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  • Home for the holidays in Haddon Heights

    Home for the holidays in Haddon Heights

    The tree in the corner of the family room in the Haddon Heights home is decorated simply with lights and balls.

    Gold letters spelling Krissy and dated 1978 festoon a red ball hung in the middle of the tree. On a lower branch, white glitter on a blue ball spells Mom, 2012.

    Other colored balls are scripted with various dates and the names Sophia, Nick, and Emily.

    Kristin Corson-Ricci is both Krissy and Mom. Emily, now 20; Sophia, 18; and Nick, 14, are her children.

    Kristin Corson-Ricci sits in front of her hearth, where stockings hang for Christmas, holding a copy of her new book.
    A table is decorated with Byers’ Choice caroler dolls.
    Even the powder room is decorated for the holiday, with snowflakes and flocked trees.
    The stairs are decorated with poinsettias and Christmas trees.

    Corson-Ricci grew up in the two-story home where she now raises her family.

    The balls were purchased over the years at the holiday bazaar at St. Rose, a Catholic elementary school in Haddon Heights. Corson-Ricci, now a physician liaison, and her children attended the school.

    Corson-Ricci purchased the three-bedroom home from her parents, Phyllis and Rodger Corson, in 2002 when she was engaged.

    She and her husband added a family room and powder room to the first floor and a primary bedroom with a beamed ceiling and bath on the second floor. The screened porch was enclosed for an office. The couple later divorced, and she kept the house.

    A row of miniature wooden homes is on display in Corson-Ricci’s home.
    The Christmas tree is completely decorated with ornaments made at St. Rose elementary school. Corson-Ricci and her children were all students at the school.

    Corson-Ricci retained the traditional decor of the 95-year-old home, painting the breakfast nook bright yellow. Kitchen cabinets and backsplash were green. “It was warm and homey,” she said.

    Calamity came in 2022. Corson-Ricci returned to the house after four days at the Shore to find it flooded. Workers repairing the heating system had left water running.

    The oak floors inlaid with mahogany were soaked, as were walls, ceilings, and furnishings. Fortunately, photo albums and books were stacked on shelves that did not get wet. And the family’s collections of Christmas balls, 47 Byers’ Choice caroler dolls, and seven nutcrackers were stored in the dry attic.

    For over a year, Corsin-Ricci and her kids camped out in hotels and then in a rented condo. Professionals told her it would make more sense to tear the house down, but she said, “No. I wanted my home back,” she recalls.

    A corner shelf is decorated with Byers’ Choice caroler dolls.
    The dining table is decorated with holiday-printed china and florals.

    With the help of Reliance Contracting in Medford, Corson-Ricci rebuilt.

    The project gave her an opportunity to open up the first floor, removing walls between the dining room, kitchen, and breakfast nook.

    Now there are sleek black chairs, a white dining table, and white kitchen cabinets, which store contents of the buffet and china cabinet that were ruined in the flooding. Walls are heather gray in the dining area, kitchen, and living room with its original fireplace. The pale-blue family room is furnished with a blue couch and blue-patterned chair.

    The new layout is “great for entertaining,” Corson-Ricci said, and her more “monotone” decor is a good backdrop for Christmas decorations she and her parents have acquired.

    On Dec. 5 she hung a giant lighted wreath on the gray siding over her front door and opened her home to over 400 people attending the annual Haddon Heights Library Holiday House Tour.

    The kitchen counters, light fixtures, and cabinets are adorned with festive candles, garland, ornaments, and wreaths.

    Visitors admired the holly-patterned white china plates and cookie jar Phyllis Corson purchased in the 1970s.

    A Byers’ Choice dancing couple Corson-Ricci bought her parents tops a corner etagere. On the shelf below is a singing baker she and Rodger bought for Phyllis the month before he died in 2015.

    Nutcrackers in red and green velvet stand at attention on the wine cooler.

    To entertain children on the tour, Corson-Ricci hid a miniature elf in the refrigerator and another behind the window of a closet door.

    The third elf was seated on the etagere reading a tiny version of her mystery novel, published last month. Copies of The Game of Life … The Final Clue, Corson-Ricci’s first novel, were discreetly stacked nearby. Several tour-goers bought them.

