Bump uses his low draft selection as motivation

VOORHEES, N.J. – Alex Bump has been in the National Hockey League for only a day or so and he’s already getting the star treatment.
It was a whirlwind first 24 hours. Shortly after Bobby Brink was traded to Minnesota on Friday, Bump was called up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
He needed all of about 25 minutes in Saturday’s game at Pittsburgh to score his first NHL goal, something that had been done by a Flyer only 25 times in the last 60 years.
When Sunday’s practice at the Flyers Training Center ended, media types crowded around Bump’s new locker as if Sidney Crosby had just been traded here.
Bump sounded composed and in good spirits. And why not? This former fifth-round draft pick was suddenly enjoying the life of a Walter Mitty.
Has it sunk in yet? This improbable story even has taken aback Bump a bit.
“I think the draft kind of put a little bit of a chip on my shoulder,” the left wing said. “But I don’t think it really changed anything. I’ve always kind of had that competitive drive.”
If there’s one thing Bump isn’t in short supply of, it’s confidence.
“I’ve always had that belief in myself that I was going to make it,” he said.
Bump had to overcome a rather significant injury at the start of the season which makes this recent achievement even more significant.
If there was any frustration, the 22-year-old wasn’t going to let it get to him.
“Yeah, for sure it was frustrating,” he said. “It happens. I always try to tell myself it is what it is. I really can’t do anything about it anymore. It’s not what you want but it happens.”
Fortunately the injury did not affect his mobility.
“I was able to skate,” he said. “Basically I just couldn’t get hit. I skated everyday. That was the most frustrating part – I could skate, I just couldn’t play hockey games.”
One thing he has been working on is his play along the boards. Pardon the pun but maybe he needs to bump people and clear some space.
“I think just reps,” he said. “Just doing it over and over again. Working on it before practice and after practice. See if it can translate to the game. Try to find a way to do it in a game.”
Bump received plenty of congratulatory calls, texts and emails. A couple stood out.
“My Western Michigan (University) coach Pat Ferschweiler, he’s a big part of what I am today,” Bump said. “Helped me play the game the right way. I owe a lot to him. One that sticks out is Ron Fogarty, my junior coach (Omaha Lancers, USHL). He taught me a lot of things about life. Not so much about hockey but he made me think deeper about life. He meant a lot to me.”
Flyers captain Sean Couturier had sort of a similar experience to that of Bump. In a 2012 playoff game at Pittsburgh, the 19-year-old Couturier recorded his first hat trick in an 8-5 Flyers win on April 13.
“I think he (Bump) is definitely part of the future,” Couturier said. “He played great last night. I was happy he got his first goal. He’s a young promising player. Exciting to watch in his first game.”

>Konecny, Seeler getting closer

Both Travis Konecny and Nick Seeler took part in Sunday’s practice with no restrictions. Konecny has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury and Seeler two with a lower-body injury.
“They’re options,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “Still game-time decisions. I think they’ll get on the ice tomorrow.” The Flyers host the New York Rangers.

>Shot count situation

The Flyers produced just 16 shots in Thursday night’s 3-0 loss to Utah, then did that one worse with only 15 at Pittsburgh.
That makes it 11 games with less than 20 shots this season. Is it because the league has changed the way it counts shots this season?
“There are challenges when you have a young team,” Tocchet said. “I want middle shots, I want people to take people to the net. We have a tough time getting a lot of traffic right now.
“If you look at ‘Tip’ (Owen Tippett), he generates shots on his own. We have to get more guys like that to take guys to the net. It’s a challenge. I’m not a big believer in throwing the puck to the net when there is no one there. In all fairness, we have to get more people to the net.”

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