run at Nationals. So far this year the Flyers have jumped out to a 19-7-0 record which is good enough for 1st place in the Atlantic District and 8th place nationally among 2010 teams. They have already picked up signature wins this year against the 9th place Chicago Mission and 7th place BK selects, and have only suffered 1 loss within the AYHL. 

The group is incredibly well coached and they play a strong and structured game within their overall team system. For a u14 team they have an impressive amount of depth, and every one of their lines is a threat to score when they are on the ice. The team is very disciplined and makes opponents work for every scoring chance. They play a strong defensive system which has helped hold opponents to only 57 goals this season, while their forwards are offensively dynamic with the puck, netting 137 goals in only 26 games.   

Notable Players 

Brayden Kotzen - Brayden is a strong power-forward who currently has 6 goals 

and 12 assists over 10 league games. On a team filled with dynamic talent, he consistently brings a physical presence and a high compete level onto the ice. He has room to improve his explosive quickness, but he’s easily able to play in transition, and he shows good skill along the walls and a willingness to go to dirty areas in front of the net. He has a good heavy shot and shows the ability to score goals both in tight and from a distance. 

Colin McCormack - Colin is an offensive defenseman who currently leads the entire team with 20 points in only 10 league games.  He showcases  elite technical skills and playmaking ability with the puck and may be the best overall player in the district.  As an offensive D, he’s going to need to keep rounding out his defensive-zone play as he matures, but his elite mobility easily allows him to defend off the rush. Offensively he’s an elite distributor who consistently makes the right decision with the puck, and he’s proving to be deadly with time and space on the power-play. 

Tyler McGroarty - Tyler is an elite offensive player who can create chances for himself and his linemates. He has great goal-scoring instincts and elite general hockey sense that is contributing to his team-leading 13 goals in only 8 league games. He consistently sees next-level plays and he gets to scoring areas with great timing and a deceptively quick release. He plays each shift with a high-level of engagement and he hunts pucks up and down the ice, looking to get first touches and make plays. 

Chase Shulberger - Chase is a long and rangy 2-way defenseman who consistently shows a high hockey-IQ and the ability to make plays at both ends of the ice. He’s already a powerful skater, and at 6’ he has a good frame which should fill-in as he matures.  Defensively he can neutralize attacking players with an active stick and physicality against the rush, while offensively he’s able to lead the attack or fill into lanes for support. 

EJ Yedwab - EJ is an undersized forward with an incredibly high compete level. 

He is a smooth skater and despite his size he’s consistently willing to go to dirty 

areas in order to make a play. He has advanced offensive instincts for his age and knows how to slip into soft areas in order to make plays in tight. So far this season he has 6 goals and 8 assists in the team’s 10 league games. 

Erik Zahradnik - Erik is a skilled 2-way forward who joined the Jr. Flyers after averaging just under 2pts/game last season with the Pittsburgh Predators. He’s a consistently hard-working player who is very balanced offensively as demonstrated from his 8 goals and 10 assists over 10 league games this season. He’s a shifty skater who moves well with the puck, and he shows good vision and hockey IQ in all 3 zones.