The Philadelphia Flyers have made the following changes to their hockey operations staff for the 2026-27 season, according to General Manager Daniel Briere.
Alex Ambrose: Head Athletic Trainer
Ambrose has been promoted to Head Athletic Trainer, bringing 10 years of professional hockey experience in athletic training. He spent the past three seasons as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Flyers. Prior to joining Philadelphia in 2023, Ambrose served as Head Athletic Trainer in the AHL for seven seasons, including three years with the Charlotte Checkers, the Florida Panthers’ affiliate (2020-23), and four years with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the St. Louis Blues' affiliate (2016-20).
Ambrose holds a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Florida State University and a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from St. John’s University.
He will oversee the day-to-day medical care and treatment of Flyers players while coordinating the club’s sports medicine staff.
Zach Casinelli: Assistant Athletic Trainer
Casinelli was recently hired as Assistant Athletic Trainer, following five years in the AHL. He spent the past three seasons as Head Athletic Trainer for the Florida Panthers' affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, having served in the Assistant Athletic Trainer position from 2021-2023. Prior to this, Casinelli worked in the NCAA across multiple divisions and teams from 2015-2021.
Casinelli holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine from Quinnipiac University and a Master’s Degree in Athletic Training Higher Education from Plymouth State University.
He will assist in the day-to-day medical care and treatment of Flyers players while also acting as Sports Medicine liaison for the AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Melissa Rucker: Head Massage Therapist
Rucker has been promoted to Head Massage Therapist after spending the past six seasons (2020-26) as a Massage Therapist for the club. In her new role, she will be responsible for providing therapeutic massage and soft-tissue treatments to support the players’ recovery, mobility and overall physical well-being. Rucker brings 16 years of experience to the role and has been a certified massage therapist since 2010.
Abe Edson: Head of Athlete Performance
Edson joins the Flyers as Head of Athlete Performance, bringing eight years of experience working in professional hockey. He spent the past two seasons (2024-26) as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Minnesota Wild. Prior to that, Edson spent six seasons within the St. Louis Blues organization, including four years (2020-24) as Strength and Conditioning Coach for their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. He also served as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Blues’ ECHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, from 2018-20.
A native of State College, Pennsylvania, Edson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science at Penn State University and a Master’s Degree in Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention from California University of Pennsylvania. He will oversee all aspects of player physical preparation, performance, and recovery.
Chris Gratton: Performance Coach
Gratton joins Philadelphia after spending the past three seasons with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He served as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach during the 2025-26 season after two years as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach (2023-25). Gratton also previously interned under Edson with the Springfield Thunderbirds during the 2022-23 season.
Gratton is a graduate of SUNY Potsdam, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, and holds a Master’s Degree in Strength and Conditioning from Springfield College.
In this role, he will work closely with players to support their training, conditioning, and recovery throughout the season alongside Edson.
Lorne Goldenberg: Performance Development Coach
Goldenberg joins Edson’s performance staff and will support player development through the implementation of individualized training programs and performance oversight throughout the organization.
Goldenberg brings more than 40 years of experience in professional hockey. He began his career as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the St. Louis Blues in 1986 and has since worked with the Chicago Blackhawks, Quebec Nordiques, Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, and Montreal Canadiens. Goldenberg is also the President of Strength Tek Fitness & Wellness Consultants, a company that provides workplace health and wellness programs across Canada and is the author of two Strength Ball Training books.
Ryan Adkins: Director of Athlete Rehabilitation
Adkins joins the Flyers after serving as a Physical Therapist for the Seattle Mariners (MLB) over the past three seasons (2023-26). Prior to his time in Seattle, he spent two seasons as a Physical Therapist within the Milwaukee Brewers organization. In his new role, Adkins will support player rehabilitation, recovery, and injury prevention.
Adkins earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis. He also completed the University of Florida’s Sports Physical Therapy Residency program.
The staff above will all report to Flyers Vice President of Athlete Performance and Wellness, Daniel Bove.
Jake Rogers: Equipment Manager
Rogers joins the Flyers equipment staff after spending the past five seasons (2021-26) with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He began as Assistant Equipment Manager before being promoted to Head Equipment Manager and Director of Minor League Team Services prior to the 2023-24 season. Before joining the Phantoms, Rogers served as Equipment Manager for the Maine Mariners (ECHL) from 2018-21 and spent two seasons with the Portland Pirates (AHL) from 2010-12.
Dave Morrison, Amateur Scout
Morrison has been named an Amateur Scout for the Flyers after spending the previous 22 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs in various roles within hockey operations. He most recently served as a Senior Advisor from 2023-26 after spending five seasons as the Director of Player Personnel (2018-23). Morrison spent 14 years in scouting positions with
the Maple Leafs as Director of Professional Scouting (2015-18), Director of Amateur Scouting (2006-15), and Amateur Scout (2004-06). He also served as an Amateur Scout for the Vancouver Canucks for five seasons before joining Toronto.
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Morrison played parts of four NHL seasons with Los Angeles (1980-83) and Vancouver (1984). He was selected by the Kings in the second round (34th overall) of the 1980 NHL Draft.
Kevin Braeunle, Manager of Team Services
Braeunle has been promoted to the role of Manager of Team Services after spending the previous three seasons as Manager of Team Operations. In his role, he is responsible for all aspects of team travel, transportation, logistics, and scheduling. Braeunle worked similar roles for USA Hockey (2022-23) and Bemidji State University (2021-22) before joining the Flyers in August 2023. He graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA in 2021.
The following personnel have been added to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms staff:
Joe Hurley: Head Athletic Trainer, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Hurley has been promoted to Head Athletic Trainer for the Phantoms after previously serving as Assistant Athletic Trainer for the past five seasons. In his previous role, Hurley assisted athletes in RTP plan of care and coordinated recovery and care with physicians and trainers during games. Hurley has over 11 years of experience in hockey with the Spokane Chiefs (2017-21) of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Amarillo Bulls (2016-17) in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), and Philadelphia Flyers (2015-16). He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science as well as Master of Science in Athletic Training from Seton Hall University.
Evan Hanberry: Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Hanberry joins the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach after spending the past two years at Penn State University, where he served as Athletic Performance Coach for the men's lacrosse and women's tennis programs. Prior to Penn State, he spent six seasons with the United States Air Force Academy football program as Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach and Return-to-Play Coordinator.
Hanberry earned a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from Duquesne University in 2017 and later received a Master of Science in Exercise Science with a clinical focus in Fitness and Health from the University of Pittsburgh.
Gavin Bastarche: Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Bastarche enters his first year of professional hockey after spending the last two years within Boston College’s athletic department where he assisted with the implementation of strength and conditioning Olympic Sports programs for 21 Division I teams, including the hockey program. Prior to that, he interned for three years at the University of New Hampshire in the Strength and Conditioning department. He received his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching from the University of New Hampshire and earned a Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Science at Merrimack College.
Jon Evans: Head Equipment Manager, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
After serving as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Assistant Equipment Manager for the last three seasons, Jon Evans has been promoted to Head Equipment Manager. Evans brings four years of American Hockey League experience, having served as the Assistant Equipment Manager for the Utica Comets during the 2022-23 season before joining the Phantoms in 2023.
Liam Singer: Assistant Equipment Manager - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Singer joins the Flyers after spending the last two years at Dartmouth College as an Assistant Equipment Manager, providing support for both the men's and women's Division I hockey programs. In addition, he assisted the Flyers equipment staff during the team's summer Development Camp in July 2025. Singer graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia in 2018.
