Tag: Ābols

  • Abols, with four languages in his arsenal, glad he gave NHL another shot


    Abols, with four languages in his arsenal, glad he gave NHL another shot originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

    VOORHEES, N.J. — Rodrigo Abols was just starting to wake up Sunday morning when he received a phone call from assistant general manager Alyn McCauley.

    “It was one way to make an off day even better,” Abols said.

    The 29-year-old was headed to the NHL.

    With Ryan Poehling placed on injured reserve, Abols, a Latvian center who had spent the last four seasons playing overseas, was called up by the Flyers. He joined the club for practice Monday, putting himself on the doorstep of his dream.

    And he should have no problem connecting with his new teammates. Being able to speak four languages — English, Latvian, Swedish and Russian — can only help.

    “This group and this room has been praised a lot of times,” Abols said. “It’s very easy to fit in here.”

    Abols signed with the Flyers last offseason just ahead of the June 15 deadline for players under European contracts. Because of the timing, he admitted to being a bit surprised when general manager Danny Briere reached out with the opportunity.

    But Abols was ready to rejoin the AHL. He was a seventh-round draft pick of the Canucks in 2016. Prior to this season, the last time he played in North America was 2019-20, when the coronavirus pandemic abruptly shut things down.

    So when the Flyers approached him last summer, he was compelled to leave the SHL for a chance at his NHL debut. That could come Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center when the Flyers host the Red Wings (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

    “I kind of felt it inside from the last time when I was here with all the COVID and stuff, there were some questions unanswered for myself,” Abols said. “I didn’t want to let this opportunity slip. When I’m done with hockey, I’m glad at least I came here and gave it another shot.”

    In 34 games this season with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder has put up nine goals and 10 assists. Over his last 10 games, he recorded three goals and four assists. He has quality length and plays a responsible game, with the ability to win key faceoffs.

    What were the reports on Abols?

    “That he has been playing well,” John Tortorella said. “Going to give him a chance here. … He’s a center and I guess he has been playing some pretty good hockey there.”

    Abols centered Olle Lycksell and Garnet Hathaway on the Flyers’ fourth line at practice. Scott Laughton’s status for Tuesday is uncertain. The alternate captain was not at practice because of a personal family matter.

    For Abols, he’ll look to be himself if he gets his chance in the Flyers’ lineup. An NHL debut would make the journey all worth it.

    “It’s a dream come true to get an opportunity to play here,” Abols said. “Try to make the most of it and use the strengths I have and see what happens from there.”

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    Abols, con cuatro idiomas en su arsenal, feliz de haberle dado otra oportunidad a la NHL

    Abols, cu quatre llengües al seu arsenal, content de donar una altra oportunitat a la NHL

    Abols, mit vier Sprachen in seinem Arsenal, froh, der NHL eine weitere Chance gegeben zu haben

    Abols, avec quatre langues à son actif, heureux d’avoir donné une autre chance à la LNH

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  • Flyers’ Rodrigo Abols glad he gave NHL another shot – NBC Sports Philadelphia


    VOORHEES, N.J. — Rodrigo Abols was just starting to wake up Sunday morning when he received a phone call from assistant general manager Alyn McCauley.

    “It was one way to make an off day even better,” Abols said.

    The 29-year-old was headed to the NHL.

    With Ryan Poehling placed on injured reserve, Abols, a Latvian center who had spent the last four seasons playing overseas, was called up by the Flyers. He joined the club for practice Monday, putting himself on the doorstep of his dream.

    And he should have no problem connecting with his new teammates. Being able to speak four languages — English, Latvian, Swedish and Russian — can only help.

    “This group and this room has been praised a lot of times,” Abols said. “It’s very easy to fit in here.”

    Abols signed with the Flyers last offseason just ahead of the June 15 deadline for players under European contracts. Because of the timing, he admitted to being a bit surprised when general manager Danny Briere reached out with the opportunity.

    But Abols was ready to rejoin the AHL. He was a seventh-round draft pick of the Canucks in 2016. Prior to this season, the last time he played in North America was 2019-20, when the coronavirus pandemic abruptly shut things down.

