It wasn’t a huge signing or trade, but the Philadelphia Flyers have altered their staff significantly when it comes to trainers, therapists, conditioning coaches, and equipment managers. And some changes in coaching and development.
In an announcement today, the Flyers announced Alex Ambrose has been promoted to Head Athletic Trainer after being the team’s Assistant Athletic Trainer the previous three seasons in Philadelphia. Ambrose will be responsible for the “day-to-day medical care and treatment of Flyers players while coordinating the club’s sports medicine staff. Replacing Ambrose as the Assistant Athletic Trainer is Zach Casinelli, who spent five seasons in the American Hockey League with the Charlotte Checkers. Casinelli will work with Ambrose on the day-to-day workings with the Flyers will acting as a “Sports Medicine liaison” for Lehigh Valley.
Other health-related moves include Melissa Rucker being promoted to Head Massage Therapist after being a therapist the past six seasons with Philadelphia. And Abe Edson — who has spent time as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for Minnesota last year — is the Head of Athlete Performance. Edson previously had stints in the East Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the latter with the Springfield Thunderbirds. It’s a bit of a homecoming for Edson as he spent part of his college years at Penn State.
Flyers add new performance coach and former Leafs scout
In terms of development, the Flyers have added Chris Gratton (no, not the former offer sheet Chris Gratton) to the organization, becoming a performance coach after spending the last three years with the Phantoms. In Lehigh Valley, he was the club’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach last year after being an assistant in the same strength and conditioning realm the previous two years. Gratton is expected to “work closely with players” while also working alongside Edson.
As well, Lorne Goldenberg becomes Philadelphia’s Performance Development Coach. Goldenberg is a veteran with over 40 years of experience dating back to his start in 1986 with St. Louis. He’s worked with Montreal, Quebec (yes, they had a NHL club!), Ottawa, the Panthers, and Chicago. Goldenberg will work with the players to create individual “training programs and performance oversight.”
While all of the staff mentioned above will report to Philadelphia’s Vice President of Athlete Performance and Wellness (Daniel Bove), one outlier of sorts is Ryan Adkins who becomes the Director of Athlete Rehabilitation. Adkins spent the last three years with the Seattle Mariners, and worked previously with the Milwaukee Brewers. He will “support player rehabilitation, recovery, and injury prevention.”
In terms of scouting, the Flyers added Dave Morrison who spent the last 22 years with the Leafs with roles ranging from scouting to Director of Player Personnel. Prior to his time with Toronto, Morrison worked as an amateur scout with Vancouver. Elsewhere, Jake Rogers has been promoted to become Philadelphia’s equipment manager after five years in Lehigh Valley. And Kevin Braeunle has been named the Manager of Team Services, meaning he’s dealing with most of the logistics regarding travel, scheduling and transportation. And the headaches that come with such a position.
Phantoms make changes too
Because some of the aforementioned people are making the leap to the Flyers from the Phantoms, obviously there are some positions that needed to be filled down on the farm. And the Flyers have now filled them. Joe Hurley becomes the Phantoms’ Head Athletic Trainer after being the assistant in that realm the previous five years. Hurley spent one season with the Flyers in 2015-16 before working with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs.
Elsewhere, Evan Hanberry becomes the Phantoms’ Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. Hanberry spent the last two years at Penn State working with the university’s tennis and lacrosse programs. Hanberry will be working with Gavin Bastarche who is the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. Bastarche implemented programs for several NCAA Division I teams and spent the last two years with Boston College.
Last, but certainly not least, Jon Evan is now Lehigh Valley’s Head Equipment Manager, promoted from his assistant role in the same field the last three seasons with the Phantoms. And Liam Singer becomes the Assistant Equipment Manager in Lehigh Valley after working at Dartmouth College the last two years. Singer also had a stint with Philadelphia during the team’s Development Camp in 2025.
