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Rosehill (Rosehill!) wins Flyers' speed race

    by Sam Carchidi
    Published 

If you were placing a wager on who would win a speed-skating race among the Flyers, chances are that Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, or Zac Rinaldo would be the favorites.

Or perhaps Michael Raffl, Braydon Coburn or newcomer Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare.

Enforcer Jay Rosehill?

He would be a long shot.

Veteran defenseman Nick Schultz?

He would be even a BIGGER long shot.

Yet, when the Flyers ran their race Tuesday, Rosehill finished first and Schultz was second, it was revealed Saturday. Voracek took third.

Rosehill, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound left winger, said he was timed in 5.5 seconds, skating from the end line to the opposing blue line.

"He's a fast guy, straight ahead," coach Craig Berube said after the second day of camp Saturday in Voorhees.

"I've never done a full speed test like that before," said Rosehill, who increased his quickness last year by doing drills with assistant coach Ian Laperriere. "I was surprised to be No. 1….but I've always prided myself in being a good skater for a guy in my role."

Rosehill, 29, who played in just 34 games last season, said he hopes the results show he "can get in on the forecheck and chase some pucks down."

Berube said the Flyers were "getting faster as a team, and it's my job to make these guys faster too, in their practices. We're working on getting quicker. We have to do things quicker; we all know the game is about speed and puck (control), and practices are designed around that."

The Rangers were noticeably quicker than the Flyers in winning the opening-round series last spring in seven games.

Maybe Rosehill _ who didn't play in any of the playoff games _ should have been the Flyers' secret weapon?

Breakaways. Brayden Schenn moved from LW to Claude Giroux's center spot on the top line Saturday, and Michael Raffl went to LW (see story).....Giroux, sidelined with a lower-body injury, was able to work out in the weight room. The Flyers are hoping he is able to play in at least one exhbition game.

Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.