VOORHEES, N.J. — In your average non-Olympic season, highly regarded prospects like Carson Bjarnason and Oliver Bonk probably wouldn’t get in-season experience in the Flyers’ locker room. But the current Winter Games are speeding along like an ice boat on a blustery day. So with a pair of Flye rs’ defensemen – Canada’s Travis Sanheim and Finland’s Rasmus Ristolainen – in the semifinals in Italy (and goalie Sam Ersson hurt), that opened the door for up-and-coming stars like goaltender Bjarnason and defenseman Bonk, plus defenseman Hunter McDonald. All three have taken part in past Flyers’ training camps and seen preseason action. This, however, is the real deal. It’s a win-win situation. That trio gets to workout and practice with veteran players at NHL speed. Flyers coaches and talent evaluators get a chance to see where some of their high draft choices stand. Flyers assistant coach Todd Reirden, overseeing practices while head coach Rick Tocchet is an assistant for Team Canada, liked what he saw when Bjarnason and Bonk hit the Flyers Training Center ice for the first time on Wednesday. “For both Carson’s and Oliver’s situations, we thought this was a great opportunity for them to be involved in some spirited practices,” Reirden said after the workout at the Flyers Training Center. “It would introduce them to the group a little bit more in that type of setting to see where they’re at in terms of their own development.” Bjarnason, 20, hails from Manitoba. The Flyers selected him in the second round (51st overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He was in good spirits on Wednesday as his native country eeked out a 4-3 overtime win over Czechia. It’s a comfortable setting for Bjarnason to be around Bonk, McDonald and another Phantoms product, Denver Barkey, who’s up with the big club for a couple months already. “I’ve been here for training camp,” Bjarnason said. “That’s nice. But this is definitely a different pace of play. Having some familiar faces here helps you ease into it.” The Hockey News recently rated Bjarnason eighth among all Flyers’ prospects, a signal he’s a little ahead of schedule on the career progress chart. “I hope so,” Bjarnason said. “I’m not looking like there’s a timestamp on it. I just want to be the best I can be right now. Doesn’t matter how old I am, I just want to be the best in the world, be able to play at this label. Not only play at this level but succeed. I think they have a good plan in place for me. I want to push that envelope a little bit.” Bjarnason lists poise, hockey IQ and reading plays as his key attributes. Nearby in the locker room, Bonk, 21, was fielding questions from a rather large media contingent. He was the Flyers’ first-round pick (22nd overall) in 2023. Plus, his father, Radek, was a star for many years in the NHL. Those are some lofty words and numbers to live up to but Bonk looks and sounds like he’s taking a low-key approach to all the hoopla. After overcoming a significant injury early in the season, he’s come back to be a top defenseman with the Phantoms. This after winning two straight Memorial Cups with the London Knights. “This is where you want to be all the time,” he said. As for his first season, he added, “I think it’s gone pretty well. I feel like I’m just getting better with every game, trying to improve every time I’m on the ice. That’s all you can really ask for.” ...read more read less