Zolnierczyk Dazzles in NHL Debut (with Video)
OTTAWA -- Former Brown standout Harry Zolnierczyk scored a highlight-reel-type goal in his National Hockey League (NHL) debut Tuesday for Philadelphia, helping the Flyers coast past the Ottawa Senators, 7-2, at Scotiabank Place.
Sporting jersey No. 29, Zolnierczyk recorded the Flyers final goal of the evening, a beautiful backhand flip over a diving goaltender Craig Anderson that hit just under the crossbar.
Zolnierczyk got up extra early for the game. The 24-year-old rookie was recalled from the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Adirondack and actually drove up to join the team for the morning skate.
Zolnierczk competed in nine shifts, totaling six minutes, 40 seconds of ice time. He registered one blocked shot.
Zolnierczyk, 24, joins the Flyers after putting together the first four-point (1g, 3a) game of his professional career last Friday against Bridgeport. Still considered a rookie, Zolnierczyk appeared in 16 games with the Phantoms last season, registering three goals and two assists. The native of Toronto, Ontario started the 2010-11 season with Brown, where he played in 114 games over four years. Serving as team captain in his senior year, Zolnierczyk had a career-best 16 goals and was named the 2011 Ivy League Player of the Year. Zolnierczyk had 69 total points (30g, 39a) in his collegiate career.
Undrafted in the NHL, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound forward signed with the Flyers as a free agent in March, 2011.
