The Flyers share the ice with 26 military personnel after Friday’s practice.

The Flyers locker room was buzzing after practice on Friday.

Was it because the team had won two in a row and three out of four? No. Maybe that they have rebuilt their structure and started playing more cohesively in the five-on-five format? No, not that.

Could there be a rematch with the Boston Bruins, whom they beat 2-0 on Tuesday, scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center (1 p.m., NBCSP)? No.

The conversation centered around one of the 26 active-duty military personnel who joined the team on the ice after practice.

“In a conversation with one of them, he said that he played in a semi-professional league,” striker Sean Couturier said. Jamie Drysdale added that he had heard something similar.

Meet Derek Klein, a U.S. Coast Guard boatswain’s mate based in Philadelphia. A physical defenseman, Klein played junior hockey in the U.S. Premier League and could have played low-level minor league hockey when he was offered a professional contract with the Columbus River Dragons a few years ago—he wanted to serve his country instead. .

“Still deciding what I want to do when I get out of the Coast Guard, I might try to come back and continue my dreams,” said Klein, who recently played semi-pro hockey for the San Diego Super Hornets and Blue City. Kings.” “But it was definitely cool to be there and get passes from Couturier and Drysdale. Drysdale couldn’t get past me one-on-one, so that kind of gave me a lot of confidence.”

Flyers and Toyota, in partnership with the United Service Organizations, hosted representatives from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine Corps. They toured the locker room and were gifted tickets to the Flyers’ war game on Nov. 11 against the San Jose Sharks (7 p.m., NBCSP). Each participant was given a black camouflage-trimmed Flyers jersey with the number 24 on the nameplate reading “excellence, courage, respect, integrity, sacrifice, determination, service or protection.”

“What an honor to see them on the ice and to be able to share the ice with them,” forward Garnet Hathaway said. “The men and women I talked to there were happy to just break the ice with us, and I think it’s so mutual. … I think the most important thing in sports is bringing people together. And we are artists, this is our job, so we enjoy it, we can share what we do and be able to share with the men and women who serve and protect us.”

The military felt lucky. Staff Sgt. Keith Schuh, a military police officer, grew up in Northeast Philadelphia playing bandy and meeting his favorite player, Couturier.

“It was unreal. I couldn’t even imagine the excitement,” said Schuch, who chatted with the captain and asked him to sign the jersey while his 8-year-old son posed for photos and his 3-year-old daughter looked on. “There’s no word to describe it. I’m a fan for life. Just being on the ice with the players and just seeing them was exciting.”

Although some military personnel needed the help of guys like the reserve captain to get on the ice. Scott Lawtonsome, like Klein, were running around. Some showed terrible wrists, and some, like the serviceman who asked Hathaway how to lift the puck when shooting, asked questions.

Staff Sergeant John Hood, an Air Force firefighter with 15 years of experience, headed to Sam Ersson. Hood, national team goalkeeper Camden County Warriors Public Safety Hockey ClubA team of first responders who raise funds for various charities through hockey recently played against the New Jersey State Police Hockey Club in an exhibition game to benefit the Michael R. McCausland Foundation, a non-profit mental health charity.

“It was amazing (today). I watched them last night, so I need to talk to Sam Ehrsson and just get some tips and stuff like that. Just watching him and then being able to talk to him, it was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Hood said, adding that he got some hip flexibility tips from the Flyers goalie.

While some of Ersson’s teammates passed and shot along with the men, the goalie put on his best Dikembe Mutombo impression and kept them from scoring on the NHLer. This is not shocking as the Swedish goalkeeper has allowed one goal in his last two games.

“He’s very good,” Schuch said. “Obviously I’m not going to score on him, but I tried.”

This moment was significant for Ersson as well.

“It’s really fun, it’s just special to be on the ice with these people. They do so much for everyone and sacrifice so much,” he said. “So it’s great to spend a lot of time with them and take some pictures.”

And he definitely realized that there were several shooters there and he had to concentrate. As for Klein, Drysdale said he told him his goal was to score against Ersson.

“He kept asking me, ‘Can I get a real shot at the goalie?’ I’ve always wanted to score against an NHL goalie.” And I thought: “Yes, go for it, give Erss a good run.”

“It was fun and I can confirm that Erss turned him down,” Drysdale said of Klein, who also confirmed he was 0-for-3 but plans to train to get back to the top.

What about Ersson? “The way he plays, it doesn’t surprise me,” Drysdale said with a smile.

Breakaways

Defenders Nick Siler and Travis Sanheim did not participate in training on Friday. Assistant coach Brad Shaw said both players had maintenance days. Seeler blocked a puck with his hand in the first period of the win over the St. Louis Blues, but played out the rest of the game. Sanheim leads the team in ice time, averaging 23 minutes, 47 seconds and skating nearly 26 minutes against the Blues.