The Flyers enjoyed a great deal of success in the 2025-26 season but, like with any NHL team, staff changes are inevitable.
On Wednesday, general manager Daniel Briere announced a number of off-ice personnel moves regarding their hockey operations staff for the upcoming season.
>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 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.
>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.
>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.
>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.
>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.
>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.
>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
>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
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).
>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.
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