Flag football in Pennsylvania

Jamila Robinson, Writer

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) has declared high school girls’ flag football an officially sanctioned sport in the Keystone State. The announcement was made following the PIAA Board of Directors meeting on Wed, Sept. 18, 2024 in Mechanicsburg, PA where girls’ flag football was reviewed and approved on the third and final reading to be designated as a state-sanctioned sport.

The approval was also made with some help from the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers. The flag football program is set to begin next fall for the 2025-2026 school year. It is also one of the fastest-growing sports in America. This is a very exciting addition to the roster of several high schools across the Commonwealth, meaning that young ladies will be able to get engaged with the sport, as well as gain exposure to the game of football and all of the excitement surrounding it.

Let’s begin with a basic lesson of what flag football is. Flag football is a non-contact version of American football where players remove flags from the ball carrier instead of tackling them to the ground. The goal of the game is to advance the ball into the opposing team’s end zone. There is no contact, and players are not allowed to tackle, block, dive, screen or fumble.

Here is where the flags come into play. The players wear flags attached to their waists, one on each side and one at the back. Defenders remove one or both flags to “tackle” the ball carrier. Flag football fields are usually 25-30 yards wide and 70 yards long, with two 10-yard end zones.

In the case of girls’ flag football in Pennsylvania, it was required that there be at least 100 participating teams across the state. According to the PIAA, that threshold was achieved in April with 65 schools from the eastern side of the state (Eagles) and 36 from the western side (Steelers). And yes, both of these teams had to work in collaboration to ensure that this momentous sanction was a success.

Many people may not be aware that the NFL is heavily involved in this major addition to PIAA sports. The Philadelphia Eagles heavily invested in growing the game of girls’ flag football. The Eagles have ensured access for young girls across the Double-A region in southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and southern New Jersey to utilize their facilities for practice, games and even the use of their equipment.

Between the three states, there are currently over 100 teams with the hopes of 100 more teams participating. These teams will span public, private and parochial schools. There is major anticipation of opportunities for scholarships for these young ladies to not only play in high school but to play collegiately. It’s a very competitive environment, and I feel that great things will come from this endeavor. Many colleges are now starting a girls’ flag football program which only means more doors opening and exposure for so many young ladies who might otherwise not have an interest in this sport.

A local rugby club reflects on their 50th anniversary and what comes next

Sports

Aidan Tyksinski, Editor

If you happen to drive through Doylestown, Pennsylvania on a weekend, go past the famous Fonthill Castle that looks out of place today and end up passing Maennerchor Field – chances are you will see 30 guys or girls playing a sport that seems as dated as the castle. The sport being played is rugby, and the club that calls the field home is on the cusp of its 50^th anniversary.

The Doylestown Dragons Rugby Football Club (or Doylestown RFC) was created in 1974 when a group of rugby players from Doylestown played rugby with Blackthorn RFC. Realizing the 45 minute drive to Blackthorn’s home field near Philadelphia three days a week was too much, the players decided to start their team in Doylestown.

Today, the rugby club has grown from just having a men’s side to including youth teams, both high school girls and boys teams and also a women’s team. The current president of the men’s team, Brian Kelnhofer, started out playing for the club’s youth and high school teams and is now back playing for the men’s team.

“I think it speaks for rugby,” Kelnhofer said. “Kevin Riley and Brian Stella are the two guys who I walked into [the sport with]. They were great friends when I was a kid and they said, “‘We need more people,’ and I was hooked from the jump.” Today, Kelnhofer, Riley and Stella have continued the bond they forged as kids and all play together on the men’s team.

The team struggled in the fall both in terms of finding enough players and capturing wins. However, they started the spring with a roster of over 20 players and finished the season undefeated, with one of the wins coming against their old foe Blackthorn.

The head coach of the team, Jeremy Ault, credits hard work for the team’s success. “We have been working on our skills and the fundamentals in the winter,” he said. “You can never not train enough of the fundamentals. Since we went to outside practices, we have been wanting to work on our game plan since this is a different style, whether you are familiar with it or not.”

Something all members of the club were happy to touch on was what it means to be a part of Doylestown Rugby for the 50^th anniversary, as well as the club’s reunion that will be coinciding with the anniversary.

“It’s a privilege to say that I will be moving forward as the head coach of a club that has been around for half a century. I think that is something that will definitely be on my resume, but until then I think it will be important to see that growth and development from the younger guys,” said Ault.

