We have some Flyers news! It’s been a pretty quiet week, but the World Junior Championship is rapidly approaching and team rosters were announced today. Each Country sends their cream of the crop when it comes to prospects and for Flyers fans, they’ll get a chance to get a closer look at three players called up to the championship.
Cam York & Bobby Brink
This isn’t York’s first rodeo at the World Juniors. He played in 5 games during last year’s competition but should have a much more prominent role this time having posted 5 points in 8 games this season as a Michigan Wolverine. In his first season at Michigan, he posted 16 points through 30 games.
York was the Flyers’ first-round pick back in 2019. As an agile defenseman, he’s shown growth in his ability to create scoring opportunities through a strong hockey sense and vision to clinically pass.
One of the players he’ll be trying to set up just so happens to be Bobby Brink. Selected just one round later than York, the forward also played in 5 games during last year’s championship and netted a goal and an assist in that span.
Since then, he’s posted a further 3 assists for the University of Denver in as many games this season. This comes off the back of his impressive 2019 campaign here he scored 11 goals and racked up 13 assists in 28 contests.
Brink is a very interesting prospect who makes up for his slightly smaller frame and lack of overall athleticism with a very high Hockey IQ. He’s great at finding space and helping his teammates fall into gaps that he creates through a well-orchestrated pass.
It will be really fun to watch how the two click when playing for their country at the World Juniors and see if down the line, that early chemistry plays a role in their long-term future when they both get that all-important call up.
Emil Andrae
Called up to the Swedish national team, this year’s second-round selection looks primed to make some noise.
At 5’9, 183 lbs, Andrae isn’t the mauling defenseman one would typically associate with the Flyers, but it would be foolish to disregard his talents due to his size. While he may be smaller than many, the fact he was playing in a ‘senior league’ says a lot.
The pride of HV71 amassed 38 points in 40 games last season, with 27 of them being assists. He has 3 assists through 20 appearances this season in what’s been a quieter year. The World Junior’s could provide the perfect launchpad for his confidence to sky-rocket.
The WJC kicks off on Christmas Day and runs through January 5th. We’ll keep you posted with as many updates as we can, so stay locked in!
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