    An Elf on the Shelf is holding a miniature version of Ricci’s new book.
    A cozy-looking Elf on the Shelf is on display behind the window of a closet door.

    Besides displaying family treasures, including her mother’s dollhouse decorated for the holidays, Corson-Ricci crafted Christmas trees out of stacked books and purchased snowflakes to hang in the powder room.

    The day before the tour she decided the pendant lights above the kitchen island needed embellishing. Gold balls ordered from Amazon arrived on time.

    Sometimes you want something new to go with the old.

    Is your house a Haven? Nominate your home by email (and send some digital photographs) at properties@inquirer.com.

  • Nativity scenes have long mirrored current events. All of the ICE references this year are no different.

    Nativity scenes have long mirrored current events. All of the ICE references this year are no different.

    For 29% of the world, the world’s 2.3 billion Christians, the days leading up to Dec. 25 are filled with traditions to help us prepare for one of the two most important religious celebrations of the year.

    On Christmas Day, the mangers in Nativity scenes in front of churches across the nation, empty until now, will feature depictions of the infant Jesus.

    Christians can then, as the carol goes, know the thrill of hope, and the weary world can rejoice.

    For a day, an hour, a moment, Christians in the U.S. will seem to be one body in Christ — but perhaps not even the Nativity can bridge the gulf that has grown between Christians over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

    Sorry, MAGA Christians, you aren’t the only ones praying | Sabrina Vourvoulias

    In fact, this holiday season, some of that deep division has flared up publicly, centered on Nativity scenes at churches — across denominations and geographies — that depict the Holy Family behind barbed wire, or flanked by federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

    An “ICE WAS HERE” sign is posted in the empty spot for the baby Jesus at a Nativity scene displayed at St. Susanna Church in Dedham, Mass., earlier this month.

    In Massachusetts, at the Roman Catholic St. Susanna Church, the Holy Family is missing — replaced by a sign saying “ICE WAS HERE.” At Oak Lawn Methodist in Dallas, the Holy Family is behind a barbed wire fence, with a sign that says “Holy is the refugee.” At Missiongathering Church in Charlotte, N.C., ICE agents wearing bulletproof vests surround the Holy Family.

    At Oak Lawn United Methodist Church’s nativity, Mary and Joseph are silhouettes, surrounded by a chain link fence topped with razor wire. Their halos are old bicycle wheels. A shopping cart and two metal bins, frequently used by the unhoused as firepits, flank the scene.

    [image or embed]

    — NPR (@npr.org) December 16, 2025 at 2:08 PM

    And at Lake Street Church of Evanston, in Evanston, Ill., not only are ICE and CBP figures included, but Mary wears a gas mask, and the infant Jesus has his hands zip-tied together — the way a witness describes federal agents from ICE and CBP zip-tying children together after raiding an apartment building in Chicago in October — and is swaddled in a Mylar blanket like those used in detention centers.

    The pastors involved say the Nativities remind everyone that “God is with us” now. The scene “reflects the context that Jesus would be coming into if he were born today,” St. Susanna’s Father Stephen Josoma told the National Catholic Reporter.

    The Rev. Michael Woolf, pastor of Lake Street, was even more direct when he posted on Instagram after someone had removed the zip ties from the Jesus figure in his church’s Nativity:

    “We restored the zip ties on baby Jesus. The #Christmas story is literally about an authoritarian ruler using violence, causing fear, and eventually driving the holy family to become refugees in Egypt. The parallels couldn’t be more clear between Scripture and our nativity. We’re not going anywhere.”

    There is a long tradition of having Nativity scenes reflect contemporary concerns and realities. For example, during World War I, according to Emma Cieslik, a museum professional and religious scholar writing for the website Hyperallergic, the Holy Family huddled in the trenches. More recently, the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem created a Nativity scene with the infant Jesus cradled by rubble from the bombing of Gaza, and the Vatican itself hosted Nativity scenes depicting the war in Ukraine.

    Still, there has been plenty of pushback. The bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston has been critical of St. Susanna’s Nativity, for example, and online comments at X dispute any characterization of the Holy Family as migrants or refugees. (Ahem, Matthew 2:13-14 anybody?)