“I think that this celebration is bringing a lot of people out of the woodwork who want to come back and get involved,” added Julian Bellman, the communications and marketing chair of the club and Vice President of the men’s team. “As a club, we are setting up a lot of infrastructure to be able to keep track of records and management of past and current players to have better communication with everyone. So, I think having everyone come out for the 50^th and get involved that way and update their information, they will be able to stay informed.”

As for the future of the club, everyone involved with the men’s team was very optimistic. “The numbers have been increasing,” said Bellman. “We have a new head coach (Ault) and a new president (Kelnhofer), who are both doing a great job in their positions with building team morale, getting players out and teaching the game to new people.”

“We want more bodies, more time together and just building the right culture,” said Kelnhofer about his goals for the club. “Because when you do that, everything else follows.”

When asked if he wanted to add anything else, Kelnhofer gave a quick pause, smiled, and said the same slogan that has been said for 50 years.

“Go Dragons.”

Eagles cover all bases in successful 2024 draft

Sports

Andrew Noel, Staff Writer

For a team in Super Bowl contention, the Eagles certainly had a lot of roster needs heading into this year’s NFL Draft. Luckily, GM Howie Roseman was able to work his magic and fill most of the needs for the Eagles. Here is a breakdown of each pick.

Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo – Everyone knew what the Eagles biggest need was coming into the draft. With the decline of James Bradberry and the aging Darius Slay, the only two reliable cornerbacks on the roster, the Eagles with the 22nd pick got Quniyon Mitchell from Toledo. Mitchell was seen as one of the best athletes in the draft and Eagles fans were very happy with the pick. The only knock on Mitchell is that he played his college football in the Mid-American Conference, causing him to face lesser talent than some of the other defensive backs in the draft. s This has led some to believe that he may struggle to succeed against the much better competition in the NFL.

Cooper Dejean DB Iowa – Howie Roseman once again addressed his roster’s biggest need with his second pick. Dejean can play corner, safety and even some linebacker, which were all massive needs going into the draft. A lot of analysts were surprised when Dejean did not get picked in the first round, so getting him in the second round is a steal for the Eagles.

Jalyx Hunt DE Houton Christian – With their 3rd pick, the Eagles took the first player ever to be drafted out of Houston Christian University. Hunt is a defensive end, another position the Eagles needed to address, especially after trading Hasson Reddick to the Jets. 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith can also play defensive end, but he will have to show improvement in 2024 if the Eagles plan on making him a starter. Due to the uncertainty at the position, this was a no-brainer for the Eagles.

Will Shipley RB Clemson – You can never have enough offensive weapons, and this pick backed up that philosophy. A running back wasn’t the most pressing need for the Eagles given the signing of free agent Saquon Barkley, but depth was needed at the position with Kenneth Gainwell being the only other NFL-ready back on the roster. These kinds of picks are smart because they allow a young player to sit behind a veteran and develop with no pressure on him to succeed. It is a great sign that the Eagles are willing to show this type of patience in player development.

Ainias Smith WR Texas A&M – Similar to the Shipley pick, this is not a move that will impact the Eagles much in the short term but was nonetheless necessary to make. Besides the great duo of AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, the Eagles had almost no options at wide receiver. Depth was needed in the position and this pick is exactly what it provides. Like Shipley, not much will (or should) be expected from Smith early in his career, but sitting behind two of the best wide receivers in the game will no doubt benefit Smith and the Eagles in a few years time.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. LB Clemson – The son of an Eagles legend, Trotter will fit right in with the Eagles. Lineback was the biggest need on the team after cornerback, and Trotter fills the need nicely.

Trevor Keegan G Michigan – You can also never have enough depth on the lines, and this pick is an example of that. Not a ton is expected out of Keegan, but worst-case scenario, he adds depth to one of the most important positions in football.

Johnny Wilson WR Florida State – Wilson is a wide receiver who will probably convert to tight end in the NFL. A fantastic pick as the Eagles lacked tight end depth beyond Dallas Goedert. Goedert is also starting to get older, so picking up a player who could take over for him immediately is smart.

Dylan Mcmahon C N.C. State – Mcmahon is probably the most underrated pick of this Eagles draft class. After the retirement of Jason Kelce a center was needed on the roster to back up converted center Cam Jurgens. Mcmahon plays three offensive line positions and versatility is one of the best traits a player can have in the NFL.

