It is well known that the Philadelphia Flyers prospect group is among the best in the league. That was proven to be even truer as eight Flyers prospects were named to the preliminary rosters for their national junior teams. Amongst the countries represented, players will be from the United States, Canada, and Sweden.

Eight Flyers Prospects Heading To Selection Camp

The rosters for the World Junior Championship have been released during the last few days. Those rosters saw eight Flyers prospects with their names selected. The annual tournament is set to begin December 26th and will run through January 5th in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.

United States

Among the eight Flyers prospects named, four of them were named to the United States roster. Three of the four were recently drafted by the Flyers this past summer. Training camp for the United States will run from December 15-17 in Everett, Washington.

Joel Farabee

After being drafted 14th overall this past summer, Joel Farabee is in his first NCAA season with Boston University. His seven points in 13 games ranks him fourth on the Bulldogs. Farabee is no stranger to playing for the United States. He has played for the National team on multiple occasions, holding the captain’s honor for the U18 National Team in 2017-18.

Farabee posted 33 goals and 43 assists in 62 games for the team that season. He has represented the United States in the WJC twice previously. In 14 games, Farabee has seven goals and seven assists. Farabee should have a good chance at a big role on the United States team. Summer lines had him on the top line with Jack Hughes, the projected number one pick in next year’s draft.

Jay O’Brien

Coming off of 43 goals and 37 assists for Thayer Academy last season, Jay O’Brien has had a rough start to his collegiate career. O’Brien previously missed seven games for Providence with an upper-body injury. In nine games thus far, O’Brien has just one lone goal. But the lack of goal-scoring has not been a concern.

O’Brien has drawn praise from his head coach who mentioned his improvement off the puck and his ability to create space. O’Brien helped his case to make the preliminary squad with a strong showing during the World Junior Summer Showcase.

Jack St. Ivany

Jack St. Ivany is the third Flyers prospect from the recent draft to be named to the USA preliminary roster. St. Ivany is currently in his first NCAA season with Yale Universtiy. In nine games, he has one goal and five assists. He previously spent two years in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede. In 106 games, he registered seven goals and 39 assists.

He was named to the USHL Third All-Star Team during his final season with the Stampede. He had finished that season with 36 points in 54 games. St. Ivany was not a part of the USA’s summer camp so this is a chance for him to prove that he is able to play at the level of his teammates.

Noah Cates

Noah Cates is the lone Flyers draftee from 2017 to be named to the USA roster. In his first NCAA season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Cates has three goals and three assists in 14 games. Cates is no stranger to the US team as he was a part of the 29 players on the final roster during the Summer Showcase this past summer.

Cates made a name for himself coming into his first collegiate season. Skating in his last year with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, Cates finished with 21 goals and 34 assists in 61 games. This came after posting only five points in his first 13 games.

While Cates was seen skating on the team’s fifth line during the summer, being named to the preliminary roster is another step in the right direction for the young forward.

Canada

While four Flyers will represent the team for the United States, two of the more well-known Flyers prospects will be suiting up for Canada this winter. The 34 players selected overall will head to Victoria, British Columbia for camp from December 11-14.

Morgan Frost

It is no surprise that Morgan Frost was named to the Canadian squad for the WJC. Frost has continued to light things up for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL. In his final season with the team, Frost currently has 20 goals and 37 assists in 30 games. This is after finishing last season with 42 goals and 70 assists in 67 games.

Frost is over 20 points ahead of the next teammate behind him and leads the OHL in points as well. While Frost did not stand out from the crowd during the Summer Showcase, having his name of the preliminary roster is a step in the right direction for a player yet to suit up for his country. And this would be his final chance to do so.

Isaac Ratcliffe

Isaac Ratcliffe is another Flyers prospect who is no surprise on the Canadian roster. Unlike Frost, this will be Ratcliffe’s third time suiting up for Canada at the WJC. In 11 games for Canada, Ratcliffe has just two assists. This is also his final time putting on the Canadien jersey as he is in the middle of his last junior season.

For the Guelph Storm, Ratcliffe is once against putting up big numbers. In 27 games, he has posted 19 goals and 14 assists. His 33 points are third on the squad, with his 19 goals lead the team. Ratcliffe also had the chance to suit up for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the end of last season. He recorded his first professional goal while appearing in two games.

Sweden

Rounding out the list of Flyers prospects heading to selection camp include a couple of Swedes. The 25, potential 26 with the addition of Isac Lundestrom, players selected will try to build on their bronze finish at the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship

Adam Ginning

Picking Adam Ginning in the second round this past summer was a bit of a question mark for the Flyers at the time. But Ginning is proving he can fill a need on the roster as a stay at home defenseman, something the Flyers don’t have many of. While his highest point total in a season was 18, Ginning’s ability to keep up and play against older competition has worked in his favor.

Ginning currently has one goal and three assists in 24 games for Linköping HC. In 64 total SHL games, he has two goals and six assists.

Ginning captained the Sweden squad during the team’s bronze medal finish last spring. He posted one goal and three assists in seven games.

Samuel Ersson

For Samuel Ersson, he is no stranger to Sweden. At the age of 15, Brynäs IF saw his talent and brought him to the team in 2015-16. And Ersson impressed with a 1.86 GAA and a .918 SV% in 15 games. His save percentage increased to .922 when he appeared in seven games in the J18 Allsvenskan, which is where the top teams from each region meet.

Ersson has continued that success throughout his career, currently holding a .943 SV% and 1.72 GAA in 17 games for Västerås IK. His impressive save percentage leads the league. He has posted a 12-3-0 record with three shutouts.

With Sweden, Ersson has appeared in five games throughout his career. It would be no surprise if Ersson emerges as the starter for the WJC Sweden squad. Adam Åhman will likely be his biggest competition.

Future Is Bright For Flyers Prospects

With eight prospects chosen, it highlights how deep the Flyers prospect pool runs. For players such as Frost and Ratcliffe, this is a chance for one final improvement before officially turning pro at the end of the season. For players such as O’Brien and Farabee, it is a chance to hone their skills and use the opportunities for success at the collegiate level. Lastly, for Ersson and Ginning, it is an opportunity to test themselves on a smaller ice surface.

No matter the outcome at the WJC this winter, the Flyers prospects will be on full displayy and show the team’s future has the chance to be bright.

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