    But the strongest reactions have taken place at the churches in places that were impacted by Trump-directed immigration surges.

    At Missiongathering in Charlotte, a person was caught on video knocking over the ICE figures in the Nativity and tearing up the “Know Your Rights” signs around it. At Lake Street Church on Chicago’s North Side, vandals knocked down the ICE and CBP figures, then battered and decapitated the Mary figure.

    The violence is symbolic, but the fury is undeniable. This administration has so thoroughly demonized migrants and refugees, labeling all as criminals, that any hint of resemblance between today’s migrants and refugees and the Holy Family reads as anathema to some Christians. But anyone who thinks the parallels are politically driven needs to get their history straight. Way back in 1952, Pope Pius XII was writing in his Exsul Familia Nazarethana that “the migrant Holy Family of Nazareth, fleeing into Egypt, is the archetype of every refugee family.”

    Faith communities are showing up at the ICE office for 40 weeks of prayer and protest | Sabrina Vourvoulias

    And here’s the thing: These Nativities that have enraged people aren’t exclusively reflecting the reality of migrants and refugees who are endangered by the Trump administration policies — they are reflecting the danger to all of us.

    Folks may feel safe in their own status, but anyone can be treated the same way the administration is treating migrants and refugees. It is happening already, in fact, with federal agents refusing to accept valid U.S. birth certificates and passports as proof of citizenship.

    “No document will protect you,” Malka Older, who heads up the international community of writers and human rights activists Global Voices, and has years of experience working at humanitarian aid, disaster risk reduction, and emergency preparedness organizations, wrote recently on Bluesky.

    “All they have to do is take it from you and ‘lose’ it; take it from you and say you never gave it to them; claim it’s fake; make a new rule that you need another document. Citizenship is a made-up status that governments decide the rules for.”

    Older said “it has never been about immigration. It’s racism, and it’s intimidation, and profit for some. Allowing it to happen to any group means it’s a possibility for everyone, and that’s how fascism maintains power.”

    Which brings me back to Christmas Day, and what every pastor who has placed one of those ICE Nativity scenes knows.

    It is a broken world now, and it was a broken world when Christ was born into it.

    Amid the soaring Glorias, the sparkle of lights, and the colorful paper wrapped around gifts we give each other in echo of the gifts brought to the Christ child by the Magi, we should remember that three days after Christmas Day, Christians will be marking the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. The one the Holy Family fled from, the one that made them refugees.

    They were warned, as we are warned, that authoritarian rulers will stop at nothing to get their way.

  • Dear Santa, Trump has been very naughty. Don’t give him anything. Not even coal.

    Dear Santa, Trump has been very naughty. Don’t give him anything. Not even coal.

    Dear Santa Claus,

    I hope you and Mrs. Claus are well. This is the first time in a long while that I have taken the time to write out my Christmas wish list. It’s a long one, but it’s also for the millions of Americans struggling this year to fill their Christmas stockings.

    Donald Trump, a spray-tanned, 21st-century version of Ebenezer Scrooge, claims the affordability crisis is a “Democratic hoax,” and that parents should deal with it by buying fewer toys. With a heart that’s at least two sizes too small, he just can’t relate to those who scrape to get by. The only struggle he can relate to has to do with pronouncing the word acetaminophen.

    Like the main character in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Trump enjoys demeaning people — as he did last week when he unveiled a series of plaques near the Oval Office, deliberately distorting the legacies of former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Trump isn’t in the same league with either of them. Not even close. Same thing with President John F. Kennedy, but that didn’t stop him from having his name slapped onto the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts last week.

    Please, Santa, make sure your sleigh doesn’t drop off any presents at the White House on Christmas Eve. Same thing with Mar-a-Lago. Remember Trump’s posting an AI-generated meme dropping what looks like feces on “No Kings” protesters back in October? Just tell Dasher, Dancer, Rudolph, and the rest to fly right on by both of these locations.

    President Donald Trump speaks during an address to the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House in Washington in December.

    Unemployment rose to 4.6% last month, the highest increase since 2021. For African Americans, it’s way higher, at 8.3%. Kudos to Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.), among others, for demanding answers about what’s going on. Please don’t forget to drop off something really nice for them.

