Todd Orlando earned a shot at his dream when he travels to Philadelphia next month for a Philadelphia Flyers prospect camp. The defenseman looks to impress officials within the head offices to earn an NHL contract.
Todd Orlando fights Justin Sawyer during his time in the CHL. (Photo submitted by Todd Orlando)
Orlando was first noticed by scouts with the franchise when he was on the road with the Wheeling Nailers this past season during a game against the Trenton Titans in New Jersey for an ECHL game.
“In the game there, I got in a fight and broke my hand but finished the game,” Orlando said. “Philly had a scout there watching and as soon as the season ended, my agent received a phone call for an invite to the main camp.”
Orlando said that the fight coupled with a solid performance on the ice earned him the spot at the camp in September. He said that he contacted the Flyers near the end of the season and that they said they’d love to have him head out for the camp.
“I guess you could say luck or that I’ve got someone looking out for me,” Orlando said. “Hard work never goes unnoticed and you never know who’s watching when you’re playing the game.”
Orlando expects a challenge competing and training with the Flyers organization, but it’s a challenge he welcomes since he has always wanted to play in the NHL.
“Going from the ECHL to the NHL, you’re going to be playing with guys like Vincent Lecavalier, Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux,” Orlando said. “You don’t see guys like that in ECHL. It’s going to be different, it’s going to be tough but I can just take it for what it is, enjoy it and have fun.”
Orlando played with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies Division I hockey team for the 2007-
Orlando during his time with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies hockey team (Photo submitted by Todd Orlando).
08 season.
While wearing the Oakland colors, Orlando played in 26 games, earning eight goals and 14 assists for a total of 22 points on the season.
He also recorded 108 penalty minutes on the ice for the Grizzlies.
“I was more of a fighter when I played juniors and my penalty minutes were a little bit high,” Orlando said. “I really grew into my game. The coaches helped mold me into a hockey player and it helped me become more of an offensive defenseman.”
Orlando said he was more of a top two defenseman and he had to make sure he played well during the penalty kill.
The chemistry Orlando shared with his coaches and teammates is something that still stands. He said he still gets together with some of the guys to play in some men’s league games.
Orlando stays up to date with Oakland hockey, trying to catch a couple games a year, especially the rivalry series with Davenport.
Last season, he was a part of three different teams in two different leagues. He signed a contract in the summer of 2012 with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. Due to an injury suffered in a preseason game, he was cut from the team.
After healing, the Denver Cutthroats of the CHL called and signed him on for 16 games, where he earned one goal. He finished the season with the Nailers in the ECHL, recording just one goal but earned the attention of the Philadelphia Flyers.
“It’s all a blessing in disguise really,” he said of his hockey playing experience. “From taking a couple years off to playing in the ECHL, I just enjoy taking my time and playing hockey and trying to make a career out of it.”
Stats taken from EliteProspects.com