    So when the Flyers approached him last summer, he was compelled to leave the SHL for a chance at his NHL debut. That could come Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center when the Flyers host the Red Wings (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

    “I kind of felt it inside from the last time when I was here with all the COVID and stuff, there were some questions unanswered for myself,” Abols said. “I didn’t want to let this opportunity slip. When I’m done with hockey, I’m glad at least I came here and gave it another shot.”

    In 34 games this season with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder has put up nine goals and 10 assists. Over his last 10 games, he recorded three goals and four assists. He has quality length and plays a responsible game, with the ability to win key faceoffs.

    What were the reports on Abols?

    “That he has been playing well,” John Tortorella said. “Going to give him a chance here. … He’s a center and I guess he has been playing some pretty good hockey there.”

    Abols centered Olle Lycksell and Garnet Hathaway on the Flyers’ fourth line at practice. Scott Laughton’s status for Tuesday is uncertain. The alternate captain was not at practice because of a personal family matter.

    For Abols, he’ll look to be himself if he gets his chance in the Flyers’ lineup. An NHL debut would make the journey all worth it.

    “It’s a dream come true to get an opportunity to play here,” Abols said. “Try to make the most of it and use the strengths I have and see what happens from there.”

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    Flyers’ Rodrigo Abols glad he gave NHL another shot – NBC Sports Philadelphia

    Rodrigo Abols, the newest addition to the Philadelphia Flyers’ roster, is grateful for the opportunity to play in the NHL once again. After being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2016 but never making his debut, Abols found himself playing in various European leagues before finally getting the call-up to the Flyers.

    In an interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia, Abols expressed his excitement to be back in North America and playing at the highest level of hockey. “I’m just really grateful for this chance to prove myself in the NHL,” Abols said. “I never gave up on my dream of playing in the league, and I’m so glad I kept pushing and working hard to make it happen.”

    Abols has quickly made an impact on the Flyers’ lineup, showcasing his skill and determination on the ice. With his strong work ethic and positive attitude, Abols is proving to be a valuable asset to the team.

    Flyers fans are thrilled to see Abols in action and are looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the team. With his passion for the game and drive to succeed, Abols is determined to make the most of this opportunity and show the world what he’s capable of.

    Stay tuned to NBC Sports Philadelphia for more updates on Rodrigo Abols and the Philadelphia Flyers as they continue their journey in the NHL.

    Tags:

    Rodrigo Abols, Flyers, NHL, hockey, NBC Sports, Philadelphia, professional sports, player spotlight, comeback story, athlete success, team news, sports update

    #Flyers #Rodrigo #Abols #glad #gave #NHL #shot #NBC #Sports #Philadelphia

  • Flyers’ Rodrigo Ābols to make long-awaited NHL debut vs. Red Wings


    When the puck drops at 7 o’clock for the Flyers’ matchup with the Detroit Red Wings at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday night, a few televisions will be burning brightly more than 4,000 miles away.

    Despite it being after 2 a.m. in Riga, Latvia, one of those TVs will have Rodrigo Ābols’ grandmother, Maiga, firmly planted in front of it.

    “She’s been the biggest trouper this year,” Ābols said of his grandmother, who has been staying up to watch his minor league games, too. He joked that if he doesn’t get a shot on goal, she’ll text him to shoot more.

    “Everyone has a different schedule, but whoever can and is willing to sacrifice some sleep, they’ll be watching,” he added about his relatives all watching. “I imagine there be some sacrifices made there today.”

    And it’ll be for a good reason.

    » READ MORE: Islanders’ Max Tsyplakov suspended three games for illegal high check on Poehling

    The center was called up from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Monday after he got a wake-up call from Flyers assistant general manager Alyn McCauley the day before. “It was one way to make an off day even better,” Ābols said. He gets a chance with Ryan Poehling going on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury and Scott Laughton unavailable to play because of a family matter.

    The 29-year-old will make his NHL debut. As he humbly said about his family, “It’s not only an achievement for me, it’s an achievement for them, spending all those hours taking me to the rink and giving me a chance to be a hockey player.”

    It’s been a long road for the Latvian to the NHL ranks.