Only time will tell how good this draft class ends up being for the Eagles. In the short term, it was a great success, with the biggest holes on the roster being filled. There is a lot of work to be done before the Eagles kick off their season in Brazil in September, but these last three days can certainly be seen as a step in the right direction as the Eagles look to return to the playoffs next year.

La Salle announces major changes to sporting department

Foolegian, Sports, Uncategorized

Andrew Noel, Staff Writer

Last week La Salle University announced that its football team would be returning with the hope that the team will start playing in the 2025-2026 season. This announcement comes after years of pressure from students, faculty and alumni alike, and it will mark the end of a decade-long absence from the college football scene.

There is still a lot to be determined before play can begin, such as what conference the Explorers football team will play in. Given that the A-10 conference has no other football programs, La Salle will have to find another conference to join, with the PAC-12 being the early favorite to host La Salle’s football team.

This move marks the beginning of a new era for La Salle sports, with there being hope that Men’s Water Polo, Cricket and Australian Rules Football teams will soon be introduced.

Another goal for La Salle’s athletic department is to introduce a new mascot, with the most popular rumor at the moment being that he will be called the Finder, and will only be rivaled by Gritty and the Philly Phanatic in terms of dominance in the mascot world.

“This is all very exciting,” said President Dan Allen, “We hope that these additions to the athletic department at La Salle will help us usher in a new era of gold.”

“We need to be drivers of innovation in the collegiate sports scene,” commented athletic director Ash Puri. “We hope that by introducing Cricket and Australian Rules football, as well as bringing back Men’s Water Polo and Football, we will become the go-to university for only the best high school athletes, not just in the United States, but around the world.”

The addition of these programs will have a large financial effect on the school. The long-term goal is that the additions of these teams will help drive revenue growth. However, President Allen admitted that there would be some sacrifices made in the short term.

“Absolutely,” Allen said. “In the near term, I think that students can expect some changes to life around campus.” When asked to elaborate, Allen said that students should expect dining options to continue to be limited, as well as showers, especially in underclassmen dorms (with little to no access to hot water).

La Salle has always been a driver of innovation in the academic community, and the university hopes that these changes to the athletic department will aid La Salle’s efforts in leading the way to new horizons for students and faculty. Only time will tell.

La Salle’s basketball teams win NCAA tournaments thanks to point-shaving scandals

Foolegian, Sports

Aidan Tyksinski, Editor

In what has been a whirlwind weekend for the sports world, NCAA President Charlie Baker announced late last night that both La Salle’s women’s and men’s basketball teams were named tournament champions after it was determined that every other school was part of a historic point-shaving scandal. The Collegian was able to get an exclusive interview with Baker, who explained the entire saga in detail.

According to Baker, the scandal started when the watch group, U.S. Integrity, noticed “unusual wagering activity” in the season finale between Temple and UAB. The line had started out with UAB being 1.5-point favorites. However, hours before the game, the line went up to 8 points, which was what initially caught the attention of Integrity, who had reportedly been watching betting lines of Temple men’s basketball games for “a while”.

“What we determined was that Temple players were betting against their team, inflating the line right before games,” said Baker. “Of course, we just assumed it was one team doing this. We had no idea the scope of this problem.”

After a careful investigation by the NCAA, multiple sportsbooks and almost every state gaming control board, it was determined that almost every school men’s and women’s teams in Division 1 had bet against themselves at least once this season. The only school that didn’t? La Salle University.

“We ran a very tight ship at La Salle,” said one member of La Salle’s athletic department. “We don’t let our players within 1,000 feet of casinos and monitor their phones to make sure no one downloads a sports betting app. Heck, we don’t even let them play fantasy football.”

While the investigation is still ongoing, it seems that for every game a team throws, each player would receive 10,000 dollars, courtesy of an international illegal gambling ring. One of the lower-tier workers, who wished to stay anonymous for safety reasons, stated exactly why La Salle was left out of this country-wide scheme.

“Honestly, we all just assumed they were a D2 program. Several people tried to explain that La Salle was Division 1, but they were not able to convince the higher-ups. I mean, look at the arena they played in and tell me that it doesn’t look like a D2 gym.”

This is not the first time a point-shaving scandal has rocked the college basketball world. In the 1978-79 season, infamous mobster Henry Hill was able to convince some members of the Boston College men’s team to point shave games so they would not cover the spread.

