Laperriere Leading Flyers Prospects at Rookie Camp

"Details every day."  Lehigh Valley Phantoms Head Coach Ian Laperriere

VOORHEES, NJ - The Philadelphia Flyers began their first day of on-ice sessions in rookie camp Thursday with Lehigh Valley Phantoms' head coach Ian Laperriere running the show - advising the organization's prospects on aspects of the team's systems-play in two days of practice leading up to a pair of exhibition games this weekend against the New York Rangers rookie camp roster.

"Their camp started. That's what I told them. It's not rookie camp, it's training camp," Laperriere said at a media availability Thursday afternoon, explaining that for many, it's a chance for them to make a good first impression with Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault (AV), the NHL coaching staff and management. "It is their chance to shine. My job, I feel right now, is to help them and give them a couple pointers so those kids can have success."

While it's certainly a trial run for the players leading into main camp next week, it's also a trial run for Laperriere as he enters his first season as an American Hockey League (AHL) head coach this fall.

The Phantoms' new bench boss went into some detail about the plan and expectations for the two days of practice, in that they're starting to get into implementing their systems and style of play with Thursday's focus being on neutral zone play and Friday will see them working on the forecheck.

"I'm going to try to help them out [and give them] little pointers that AV is looking for here," Laperriere said. "Like systems-wise and details to help them succeed in those two games this weekend."

The Flyers will face the Rangers' rookies at the MSG training facility in Tarrytown, NY on Saturday, with puck drop scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. The two teams will reconvene in Voorhees, NJ Sunday for a rematch at 5 p.m. ET. Fans won't be permitted to attend Sunday's rookie game, but the Flyers did announce that fans will be able to attend the team's training camp practices beginning next week with further details to be finalized in the near future.

"At the end of the day, what makes a good team from an okay team is the details. That's what I'm going to teach those kids in the minors. I'm going to repeat, repeat, repeat. I got two teenage boys at home, so I know how to deal with teenage kids. Now I'm going to have 23 in the minors and I'm really looking forward to it.

2021 Flyers Rookie Camp Roster

Goalies: Samuel Ersson and Kirill Ustimenko

Defensemen: Linus Hogberg, Mason Millman, Ethan Samson, Quinn Schmiemann (ATO), Jackson van de Leest (ATO), Wyatte Wylie, Cam York, Egor Zamula, Brian Zanetti and Cooper Zech

Forwards: Wade Allison, Jon-Randall Avon (ATO), Ethan Burroughs (ATO), Jackson Cates, Elliot Desnoyers, Tyson Foerster, Morgan Frost, Tanner Laczynski, Connor McClennon, Isaac Ratcliffe, Nolan Ritchie (ATO), Linus Sandin, Matt Strome, Maksim Sushko, Samu Tuomaala and Zayde Wisdom