Flyers Named Daniel Spencer Emergency Backup Goaltender

The team officially designated Daniel Spencer to serve as the club's emergency backup goaltender for the upcoming season.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Hockey

Flyers Named Daniel Spencer Emergency Backup Goaltender

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The Philadelphia Flyers have appointed 32-year-old Daniel Spencer as the team's Emergency Backup Goaltender (EBUG). Spencer will travel and practice full-time with the organization as required by the NHL's collective bargaining agreement.

Why it matters

NHL teams are mandated by the league's collective bargaining agreement to maintain an emergency goaltender on staff to ensure game continuity. This designation provides the Flyers with necessary depth should a sudden roster gap occur during the season.

Daniel Spencer brings four seasons of Division III experience from Finlandia University. During the 2017-18 season, he recorded a 6.00 goals-against average and an .873 save percentage over two games.

The players

Daniel Spencer

He is a 32-year-old former collegiate goaltender who has served as the Flyers' emergency backup for three previous seasons.

Philadelphia Flyers

The team is a professional hockey organization competing in the National Hockey League.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms

The organization is the American Hockey League affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Kyle Blackstone

He is a massage therapist who previously worked with various sports teams at the University of Pennsylvania.

William Helm

He is an athletic trainer who most recently spent two seasons with the Tahoe Knight Monsters.

The details

In addition to the goaltending update, the organization added Kyle Blackstone as a Massage Therapist and named William Helm as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Blackstone joins from the University of Pennsylvania, while Helm transitions after serving as a Clinical Athletic Trainer at the University of Utah.

Spencer played for Glouchester Catholic High during the 2010-11 season.
Spencer appeared in two games for Finlandia University in 2017-18.
William Helm served as a Clinical Athletic Trainer from 2023 to 2024.
The deadline for the Flyers to name an EBUG was September 28, 2026.
The Flyers will face Pittsburgh on September 30, 2026.

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The Big Picture

This appointment follows the mandatory staffing requirements outlined in the NHL collective bargaining agreement. It ensures compliance with league regulations regarding emergency roster coverage.

Spencer will be required to travel and practice with the team full-time as the designated emergency option. His presence ensures the organization meets mandatory league standards for roster depth heading into the matchup against Pittsburgh.

The takeaway

Maintaining a designated emergency backup goaltender is a critical operational requirement for all NHL franchises to ensure games proceed as scheduled. This standard helps stabilize league operations even in the event of unexpected player absences.