For a moment there, it looked like Eric Semborski was going to actually get to play in an NHL game.
That's what Flyers coach Dave Hakstol attempted, with a defensive faceoff no less, in the final 24.5 seconds of play by replacing Anthony Stolarz with the former Temple goalie, who was the Flyers' second emergency call-up Saturday after Michal Neuvirth collapsed.
"I did want to get in there," Semborski said. "[Stolarz] played really well. I wanted him to get the shutout. They tried to get me in. It was cool to be out there a bit."
Stolarz was stunned to see Semborski come onto the ice.
"Yeah, I had no idea what was happening," Stolarz said. "I thought it would have been a pretty cool moment for him. I am sure he was still stoked to get on the ice and have all of those fans cheering his name."
The officials made Semborski leave the ice, however. He could have only played if Stolarz had been injured. The Flyers went on to beat the Devils, 3-0 (see game story).
The crowd at the Wells Fargo Center cheered Semborski when Hakstol sent him on the ice.
"Yeah, the crowd was pretty pumped about me going in," Semborski said. "Then some boos when I had to leave."
He was not permitted on the bench since he is not a roster player. He stood in the tunnel during the game.
"I was here [when Neuvirth collapsed], so they told me to come down and get dressed," Semborski said.
Bad rule
Stolarz got a shared shutout with Neuvirth but not the victory since Neuvirth left with a 1-0 lead. Had Stolarz given up a goal, he would have won the game. He has two shutouts -- one official -- in five appearances with the Flyers this season.
On Spencer Foo
Could another Union College prospect be headed to the NHL or even the Flyers?
Spencer Foo, who played with freshly signed Flyer Mike Vecchione at Union this season, announced this week he will forgo his senior season and attempt to sign with an NHL club as a free agent.
"He's a good player," was all Flyers general manager Ron Hextall had to say about the 6-foot, 185-pound forward.
Foo, 23, finished the season ranked fourth in Division I in points (62), tied for second in assists (36), tied for third in plus-minus (plus-29) and tied for fourth in goals (26). He also had a school record 21-game point streak and registered at least one point in 34 of 38 games.
Foo amassed 112 points (49 goals) in 113 career games with the Dutchmen.
"I couldn't be happier for him," Vecchione said of Foo. "He's worked hard and he's a tremendous hockey player. I got to spend a lot of time with him and his work ethic and dedication will take him a long way. He's got a great skill set."
Willie O'Ree in Philly
More than 50 inner-city youth hockey players from all over the U.S. have been in Philadelphia since Friday, participating in the 2017 NHL Willie O'Ree Skills Weekend, which ends Sunday.
It's part of the NHL's "Hockey is for Everyone" celebration.
In conjunction with The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, which acted as the host, the student-athletes visited the National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia Outward Bound, Laura Sims Skate House and the Wells Fargo Center.
They were recognized for their achievements on the ice, in the classroom, in the community and took part in a series of on-ice skills clinics and off-ice leadership activities, including a special visit from O'Ree, the first black hockey player (Boston) in the NHL back in 1957.
O'Ree is a board member of ESYHF.
O'Ree has some great stories to tell. One of them involves meeting the legendary Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson in 1949 at Ebbets Field when O'Ree was 14 years old.
"I shook hands with him," O'Ree said. "We talked for five or six minutes. I told him I didn't normally play baseball, I played hockey. He said, 'I didn't realize there were any black kids playing hockey.' Yeah, there are a few Mr. Robinson."
Flash forward to 1962, when O'Ree was playing for the Los Angeles Blades in the Western Hockey League. O'Ree attended a NAACP luncheon honoring Robinson.
Someone introduced Robinson to O'Ree. Keep in mind, 13 years had passed.
"He said, 'Willie O'Ree? Aren't you the young fella I met at Ebbetts Field?' I couldn't speak. He said, 'I see you went and played hockey.' I told him I had to make a decision in 1956 whether to play baseball or hockey and that was the first year I turned pro."