“Our goal was to create a giant point-shaving ring like this,” said an accomplice to Hill, who has since passed away. “Of course, we did not have enough connections. Then, when Henry testified against the Lucchese family, it was all over”.
Thanks to the embarrassing scandal, La Salle’s women’s team will win their first-ever NCAA championship, while the men will win their first title since 1954. The win is especially big for the women, who ended this year with an 8-22 record. One player on the team said, “I don’t care if people try to discredit us. We played the right way, and I am looking forward to celebrating on 20^th and Olney tonight!”

La Salle Lacrosse wins its first game since 2022 in their season opener

Sports

Aidan Tyksinski, Editor

Last season was a year to forget for La Salle’s lacrosse team. The roster was full of underclassmen playing a very tough schedule, a bad combination that led to the Explorers finishing 0-15. Not only did they not win a game, but the Explorers failed to even push a game to overtime, continuing the narrative that a lack of skill, not luck, was the main issue for the team.

While the season has just started, things are already looking up for the Explorers. They won their first game of the season 19-10 over Fairleigh Dickinson, breaking a 16-game losing streak that dated back to the 2022 season. While the Explorers have lost two straight games since the opener, the 13-12 loss to Manhattan in double overtime over the weekend is a positive sign that this season will be different from the team’s previous campaign.

A big reason for the Explorers’ early success has been their offense. Last season’s team only had 40 assists and a .345 shot percentage, second to last and last in the A10. This year the Explorers already have 18 assists, which would put them at 84 over the whole season, an amazing improvement in one year. As for their shot percentage, it is at a cool .438, good for fourth in the conference.

Another reason for La Salle’s solid start has been the players’ efforts. Junior Katie Johnson already has 10 goals this season, tying her total from last year, and Mackenzie Click’s 4 goals against FDU played a huge part in the Explorer’s win. So far, it has been the upperclassman leading La Salle, but freshman Kate Licciardi has held her own. Licciardi has started all three games, grabbing two assists against FDU and netting her first goal against Manhattan, as well as getting another assist in the same game.

The worst loss of the season was to Villanova 14-4. The home opener for the Explorers was disappointing, especially coming after the win against FDU, but La Salle did a good job controlling the pace offensively. The most glaring issue in this game was that once the Wildcats got possession, they would push the ball quickly without much resistance, leading to quick goals. This was not as much of an issue against Manhattan, giving La Salle fans hope that this was just a fluke.

The Explorers have two more non-conference games coming up, before opening conference play at Davidson on March 9. The first of the non-conference games will be against Howard on Wednesday, followed by a home game against UMBC on Saturday. Howard is currently 0-4 and UMBC is 2-2, so La Salle will look to win against both of these beatable teams before going into the harder part of their schedule. The Explorer’s 1-2 record puts them in the middle of the Atlantic 10 standings, so adding another win or two will be a huge morale boost for a team looking to leave last year in the past and improve on what could be a very exciting season.

Ionescu’s 3-point contest performance is another dub for women’s sports

Sports

Aidan Tyksinski, Editor

Last weekend, during the NBA All-Star weekend, the WNBA and NBA teamed up and paired New York Liberty star shooter Sabrina Ionescu versus Golden State Warrior legend Steph Curry in a 3-point challenge. Originally, Ionescu was supposed to shoot from the WNBA three-point line (three feet shorter than the NBA line). However, she decided to shoot from the NBA three-point line saying, “Personally, I shoot from that range to begin with.”

While some fans might have seen this as cocky, it was just Ionescu speaking her truth. She ended the event with 26 points which would have tied her with four NBA players in the first round of the NBA three-point contest and also tied her with the winner, Damien Lillard, in the final round. Unfortunately for this marquee event, Ionescu was paired against Curry, who won the head-to-head competition by three points.

While Ionescu might not have won, the WNBA certainly did. According to the NBA, the NBA All-Star Challenge was viewed by 10 million people, with the peak audience at 5.4 million between 10 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. The event that piqued so much interest? Ionescu versus Curry. At a time when the WNBA is forming super teams and viewership for the league is on the rise, this moment was huge for the league.

