Flyers Prospects Report: Barkey, Bonk, Sotheran, and Gendron
Seven Philadelphia Flyers Prospects just completed their juniors-level seasons in North America. Led by the strong performances of three prospects in the 2024 Canadian Hockey League’s (CHL) Memorial Cup, these players appeared in games across the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Over the course of the 2023-24 campaign, the prospects competing in these leagues made strong statements about the impacts they can have on the organization in coming seasons.
Denver Barkey
Forward Denver Barkey just completed his third regular season of hockey with the OHL’s London Knights. His total points during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons was 74 in 114 games. In 64 games this season, the Newmarket, Ontario native was an offensive leader, recording 102 points (35 goals and 67 assists). The 19-year-old had 31 multi-point games and a hat trick performance on Oct. 14. Drafted 95th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the left-shot center was tied for fourth overall in points and third in assists across the OHL during the regular season.
Barkey and the Knights defeated the Flint Firebirds, Kitchener Rangers, and Saginaw Spirit on their way to the J. Ross Robertson Cup Final. In the Robertson Cup Final, the Knights swept the Oshawa Generals (4-0) to capture their fifth OHL championship in franchise history. In 18 OHL postseason appearances, the 5-foot-9, 154-pounder recorded six goals, 21 assists, and had a plus-10 rating. Eleven of these postseason points came in the Robertson Cup Final, when he had multi-point games in all four appearances. The Knights went on to fall to the Spirit in the Memorial Cup Championship (4-3). Despite this disappointing outcome, Barkey and his teammates played well overall in the tournament; he had a goal and three assists in four games.
Oliver Bonk
Oliver Bonk just wrapped up his third season with the Knights. A right-shot defenseman, he was selected 22nd overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The offensively-minded 19-year-old had 24 goals and 43 assists in 60 games during the 2023-24 campaign. In the OHL playoffs, the Ottawa native appeared in 18 games, recording 16 points (seven goals and nine assists) and a plus-16 rating. Throughout the postseason, he had five multi-point games, supporting the team’s effort in capturing the Robertson Cup. He was especially effective in the Robertson Cup Final, scoring three goals and tallying five assists as the Knights dominated the Generals in a four-game sweep.
Bonk also played very well in the Memorial Cup. In London’s four tournament games, the blueliner had six points in four games. His goal and assist in the Knight’s opening game against the Drummondville Voltigeurs supported his team’s cruising to a shutout victory (4-0). In a hard-fought Memorial Cup Championship that saw the Knights fall to Saginaw (4-3), the 6-foot-2, 179-pounder had two assists. He had a plus-3 rating during the tournament. Bonk also has international experience with Team Canada. A career highlight came last summer when he captured a gold medal with the Canadian squad during the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
