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Provorov eager to begin camp for Flyers prospects

The Flyers will get an up-close-and-personal look at promising defenseman Ivan Provorov and other prospects when they open their six-day development camp Tuesday at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

The Flyers will get an up-close-and-personal look at promising defenseman Ivan Provorov and other prospects when they open their six-day development camp Tuesday at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

Provorov, selected seventh overall in the NHL draft last month, signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Flyers last week and will be given a chance to make the team during training camp in September.

The 18-year-old believes he is NHL-ready and is eager to begin camp. "I'm real excited to get to meet the guys and to get to know the coaching staff and all the trainers," Provorov said from his hotel in Voorhees on Monday.

Four years ago, Provorov moved from Russia to Pennsylvania, spending two seasons playing for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, a Tier I Junior A team that plays in Pittston, Pa. Two of his teammates were forwards Daniel Sprong and 6-foot-7 Nikita Pavlychev, each of whom was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 27.

The experience with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton enabled him to get acclimated to America, Provorov said.

"I was with a great organization and they helped me a lot," said Provorov, who spent the last two seasons playing in the USHL and the WHL, respectively. "I learned different types of training and had great coaches. We grew as individuals and as a team, day by day. And the people there were really good people, and my host family helped me a lot. That's where I got comfortable with the culture and the language. I wouldn't be where I am right now without them."

Provorov will head back to Russia to be reunited with his family and train when camp ends on Sunday. He said he hopes to "get comfortable with the atmosphere here" during the week and "to train and get better and enjoy being with the guys."

Provorov, whose mother is a cardiologist and father is a construction company owner, is one of five first-round selections who will be at camp. The others: right winger Travis Konecny, selected 24th overall last month, Travis Sanheim (2014), Sam Morin (2013), and Scott Laughton (2012).

Thirty-three players will in camp and seven of the Flyers' nine 2015 draftees will participate.

The camp is free and open to the public. All of the camp will be held in Voorhees except for Wednesday's sessions, which will shift to Stone Harbor for the Trial on the Isle and numerous activities on the 96th Street Beach.

Tuesday's session starts with goalies on the ice from 8 to 9 a.m., followed by forwards from 2 to 3:15 p.m., and defensemen from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.

Five goalies will be in camp: Anthony Stolarz, Merrick Madsen, Martin Ouellette, Felix Sandstrom, and Matej Tomek. The last two goalies were among three the Flyers selected in last month's draft.

@BroadStBull