    Also, as I’m sure you’re aware, America is on the verge of a healthcare crisis. Once federal subsidies to the Affordable Care Act expire Dec. 31, millions will see their health insurance costs skyrocket. This isn’t the kind of thing you and the elves typically work on up at the North Pole, but members of Congress have failed to come up with a solution.

    If something drastic doesn’t happen soon, millions may wind up dropping their policies, which could prove catastrophic. We can’t count on that old Scrooge, I mean the president, who campaigned claiming he had a “concept of a plan” to fix healthcare. He hasn’t done it yet, and I doubt he ever will. Instead of boxed gifts, anything you can do to help us resolve this important issue would be deeply appreciated.

    Trump really deserves that No. 1 spot on your naughty list this year. It’s one thing to try to secure America’s borders, but it’s a whole other thing to allow masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to carry out a reign of terror on undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.

    There have been many other lowlights from the first 11 months of his second term: imposing tariffs on foreign countries that have raised costs for American consumers, dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, and stopping diversity, equity, and inclusion in the federal government and anywhere else he can.

    On top of everything else, Trump doesn’t even bother to hide his bigotry anymore. Under his leadership, officials have admitted white Afrikaners — descendants of the European colonizers whose segregationist practices led to the formalization of apartheid in South Africa — granting them refugee status while doing everything in his power to deport Black and brown migrants. I haven’t recovered from his calling Somalis “garbage” and saying that they should leave the country.

    They and anyone else Trump doesn’t like have to go because he’s worried about “chain migration,” but first lady Melania Trump, who brought her parents to the States using the same process, can stay? Make it make sense.

    Volunteers take phone calls from children asking where Santa is and when he will deliver presents to their house, during the annual NORAD Tracks Santa Operation, at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, at Peterson Air Force Base, in Colorado Springs, Colo., last Christmas Eve.

    I could go on and on, but I’m trying to embrace the holiday spirit. Please give my regards to Mrs. Claus and to all of the elves who work so hard to make the Yuletide season jolly.

    When you make your way down my chimney, you will find your cookies and milk in their usual place. I don’t need anything personally, but please do what you can to make life easier for Americans scraping to get by in the so-called golden age of Trump. As a certain humbug himself might say, thank you for your attention to this matter!

    Love, Jenice

  • Catholic Charities helps those in need both surmount life’s hardships and celebrate its many little joys | Philly Gives

    Catholic Charities helps those in need both surmount life’s hardships and celebrate its many little joys | Philly Gives

    Heather Huot, the top executive at Catholic Charities, named her only daughter after Lidia, a homeless, mentally ill, and often cranky elderly woman she met as a young social worker at Women of Hope Vine, a transitional housing facility run by the organization Huot now leads.

    As “mean spirited” as Lidia was, Huot said, Lidia still celebrated forsythia.

    When their bright yellow blossoms heralded winter’s end, Lidia would drag Huot outside to marvel. “Despite all the hardships,” Huot said, “there are things to be celebrated.”

    Which brings us to the Christmas holiday season.

    Even if it were possible, which it’s not, to overlook all the troubles in our world, with wars and starvation, or even to overlook all the troubles in our nation, there would still be the troubles of the season — too much work, too much loneliness, too many struggles.

    Where’s the forsythia?

    Two weeks ago, it was outside the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in the form of a living Nativity scene, complete with a wee baby goat named Lady, an artificial-snow machine, an actual camel, and an elementary school choir in their Catholic school uniforms singing “Joy To the World.”

    Yes, “Joy To The World,” because 500 children, some of whom live in tough circumstances, got a chance to celebrate Christmas and with it, maybe, the hope that the holiday brings. It was the 70th annual Archbishop’s Benefit for Children, a Catholic Charities of Philadelphia event funded by a grant from the Riley Family Foundation. No expense was spared.

    Heather Huot, the chief of Catholic Charities Philadelphia, pets a calf during a living Christmas scene in front of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Center City Philadelphia.

