Home, Sweet, Home, for Flyers’ Draft Pick Cole Knuble

Cole’s Dad, Mike, Played Five Seasons For Philadelphia

When Cole Knuble stepped onto the Flyers Training Center ice in Voorhees last week, it was familiar turf. It’s the ice sheet where he learned to skate as a little guy.

Cole Knuble couldn’t be happier about being drafted by the Flyers. His dad, former Philadelphia Flyers forward Mike Knuble, is pretty thrilled, too.

“It meant a lot,” Cole said. “It brought back some memories of my time here.

“This is where I learned to play hockey. Where I learned to skate, so it was a big honor and I was really excited and really happy.

“Obviously he [Mike] was super happy. He would be happy anywhere [I had been drafted]. But especially since it was the Flyers he was more excited. He loved his time here. He knows how good of an organization it is.”

Cole’s dad, Mike, played for the Flyers from 2005-09, then 28 games in his final season in 2012-13. He was well-respected and talented — an honest hockey player.

Mike scored 118 goals and 111 assists for 229 points in five seasons for the Flyers. In his 16-season career, he scored 278 goals, 270 assists for 548 points and a plus-76.

Now Cole is skating in Voorhees, a fourth-round draft pick (103rd overall). In Cole’s mind, he was drafted a year too late.

Not Selected In 2022

Cole was draft-eligible last year but was not selected. He played last season with the Fargo Force, of the United States Hockey League, with a chip on his shoulder over the slight, he said.

“One-hundred percent,” Cole said. “It was on my mind all the time. I really wanted to prove everyone wrong. That was my goal along with winning a championship.”

Going into last year’s draft, Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said they had Cole on their draft list but his skating was a concern.

“Definitely after the year, that was an issue I had to address,” Cole said. “I started skating with a skating coach back home in Grand Rapids [Mich.] and I think that helped a ton.

“And then my team had a full-time strength coach last year so I was able to work out and do speed workouts. Just a constant progression I felt with a skating coach and I was able to work out more.

“Carrie Keil [was the skating coach]. She worked with the National Team Development Program and University of Michigan and she moved over to Grand Rapids recently.”

At Fargo last season, Cole had 30 goals and 36 assists for 66 points in 57 games. He was a plus-31. The forward also had six goals and three assists in three playoff games. He was the USHL Player of the Year.

Next, Notre Dame

Cole’s next step is playing for college hockey powerhouse Notre Dame.

“I want to really have a big impact on the team as a freshman and help us win and continue to develop as a player and a person,” Cole said. “Those are the biggest goals.

“I had talked to a lot of teams. I went on a lot of visits. There’s something special about Notre Dame that is hard to explain. I love the coaching staff.

“I felt they really wanted to develop me more than other schools. I thought they valued me and they wanted to make me better as a player and a person.

“That was my biggest factor every school I visited: Who was going to help me become an NHL player.”

Cole didn’t get Mike’s size but is big enough at 5-11, 185. Mike played at 6-3, 229. Cole’s final NHL Central Scouting ranking was 105 among North American skaters.

Mike played two seasons in Philadelphia with Daniel Briere. The Flyers’ general manager said he remembered Cole the youngster bouncing around the locker room and on the practice ice.

Cole remembers some things about growing up in South Jersey and watching his dad play. He said he went to preschool in Haddonfield, N.J.

“I remember the song ‘The Orange and the Black,’ ” said Cole, who sang the song to Flyers executives at the NHL Combine, according to Flahr. “I don’t know if they still do it, but [I remember] the Peco Power Play. I don’t know why I’ve always remembered that.

“I remember Mike Richards. He was definitely my favorite player. I loved his game. He was gritty and got the job done.

“I moved around but wherever I lived I always paid attention to those teams more than others. I’ve always kept watching the Flyers.”

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