Knuble comes full circle at Flyers development camp

VOORHEES, N.J. --When the Philadelphia Flyers held development camp the first week of July, one of the goals was to introduce the prospects they selected in the 2023 NHL Draft to the area and the staff.

For Cole Knuble (5-foot-10, 184 pounds), it was more reunion than introduction.

The forward, selected in the fourth round (No. 103) of the 2023 draft, was at the Flyers Training Center often as a kid while his father, Mike Knuble, was a Flyers forward.

"This is where I learned to play hockey, learn to skate," Cole said. "So [being drafted by the Flyers] was a big honor and I was really excited and really happy."

Mike Knuble played five of his 16 NHL seasons for Philadelphia (2005-09, 2012-13). Cole Knuble was born July 1, 2004, the same day Mike signed his first contract with the Flyers.

"There's that familiarity obviously with the franchise and some of the people there that are still there," he said. "It's funny, we finally cleaned out our house and got rid of a bunch of orange and black and now it's all coming back in again."

One of Mike Knuble's Flyers teammates was general manager Daniel Briere. Special adviser to hockey operations Patrick Sharp was on the ice with Cole during development camp and was Mike's road roommate as a Flyers forward in 2005-06.

"Obviously he was super happy," Cole said. "He would be happy anywhere, but especially since it was the Flyers, he was even more excited. He loved his time here. He knows how good of an organization it is."

Cole's familiarity might have allowed him to be a bit more relaxed at his first NHL development camp, where he impressed with his determination and competitiveness, and his room for growth.

"He looks like an overachiever the way he competes," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said. "He's smart and his details are really good. He's going to a good program (Notre Dame). He's got to get stronger, he knows that. From where he came from a year ago to now is exciting and he fit in well here. He knows probably more staff than I do here. He's been here lots before, so I think there's a comfort level just naturally for him."

Mike said his history with the Flyers had nothing to do with Cole being selected. It's really a reward for a 19-year-old who played last season with a chip on his shoulder after being passed over in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Cole funneled that disappointment into his workouts last offseason, including lots of time working with Carrie Keil, a skating coach based in Michigan. The result was 66 points (30 goals, 36 assists) in 57 games last season that led Fargo of the United States Hockey League. He earned an invitation to play for the United States at the 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase earlier this month, which puts him on the radar for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship and further validates his offseason work.

"These are the top Under-20 players in the country, so to be with everyone is an honor and it's a really cool experience," Cole said. "It feels good, and it is a confidence booster. Playing the games, you realize it's a fast speed, but I realized I can handle it and I can play in it and make a difference."

Cole will start at Notre Dame in the fall, but it might not be too long before he's back in a familiar place with the Flyers.

"We enjoyed our time there as a family," Mike said. "He learned to skate in Philadelphia; everything started in Philadelphia for him, so the irony of coming back there is not lost on our family. It's pretty easy for him to go back there."

In-story photos courtesy of Knuble family