    More than 60 volunteers from area high schools lunched on pizza and cookies before heading across the street to a lavishly decorated ballroom in the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown. Balloons, banners, party favors, huge plates of cookies, a container of ice cream cups, and a bucket of all different flavors of milk awaited at each table. Kids and chaperones crowded the dance floor, only to make way for an appearance by Santa, who high-fived his way around the ballroom. At the party’s end, the volunteers sprang into action distributing bags of toys — all beautifully wrapped.

    In a way, the party is a metaphor for Catholic Charities as a whole. Both the party and the organization are big and multifaceted with lots of moving parts, involving all types of people, not only Catholics.

    Each year, Catholic Charities spends about $158 million to run about 40 different programs in four main categories — care for seniors; support for at-risk children, youth, and families; food and shelter; and its biggest category, many-pronged assistance for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

    As an overview, there’s housing for at-risk youth in Bensalem. In Philadelphia, people may be familiar with St. John’s Hospice on Race Street, which provides food, showers, shelter, and case management to men. There are several smaller transitional housing shelters for women in the city.

    Social workers funded by Catholic Charities assist students at six Catholic high schools across the region. Other social workers handle case management under contract with the City of Philadelphia. A program teaches teenagers involved in the juvenile justice system about conflict resolution. Family navigators step in to assist families with issues ranging from employment to parenting support. There are adoption and foster-care services.

    For the elderly, Catholic Charities supports senior centers and works to help seniors stay independent through case management.

    Archbishop Nelson Pérez poses with students during a holiday party.

    Just over half of Catholic Charities’ annual budget is allocated to supporting people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. A major focus is housing for adults. For example, at the Divine Providence Village in Springfield, Delaware County, 72 women live in six cottages on a 22-acre campus with a pool, greenhouse, and picnic pavilion.

    In addition, there is employment support, a day program, field trips, a family-living program, and respite care to help families overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities.

    Nearly 80% of Catholic Charities’ funding comes from government sources, which, these days, requires Huot to focus her prayers. “I ask God to help me get through this and to give me the strength and the people around me to get through this,” she said. “At the same time, we have to recognize that God provides in ways you don’t expect.

    “We’ve been blessed with generous benefactors who have stepped in,” she said. “The Philadelphia community is incredibly generous. We get a bad rap as the people who throw snowballs at Santa Claus, but Philadelphians will give you the shirt off their backs. They are passionate about caring for one another.”

    The generosity moved Lakisha Brown to tears as she shepherded her two children and a third to the party earlier this month. Brown, 44, lives in a three-bedroom subsidized housing apartment at Catholic Charities’ Visitation Homes in Kensington.

    “This is the best I ever lived,” she said. But, she said, just outside her door “is a constant reminder of where I came from and where I never want to go.”

    Brown’s father died when she was in elementary school and her mother struggled with alcohol addiction. Brown left home when she was 16 under the protection of a man who started their relationship with gifts and ended it with beatings.

    “He left me in a coma,” she said.

    Brown had her own struggles with addiction. She spent many nights without a roof over her head. If lucky, she could sleep in safety in an abandoned car on a quiet block. One night, she went to a party in a hotel. When she woke up, her clothes were off. Whatever happened wasn’t consensual.

    Soon after, she learned she was pregnant and, knowing that, she vowed to give her baby a clean birth. She found a drug program and a place to live. Slowly, through housing and support from Catholic Charities, she rebuilt her life.

    Erika Hollender holds up her grandchild so Layani, 3, can touch Percy the camel.

    “They help us with budgeting, with money management,” said Brown, who relies on disability, welfare, and food benefits while trying to cope with her own mental health issues. “When we get some money, we want to spend it on the children. We were parenting out of guilt and shame.”

    Those are the big things, but what Brown wants people to understand is that the level of care is deep, personal, and specific. It’s being able to ask a staff person for a roll of toilet paper and trash bags — basics that are sometimes unaffordable when money must be allocated to food and shelter.

    “A mom’s job is never done,” she said, explaining why people should donate to Catholic Charities. “It is needed for mothers who come from nothing. It is needed.”

    For more information about Philly Gives, including how to donate, visit phillygives.org.

