Cole Knuble made his NHL debut Monday in the Flyers' 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, becoming the first father-son duo in
Flyers history with his father, Mike Knuble.
Mike played 338 games with Philadelphia over two stints with the team. He played in 310 games between 2005-09, scoring 114 goals and notching 107 assists, before returning to the team in 2012-13 where he appeared in 28 more contests, finishing his career in orange and black.
His son, 22-year-old right winger Cole, said debuting for the team he grew up rooting for was special.
'Obviously I have been a fan of this team my whole life, so I think it's extra special,'
Knuble said.
Knuble logged 13:44 in his debut, skating 16 shifts and recording one shot on goal.
Head coach Rick Tocchet praised Knuble after the game, calling him a fast player the team needs.
'He’s a fast player, something we need,'
Tocchet said. 'We need some fast players. And there were two times when the puck was inside our blue line, they were about to get it, and he got it. That we lack, that was unreal. Because [if] he doesn’t get that out and they keep it in, who knows what happens?'
After the game, Cole learned the fact that he and Mike are the first father-son duo in team history, while standing on the podium for his first post-game press conference with the Flyers, after his debut.
“Yeah, I didn't know that. That's cool to hear. I think that's something I'll let him know that. That's something we'll take pride in.”
The 2023 fourth-round draft pick will look to get more opportunities to prove himself as the Flyers continue to deal with injuries.
The team plays again on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres after Monday's win.