This moment was another footnote in a great couple of weeks for women’s sports. Two nights before the 3-point contest, Iowa guard Catlin Clark became the NCAA women’s all-time leading scorer, passing Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum, who achieved the record while playing at the University of Washington. After scoring 24 points while also nabbing a triple-double in Iowa’s win over Illinois on Sunday, Clark needs just 51 points to break the all-time NCAA scoring record, held by college basketball legend Pete Maravich.

Internationally, 19,285 people were in attendance for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) game between Toronto and Montreal on Feb. 16, breaking the record for highest attendance for a women’s professional hockey game, according to the Sports Business Journal. According to the Journal, it’s the third time the PWHL has broken the record this season, the league’s first. Speaking of attendance, a WSL game between Arsenal and Manchester United last weekend had over 60 thousand fans in attendance, which also broke a league record. The Big 10 conference also announced that the women’s conference tournament has sold out every day of the tournament for the first time, largely thanks to Clark and Iowa, who are hoping to make another Final Four run this year.

From the court to the ice, to the pitch, it is clear to most people that women’s sports are ascending to heights many never thought were possible. Networks have started to catch on, giving women athletes a national audience and a platform that once upon a time was only given to a select few. While there is still a lot that needs to be done in terms of equality, Ionescu’s performance last weekend was proof that when given the chance, sports fans will watch women’s sports.

Flyers outclassed in the outdoors, once again

Sports

Andrew Noel, Staff

Saturday night continued the trend of the Flyers not performing their best when the lights are the brightest. In front of a national audience and 70 thousand cheering fans, the Flyers stumbled to a 6-3 loss against the New Jersey Devils. Thanks to the loss, they have now only won one of the six outdoor games they have played in franchise history. It was a disappointing output for a franchise that wants to be among the league’s most feared and respected teams.

The game was a reality check for the Flyers, who, in all honesty, were lucky to lose by just three goals. The Devils took the lead after just 32 seconds and never looked back. It was a bad game for the Flyers, who should be winning these kinds of games easily if they want to think about making a playoff run. Unfortunately, at this point, a playoff appearance at all would be a miracle. It is hard to imagine that just a few weeks ago fans were saying that the Flyers were a Stanley Cup favorite. But anything, especially in sports, can change in just a few weeks.

The Flyers did bounce back with a midweek win in Chicago over the Blackhawks. The game was a much improved performance from the Flyers who controlled throughout and came out as deserved 3-1 winners. As encouraging as the win was, it is worth remembering that the Blackhawks are the worst team in hockey, and pretty much everyone beats them.

Overall, it was another week of stagnation for the Flyers: One step forward, two steps back. As discussed in recent articles, the Flyers are coming up with a decision on what they want to do with their team, not just for the short term but for the long term as well. The later in the season it gets, the more and more clear it becomes as to what kind of team the Flyers are. They have improved over the last two seasons, no doubt, but they continue to struggle against the best teams in the league. If General Manager Danny Briere were to do nothing during the upcoming trade deadline, then he would leave the Flyers in no man’s land, which in sports, is the worst place to be. They would be too good to get a top draft pick, but not good enough to make the playoffs.

The new Flyers leadership has been very open with the fans about the direction of the team. That was great in the beginning, but words must turn into actions, and so far, no actions have been taken to make this fanbase believe that this regime will be any different from the ones in the past. Time has not run out for the Flyers, but the clock is ticking, and if the clock hits zero, then fans will be right to question this front office and wonder if this front office group will be any different from those in the past.

Saturday’s game against the Devils was a chance for the Flyers to exorcise old demons against a division foe. Instead, they showed that lots of progress still has to be made before they can be considered one of the league’s top teams. Unless this new Flyers leadership makes big changes at the trade deadline, then fans should have no hope that these new Flyers will be anything different than the old Flyers.

La Salle Basketball Week in Review

Sports

Aidan Tyksinski, Editor

January did not end well for La Salle’s basketball teams, and both the men and women were hoping a new month would bring a new beginning. As we approach the middle of February, that hope has turned to dread, as the teams have combined for a 0-6 record for the month. Not all of the losses have been bad, and there were some very exciting moments. But on the whole, there has not been a lot to cheer for at 20^th and Olney.

