Strong on hockey sense and skill, slight of build, USNTDP left winger Joel Farabee is both one of the more creative forwards with the puck on his stick and one of the most responsible without the puck in the 2018 NHL Draft class.There is at least a 50-50 chance, possibly higher, that he will be off the board within the top 13 picks. If he's available with the 14th overall pick, he's a good candidate to be selected by the Flyers both on a best available player basis and it terms of a positional need on the organization's depth chart.Although he stands between 5-foot-11 and 6-0 and weighed only 162 pounds (down from a high of 168) at the NHL Scouting Combine, Farabee plays a competitive game that is above his weight class. He is a threat off the rush and can make something out of nothing on broken plays. Farabee is an above-average skater with well-above average acceleration and somewhat above-average top speed.Bound for Boston University next season, the native of Cicero, NY, is coming off an outstanding season for the USNTDP's U-18 Squad (Farabee turned 18 on Feb. 25) on a line with Jack Hughes and Oliver Wahlstrom. Wahlstrom, of course, is a top 10 candidate for the 2018 Draft while Hughes is a very highly touted prospect for the 2019 Draft. Farabee was no passenger on the line, showing off a deft passing touch, excellent ice vision and a willingness to venture into the high-punishment, high-reward areas below and between the dots. Statistically, Farabee produced 70 points in 57 games.Farabee is very good at controlling the pace of play. Like Flyers prospect Morgan Frost, Farabeeexcels in controlled entries into the offensive zone. He likes to hit the attack zone with speed, and then slow the tempo near the half-boards to study his options and then make a quick decision. He works the give-and-go as well as almost any player in his Draft class. One on one, he also can put on a quick burst . When joined by a teammate, he keeps both the defense and goalie off-balance with a no-look pass or a deceptive shot. Although not an overpowering shooter, he's an accurate one. This season, Farabee scored quite a few goals from flat angles.Quite a few of Wahlstrom's goals this year came on plays that were started by Farabee. He often drew defenders to him, creating a seam, and then his linemate would jump into the seams, receive a tape-to-tape pass and bury it in the back of the net.When playing without the puck, Farabee takes good routes and consistently applies back pressure. When he's under pressure on the defensive boards, he can usually get the puck over the blueline to force an opponent to regroup. He also has the potential to become a shorthanded scoring threat at the NHL level if called up to kill penalties as well as a potential regular on the power play. Unlike many high-skill players, Farabee will sacrifice himself to block shots in the defensive zone.Although he competes hard and is savvy in close-quarters battles, there are some limitations presented by Farabee's lack of size. He'll get outmuscled by more physically mature players and, in very tight checking games, can be neutralized offensively. These are things he (as well as Frost) will have to work through as he advances to playing against grown men. Added muscle would help considerably. Farabee's game is sufficiently complete that, if he is there at the 14th overall pick, the Flyers may take him. There's more to him than just the points, and he is capable of producing those at a healthy clip, too. If he were just a little bigger, he'd be a top 10 pick.***************1) Today in Flyers History: On June 11, 1968, the Flyers traded veteran team captain Lou Angotti and minor league left winger Ian Campbell to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for veteran center Gerry (or Jerry) Melnyk and young defenseman Darryl Edestrand.During training camp prior to the 1968-69 season, the 34-year-old Melnyk suffered a mild heart attack. He was forced to retire as an active player. The misfortune turned out to be a blessing in disguise.The Flyers, still wanting Melnyk for his sharp hockey mind even if he couldn't play for the team, hired him as a scout. It turned out that scouting was Melnyk's true calling in the game, as he became one of the best judges of talent in league annals. By the time Keith Allen moved from the coach's office to the Flyers general manager role, Melnyk was one of his most trusted scouts.Melnyk ended up playing a vital role in the shaping of Flyers history through dozens of players he scouted or about whom he concurred with his fellow Philadelphia scouts. His mantra was "in the end, hockey talent is what matters the most", which was why he was able to pinpoint players of vastly different styles, physical profiles and personalities -- for example, vastly dissimilar goaltenders Pelle Lindbergh and Ron Hextall were both drafted by Philly on Melnyk's recommendation. Most notably, it was Melnyk's vehement insistence that the Flyers draft Bobby Clarke in 1969 (Melnyk was nearly apoplectic after the Flyers, like every other team, bypassed him in the first round of the Draft due to concerns over the youngster's diabetes) that finally convinced Allen to select the player who became the single most important figure in