Anthony Stolarz was the 45th overall draft pick for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012. The Jackson, New Jersey native grew up a Devils fan. At 6’5″ and 200 pounds, he is certainly a goaltender with a bright future.
In the 2010-2011 season Stolarz shared net minding duties with Kyle Shapiro for the Eastern Junior Hockey League’s New Jersey Hitmen. He went 10-4 with a .902 save percentage and 3.19 goals against average. In the postseason he was 1-2 with a .908 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average.
In the 2011-2012 season Anthony played 50 games for the Corpus Christi IceRays. He finished 23-26. His save percentage improved to .920 and his goals against average improved to 2.84. He recorded three shutouts and the IceRays failed to make the playoffs.
In the 2012-2013 season he appeared in 20 games for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. This was the lowest games played of all London’s goalies. He will take on the job of the last defender, leaving it all on the ice, and showing off for Flyers scouts, who you can count on to be at every game.
His footwork and reaction time are impeccable. He can react to a puck being hurled towards the net like no one else, and he brings other intangibles that make him special; his hockey sense and feel for the game are second to none. I’ve been watching this fellow play since he was 12 when he traveled to Quebec, coincidentally, with my brother’s team.
I firmly believe that Anthony Stolarz will break the Curse of Pelle Lindbergh. The Flyers have not had an above average goalie since Lindbergh’s death in 1985, with the exception of Ron Hextall. Stolarz has the heart and determination of a player who can shine and be loved by a city.
Am I putting too much pressure on him? Yes. Am I saying we should just hang up a banner next to Bernie Parent at the Wells Fargo Center? No. My expectations are still through the roof with this prospect though. Part of the reason for these particularly positive forecasts is because like most Flyers fans, I’m extremely desperate for a decent goaltender. I’m tired of either bringing a star from another team who underperforms, or sending a player away who ends up having a magnificent season.
Right now we have to stick with Steve Mason and Ray Emery. We will give them their opportunities to show that they’re the franchise player and if it doesn’t work we have Stolie the Goalie as a backup plan. You should see Stolarz in a Flyers uniform, if he isn’t traded that is, by 2015. That is my somewhat bold prediction. Stolarz can show a lot of respect and is a kind person at heart. He would not be one of Philadelphia’s sports figures to scream and have a fit with the media or call out our loyal fans. He is exactly what you want as an athlete. He is a hardscrabble person with a hardscrabble attitude.
This young bright competitor will be a perfect fit to wear the Orange and Black.
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