La Salle Men’s Basketball

The Explorers started the month with a brutal loss to Big 5 and Atlantic 10 rival Saint Josephs, 88-82. The game started well for the Explorers, with the team hitting five consecutive three-pointers to start the game. All of the starters outside of Daeshon Shepard contributed to the scorching start, with guards Anwar Gill and Andres Marrero coming off the bench to add to the points sheet as well. There were several points where the Hawks looked finished, but guard Erik Reynolds II, who finished the game with 21 points, helped cut La Salle’s lead to 44-38 going into halftime. Coming out of the half, La Salle was able to get the lead up to 10 points with major contributions coming from Gill, Khalil Brantley, and Rokas Jocius. With 10:45 left in the game, the tide began to turn. The Hawks decided to go with a full-court press, and La Salle coach Fran Dunphy was out-coached at the worst possible time. St. Joes went on a 7-0 run while pressing, causing many La Salle turnovers that led to points. Although the Explorers did get the lead back up to eight, St. Joes had clear control of the game and was able to get the win. The Explorers have since lost two blowout games, including a 102-84 shellacking to St. Louis. La Salle now sits at 2-9 in conference play, tied with the Billikens for last in the conference.

La Salle Women’s Basketball

The women’s team had a crushing 73-39 loss to Loyola Chicago, sandwiched in between two close losses to Dayton and Duquesne. The most heartbreaking loss came against Dayton, a 72-69 loss in overtime. La Salle started cold, with the team going 0-4 from three to start the game. The Explorers were able to break the cold streak thanks to a layup by Tiara Bolden, cutting Dayton’s lead 5-2. The Explorers were able to end the first quarter only down by two, shooting a combined 26.27% from the field. The Explorers went on a run in the second quarter thanks to Molly Masciantonio, who scored seven of the Explorer’s 18 points in the frame to give them a 29-22 advantage over the Flyers going into the half. La Salle did a good job controlling the game in the third quarter, but all their effort came undone in the fourth. Dayton tied the game early in the quarter, and the Explorers missed several late free throws that would have helped their cause. After the Flyers got a late lead, Makayla Miller was able to force overtime with a jump shot with only three seconds left. The extra frame went back and forth, but the Flyers got the lead with 1:13 remaining, never to give it up the rest of the game. The three losses have dropped La Salle to 4-8 in Atlantic 10 play, good for 10^th in the conference.

Flyers set to take center stage in NHL Stadium Series

Sports

Andrew Noel, Staff

After weeks of build-up, we are just days away from the Flyers playing the New Jersey Devils at Metlife Stadium (home of the NFL’s Giants and Jets). The game, part of what is known as the NHL Stadium Series, will only be the 40th NHL game played outdoors. Saturday night’s game will be the sixth outdoor game in Flyers history. There are some teams that have never played outdoor games in their entire history, so for the Flyers to be a part of six in about a 15-year period, is really special and something that the fans should appreciate.

The first Flyers outdoor game was in 2010 at Fenway Park in Boston with the Bruins topping the Flyers 2-1 in overtime. The Flyers hosted the same event two years later at Citizens Bank Park with the Rangers topping Philadelphia 3-2. The Flyers had to wait five years for their next outdoor experience, losing 4-2 in Pittsburgh against the cross-state rival Penguins. Philadelphia finally got its first outdoor win in 2019, beating the Penguins 4-3 at Lincoln Financial Field. The Flyers’ most unique outdoor experience came at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when they lost to the Bruins 7-3 in front of no fans on the shore of Lake Tahoe in 2021.

Due to the fact that outdoor games don’t happen very often (with between one and three outdoor games being played per season), the NHL always tries to make the events around the game as memorable as possible and Saturday’s game is no exception, with The Jonas Brothers set to perform live during the pregame. Another feature of outdoor games is celebrating the area where the game is being played. Given that the Jonas Brothers are New Jersey natives, having them as the pregame entertainment is an obvious choice.

The Flyers are in the middle of the most important part of the season, with many of the players’ futures to be decided in the next few days and weeks. Saturday’s game will give us another massive hint as to how this new Flyers front office will approach the trade deadline, which will affect the outlook of the team both in the short and long term.

The Flyers have two options: load up for a deep playoff run or sell current assets for future assets. The futures of forward Scott Laughton and defensemen Sean Walker and Rasmus Ristolianen are in the air, and the result of Saturday’s spectacle will go a long way to determining if they will finish the season as Flyers or not.

No matter how the rest of this season goes, Saturday is sure to be a fun and memorable occasion for both the players and fans. On a day which will hopefully result in a Flyers win, this is another positive step in the team’s surprising push to the playoffs.