Isaac: 5 Takeaways from Flyers’ Rookie Game

PHILADELPHIA — It seemed like forever that Alex Lyon stood in the hallway and waited for the cue.

The video shot on the scoreboard zoomed tighter and tighter on the goalie's masked face as the first bar of Metallica's "Wherever I May Roam" played on loop. Once the song continued to a crescendo he could walk out onto the ice.

He was met by 13,050 in attendance for the Flyers’ rookie game Wednesday night against the New York Islanders. Tickets were free and nearly 6,000 more had tickets and didn’t show up, but that’s well more than the 8,500 capacity of PPL Center in Allentown for Lehigh Valley Phantoms games.

“To be honest, I was nervous. I was nervous,” said Lyon, who played for the Phantoms last season, his first year pro out of Yale University. “Going out for warmups, I knew there was going to be a good crowd. I didn’t expect there to be that many people there for warmups. I was excited. I haven’t played a game in five months.”

The Flyers lost 4-3 in overtime, Mitchell Vande Sompell notching the winner past Carter Hart, who came on in relief.

It was nearly a pro atmosphere for players who are mostly used to junior hockey. The game marked the end of rookie camp for the Flyers. Thursday will likely see the club cut most of the junior-eligible players before main training camp starts Friday.

Here are five takeaways from the last chance for many of these players to impress.