By Joshua Boyd
Rocky Russo couldn’t wait for August to end.
After all, on the second-to-last day of the month, Aug. 30, all the Philadelphia Little Flyers junior players were set to report for the 2015-16 season.

“Until then, we’re finalizing everything, like billet families and the thousands of forms to fill out,” said Russo, late in the eighth month.

August started with actual hockey being played on the ice, as well as ending as such. The Little Flyers held their main tryout camp between July 31 and Aug. 2 and brought in about 60 skaters trying out for spots on the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League teams.

“I thought the camp went really well. We had a lot of quality players sign on in the last few weeks, and we’re looking forward to starting,” said Russo. “I’m excited about where we are right now, though we have a little bit of work to do. After losing as much as we did last year, we are in a great position.”

The Little Flyers reached south and picked up Double Oak, Texas resident Peter Hatton, a ’96 center from the Dallas Stars 18U squad out of the North American Prospects Hockey League, in which he finished as the sixth leading scorer with 32 points in 28 games.

“Peter’s a very smart player. He plays a two-way game, so he’s responsible in the defensive zone,” said Russo. “He wins his draws and he’s really going to be able to contribute next year.”

Christian Wirth-Karbler was born two days away from being a ’97, but as a very young ’96, he was an increasingly productive scorer for the University of Detroit Jesuit Academy squad, totaling 96 points in 87 games the last three years. He, like Hatton, was signed out of the early August camp.

“We expect big things from him as well. He’s a tough, hard-nosed player with a really good skill set who makes players around him better,” said Russo.

With former EHL assistant T.J. McCarthy now head coach of the MJHL squad (“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do,” said Russo), the EHL Little Flyers named Pete Dundovich as its new assistant coach. A former Little Flyers goalie (2005-06), he played NCAA hockey and rose in minor pro as high as the Double-A ECHL.

“He is well-known in goalie circles and is very good with goaltenders and is hungry to be a good, quality assistant coach,” added Russo. “He’s done a great job to this point.” -