    He was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the seventh round of the 2016 draft, but Ābols’ rights expired after he played two seasons in the Canadian Hockey League — one full year with Portland of the Western Hockey League and another split between Portland and Acadie-Bathurst of what was then called the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

    In May 2019, he signed a two-year deal with the Florida Panthers and spent the following season in the minors, where he registered 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 36 games with AHL Springfield. But the COVID-19 pandemic shortened things, and he returned to Europe on loan with Örebro HK in Sweden, notching 20 goals and 35 points in 47 games, with another 10 points in the postseason, in 2020-21. In 266 career games with Örebro and Rögle BK, Ābols collected 163 points (85 goals, 78 assists).

    Last June, he signed a one-year, $775,000, two-way contract with the Flyers.

    “I kind of felt it inside from the last time when I was here with all the COVID and stuff, there were some questions unanswered for myself,” Ābols said. “So I didn’t want to let this opportunity slip and when I’m done with hockey, I’m glad at least I came here and gave it another shot.”

    After training camp, Ābols went down to Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League and potted nine goals and 19 points in 34 games. Since returning from an illness on Dec. 14, he has nine points (five goals, four assists) in 16 games.

    The center will have Garnet Hathaway on his right wing and a familiar face on his left in Olle Lycksell, who was recalled from the Phantoms after the holiday break.

    “I’ve seen him a lot; I faced him a lot in Sweden, too,” Lycksell said of Ābols. “He’s big and he’s good with the puck and he [has a] really good two-way game, I think. I’ve seen he’s been scoring a lot lately down in Lehigh as well, so I really think he’s figuring out the American way, too.”

    It also doesn’t hurt that Ābols can speak Swedish with Lycksell. In fact, the 2023 World Championhip bronze medalist speaks four languages. “When you’re a kid, you’re a sponge,” he said about learning Swedish through cartoons while his father, Artis, was playing in Sweden. Aside from Latvian and English, he learned Russian beginning in seventh grade in Latvia.

    » READ MORE: Flyers GM Danny Brière discusses Aleksei Kolosov’s future and potentially trading Rasmus Ristolainen and Scott Laughton

    Being able to speak to everyone in the room, and knowing most of the guys from training camp has only upped his comfort level ahead of his long-awaited NHL debut.

    “Once the season got going, you come to the rink every day, you have more fun and you feel comfortable,” Ābols said. “And it’s probably the same with everyone in their jobs; once you feel comfortable in the environment, you can excel. So here, so far it has been no issue. So I feel like it should be good.”

    Ābols plans on keeping his game simple and using the strengths he has to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing in the NHL. And while his grandmother will be watching from Latvia, his wife and 3-year-old son will be watching from along the glass, after a visit to the team store for some gear.

    “It will be fun, obviously, to share that moment with them,” Ābols said. “He knows the Flyers. He’s starting to learn the teams. And whenever we go around stores and stuff, there’s Flyers merch, he’s like, ‘Oh, Flyers, Flyers.’ So now I was like, ‘OK, Dad’s going to the Flyers now.’ And he’s like, ‘What?!’ It’ll be fun to share that with them.”

    Breakaways

    Ābols father was the coach for Latvia at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship when it upset Canada, 3-2, in a shootout in the preliminary round. … The Flyers held an optional skate Tuesday. Defenseman Erik Johnson, who did not participate in Monday’s practice, was back on the ice.



    After years of waiting and working hard in the AHL, Flyers’ prospect Rodrigo Ābols is set to make his long-awaited NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings. The talented forward has impressed coaches and fans alike with his playmaking abilities and scoring touch, and now he finally gets the chance to showcase his skills at the highest level.

    Fans have been eagerly anticipating Ābols’ debut, and with the Flyers in need of a spark, his presence in the lineup could provide just that. The Latvian native has been a standout in the AHL, leading his team in scoring and demonstrating the potential to be a key player for the Flyers in the future.

    As he takes to the ice for his first NHL game, Ābols will undoubtedly have a mix of nerves and excitement. But with his talent and determination, there’s no doubt that he has what it takes to make a big impact in his debut.

    Flyers’ fans, get ready to witness the long-awaited NHL debut of Rodrigo Ābols as he faces off against the Red Wings. It’s sure to be a game you won’t want to miss!

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