team history.As his career moved along, Melnyk became a mentor to younger scouts, preaching the value of patience and the vital importance of making multiple viewings before passing judgment. Very few scouts ever logged as many miles over the course of a career as Melnyk did. He was often described as a "scout's scout" because he set the bar for so many in his profession, was a good companion on the road and, while not easily impressed, knew what to look for in players.Gerry Melnyk passed away on June 14, 2001 after a long struggle with a form of leukemia. He was 66.2) Today in Flyers History: One of the heartbreaking games in Flyers history took place at the Spectrum on June 11, 1995. With the Eastern Conference Final series between the Flyers and New Jersey Devils tied at 2-2, the teams were locked in a deadlocked game late in the third period after a pair of goals by Kevin Dineen erased deficits of 1-0 and 2-1.With time ticking down to the final 45 seconds of regulation, New Jersey agitator Claude Lemieux ripped a shot from just over the blueline that eluded Flyers goalie Ron Hextall and lifted New Jersey to a 3-2 victory. The Devils went on to win the series in six games and then swept the Detroit Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup.3) June 11 Flyers birthdays: Scott Mellanby (1966), Serge Lajeunesse (1950).***********************The 2nd annualwill take place on July 15, 2015. There have been some changes this year -- new bike routes, staggered start times, the creation of a Flyers Alumni Team, more entertainment and Fanfest activities, etc. -- but the basic setup is the same. As with last year, the event is sponsored by Toyota.The Charity Classic is a city-wide event incorporating a 5k walk/run through the Philadelphia Navy Yard, a 10-mile family bike ride through the Navy Yard and FDR Park, and two bike rides – a 50K and a 100K – spanning the sights and sounds of Broad Street, through historic Valley Forge Park leading back through MLK Drive to the Wells Fargo Center Complex.In addition to the Classic, families of participants and fans alike will have all-day access to the Flyers Fan Fest: family-friendly outdoor games, inflatables, street hockey, food and more. After-party live entertainment will be provided byThe biggest participating team last year, both in terms of number of participants and funds raised, was, captained by Brad Marsh. An avid long-distance cyclist, Brad and members of his family will be doing the 100k bike ride again this year. However, there will be team members taking part in all of the different events and everyone will be together later in the day for the after-party.Last year, I did the 5k walk/run as an Ides of Marsh member and, thanks to the generosity of my HockeyBuzz readers, family members and friends, raised $425. I also lost weight over the summer getting ready for it. This year, my wife is also planning to take part with me in the family 5k, and our goal is raise money than last year as well as to lower my 5k finish time from last year (although the events are strictly for enjoyment, not a competition).The, as with the Ides of Marsh, is open to the public to join and there will be able opportunity for fans to interact with their favorite Alumni during the day, even if they participate in a different event.With more names to come, the confirmed participating Flyers Alumni Team members to date are as follows: Danny Briere (family 5k walk/run), Terry Carkner (family 10-mile bike ride), Bob Clarke (5k walk/run), Doug Crossman (5k walk/run), Paul Holmgren (100 k bike ride), Kerry Huffman (5k walk/run), Joe Kadlec (5k walk/run), Bob "the Hound" Kelly (5k walk/run), Ian Laperriere (100k bike ride), Neil Little (family 10-mile bike ride), Jim McCrossin (100k bike ride), Bernie Parent (family 10-mile bike ride), Dave "the Hammer" Schultz (5k walk/run) and Joe Watson (family 10-mile bike ride).(5k) is organizing a team within the Alumni Team called Bundy's Chariot of Flyers.Fans can also sign up for a team captained by Flyers Hall of Fame inductee Brian Propp. Brian's group is calledAll proceeds raised from registrations and team fundraising benefit Flyers Charities and the Flyers Alumni Association and the various non-profit organizations they support throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. The Flyers Alumni component will be donated toward the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation's goal to build a new rink in the Delaware Valley for use by the Snider Hockey kids.In terms of individual fundraising, there is an escalating scale of rewards offered:$50 – Flyers ball cap.$200 – pair of upper of level tickets to a Philadelphia Flyers hockey game for the 2018/19 season + Flyers ball cap.$400 – pair of lower level tickets to a Philadelphia Flyers hockey game for the 2018/19 season + Flyers ball cap.$1,000 – pair of Flyers tickets in the Alumni Party Suite, a Flyers jersey autographed by the Flyers Alumni + Flyers Ball Cap.The game tickets will be for a mutually agreed upon Philadelphia Flyers home game in October of the 2018/19 season.There is also a team fundraising incentive component, with Flyers Charities offering donations to a charity of the participating team's choice. More information is available