The Flyers, who a year ago took a 6-foot-7 Finnish goalie in Niko Honiven love tall and skinny goalies. So they took 6-5 Anthony Stolarz with the 45th overall pick, but he was a little easier to follow. Stolarz was born in Edison and now lives in Jackson, N.J., home of Mark Howe and Great Adventure.
It's been a hockey adventure for Stolarz, who grew up a Devils fan, went through that team's youth development program, found his way through low minors to Corpus Christi, Texas this year and plans to attend college at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
In the third round, the Flyers finally got defensive, picking a somewhat diminutive (5-11, 160) and offensive capable guy in Shayne Gostisbehere. He's a native of Margate, Fla. and grew up a Panthers fan.
It started to feel like the Flyers were trying to turn their organization into one dominated by Americans.
But in the fourth round, they went back to the good old Canadian kid route, picking a fighting winger from Portland of the WHA, Taylor Leier.