    About Catholic Charities of Philadelphia

    People served: 294,000 annually (in the 2023-24 fiscal year)

    Annual spending: $158.6 million across four pillars of mercy and charity

    Point of pride: Catholic Charities of Philadelphia is the heart of the church’s mission in action, serving all people regardless of background. With decades of experience, nearly 40 comprehensive programs, and deep community partnerships, Catholic Charities turns compassion into action, and action into lasting and impactful change.

    You can help: By serving meals, volunteering at a food pantry or shelter, hosting a food or clothing drive, and sharing your gifts and passions with seniors.

    Support: phillygives.org

    What your Catholic Charities donation can do

    • $25 provides five nutritious lunches for children through the School Lunch Program.
    • $50 provides three hot lunches at St. John’s Hospice for individuals experiencing food insecurity.
    • $100 provides an instructor and supplies for an art or recreation class for 50 to 100 seniors at a senior community center.
    • $275 provides one week of groceries for a family of four.
    • $325 provides a mother with formula, diapers, and wipes for a month.
    • $550 provides emergency shelter and meals for a week for someone experiencing homelessness.
  • 2026 World Juniors: Porter Martone and Gavin McKenna headline why Flyers fans should watch the tournament

    2026 World Juniors: Porter Martone and Gavin McKenna headline why Flyers fans should watch the tournament

    It’s the best time of the year, the holiday season, and for hockey fans, that also means the annual gift of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Junior Championship.

    The premier under-20 hockey tournament in the world, which starts the day after Christmas each year, showcases the next wave of NHL superstars, many of whom have already been drafted and others who won’t wait long to hear their names called come June. This year’s tournament is in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., and runs through Jan. 5. Here are four reasons that Flyers fans should be tuned in to NHL Network and ESPN+ over the next few weeks:

    Flyers Q&A: Brent Flahr dishes on prospects Porter Martone, Jett Luchanko, and more

    1. Porter’s house

    Let’s not bury the lead here. Porter Martone is the biggest reason for Flyers fans to watch this tournament, as the 6-foot-3, 208-pound power forward will be counted on as one of the key cogs and the captain for heavy favorite Canada. Martone, the No. 6 overall draft pick in June, looks poised to be a pillar of the Flyers’ future and should be ready to make the jump to the NHL next season.

    The winger, who tore apart the Ontario Hockey League last year with 98 points in 57 games, has been just as dominant as a freshman in the NCAA, as he leads No. 3 Michigan State with 11 goals, 20 points, and 58 penalty minutes in 16 games. With a rare combination of size, skill, playmaking ability, scoring touch, and snarl, Martone projects as a front-line winger at the next level. Martone’s skating, while hardly a weakness, remains a work in progress, but Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr recently told The Inquirer that he thinks Martone “has a chance to be a special player” and that he has the “it factor.”

    Martone has been playing on Canada’s top line with Michael Misa and Tij Iginla but has also seen time alongside Gavin McKenna. The World Juniors can serve as a launching pad for future NHL stars, so don’t be surprised to see the Flyers prospect have a huge tournament.

    2. More Flyers prospects

    While Martone is the unquestioned headliner, the Flyers will have six prospects lacing them up in the Twin Cities, including Martone and Jett Luchanko (Canada), Shane Vansaghi (United States), Jack Berglund (Sweden), and Heikki Ruohonen and Max Westergård (Finland).

    Flyers prospect Jett Luchanko will be competing in his second straight World Juniors with Canada.

    Luchanko and Berglund will draw the most attention, especially with the Flyers badly needing one or two of their young center prospects to pan out. The speedy Luchanko likely will play a third-line/checking role — he’s been used some on the wing in preliminary games — with Canada, but Flyers fans will want to see him utilize his playmaking skills with better players around him. Since being traded to Brantford of the OHL last month, Luchanko has two goals and eight points in six games. The Flyers want Luchanko to continue shooting the puck more, and it will be interesting to see how he’s utilized a year after Danny Brière said he wasn’t happy with his deployment at this tournament.

