Dingle excited for new beginning with Flyers

But for Dingle - at 25, one of the elder statesmen at the Flyers' annual rookie conditioning camp at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J. - it doesn't matter.

He is just happy to have a home.

The Flyers acquired Dingle and Pronger from the Ducks on June 26 in exchange for Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, two first-round draft picks, and a conditional third-round pick.

"I was absolutely surprised when I heard the news," Dingle said. "I was slated to become a free agent in 2 days and I hadn't really heard much from the Ducks. A few different teams had talked to my agent, but it is an honor to be involved in a trade with that caliber of players."

After all, Dingle didn't exactly light the AHL on fire this season. Playing with the now-defunct Iowa Chops, Dingle posted 11 goals and seven assists in 70 games.

Although he is on the smaller side, generously listed at 5-10 and 190 pounds, Dingle is speedy and feisty. He showed goal-scoring potential during his sophomore and junior seasons at the University of Denver, posting 27 and 22 goals, respectively. As a freshman, Dingle scored six goals for the Pioneers team that won the NCAA title in 2005.

That was enough for Anaheim to woo him out of Denver before his senior year.

Dingle only netted 10 goals in 50 games in the ECHL with the Augusta Lynx in 2007-08.

Perhaps a change in role - and scenery - with the Flyers will provide Dingle with the push he needs to break through as a bonafide pro player.

"While it was a surprise, I'm excited for a new beginning," Dingle said. "My plans were originally just to work out, skate and hopefully find a team someplace. But I'm really excited to be a part of an organization with such tradition.

"I actually wasn't watching the draft but I got a bunch of phone calls from my friends who were and it immediately brought a smile to my face for a new beginning."

Despite having skated in quite a few of these rookie camps, the undrafted Dingle looks at this week as not only an introduction - if not an audition - but as a way to teach some of the younger players.

"You look at some of the younger players and you can see how enthused they are," Dingle said. "It's very exciting and it obviously rubs off onto some of the other players.

"I think Philly is great. I love the way that the fans are excited for their sporting events. And being from an outdoorsy town like Steamboat Springs [Colo.], I can appreciate all of the trees and this atmosphere."

It is an atmosphere that Dingle - like his trade counterpart, Pronger - says he can get used to. Dingle and the Flyers hope to work out an agreement on a new contract soon.

"Nothing is official yet," Dingle said. "But things are in the works." *