    Berglund, meanwhile, probably is the least-talked-about prospect in the Flyers system. A big, strong centerman listed at 6-4 and 209 pounds, the Swede will have the responsibility of captaining his country at this illustrious tournament, something Emil Andrae did in 2022. After impressing at Flyers development camp and the World Junior Summer Showcase, Berglund will look to continue his momentum. The early signs are good, as the 19-year-old recently scored twice against Canada in a preliminary game. The question with Berglund will always be his skating, but Flahr believes it has steadily improved and says that Berglund’s size, strength, and details project him to be a valuable player at the next level.

    The bruising but skilled Vansaghi figures to be a depth piece for the Americans, while Ruohonen, a Harvard man who also impressed at the World Junior Summer Showcase, will play in a top-six role with Finland. Westergård, 18, also earned a spot on the roster after a strong first half in Sweden at the under-20 level.

    Flyers Q&A: Brent Flahr talks Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Jack Berglund, and the 2026 NHL draft

    3. Eyes on the prize

    While McKenna has long been viewed as the prize of the 2026 draft, the Penn State phenom no longer seems to be a lock to go No. 1. Two of the players challenging for that spot also will be playing in the tournament: towering Canadian defenseman Keaton Verhoeff and exciting Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg.

    While the Flyers, who currently are in a playoff spot, don’t look to be genuine contenders for McKenna, Verhoeff, and some of the others at the top, they surely will be scouting the tournament with a close eye. Sweden’s Viggo Björck (C) and William Håkansson (LD), USA’s Chase Reid (RD), Canada’s Carson Carels (LD), Finland’s Oliver Suvanto (C) and Juho Piiparinen (RD), and Czechia’s Adam Novotny are among the other draft-eligible players to watch.

    Penn State’s Gavin McKenna, once viewed as a lock to be the No. 1 pick in 2026, has a lot to prove over the next few weeks with Team Canada.

    4. Team USA three-peat?

    USA Hockey only won its first World Juniors gold in 2004. It has won the tournament seven times, including the last two years. So can the U.S., which had never won two in a row before last year, make it three straight?

    It will be a tough task as Canada brings a star-studded roster headlined by McKenna, Misa, and Martone, not to mention a new head coach in Dale Hunter who knows what it takes to lead a group of young men to gold.

    But the U.S. boasts a strong roster of its own led by James Hagens, Cole Eiserman, and Max Plante. While the depth or star power might not be at the level of past U.S. teams, the Americans will go into this tournament as the two-time defending champions and have home-ice advantage. The U.S. also is sure to have a chip on its shoulder, especially given all the “dream team” talk surrounding Canada. All the pressure is on Canada to win gold and atone for last year’s shocking quarterfinal upset. That could work to the Americans’ advantage.

    Flyers top 20 prospects: Porter Martone is No. 1, but where do Alex Bump and Jett Luchanko rank?

  • Eagles roundtable: Answering some of the biggest Birds questions as the playoffs approach

    Eagles roundtable: Answering some of the biggest Birds questions as the playoffs approach

    The Eagles have clinched their second straight NFC East title and a return to the postseason, meaning much of the focus in the coming days will center on how far they can advance. With that in mind, we turned to The Inquirer’s Eagles writers, Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, and Jeff Neiburg, to discuss some of the biggest issues surrounding the team — including the injury situation, biggest 2025 surprises, and how the staff might look different beyond the postseason:

    Could Jalen Hurts and Co. be looking at an Eagles-Rams rematch in the playoffs?

    Who should the Eagles least want to see in the NFC portion of the playoffs?

    McLane: Honestly, I don’t spend my waking hours caring who the Eagles should least want to face in the playoffs, but I guess for the sake of this exercise I’ll choose the Rams. Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford know what it takes to win a title and have arguably a better offense than when they won the Super Bowl four years ago. The Rams are imperfect, as their overtime loss to the Seahawks last week showed. And the Eagles have had McVay’s number, winning six of seven since he took over in Los Angeles. But the law of averages may finally benefit the coach. I’d also be wary of the peaking 49ers.

    NFL playoff picture: Eagles scenarios, two more teams clinch

    Reiner: The Rams. Yes, the Eagles are 4-0 against them under Nick Sirianni, including last year’s divisional-round game and the Week 3 victory this season. But Stafford has been playing at an MVP level this year. He has one of the NFL’s top receiving duos in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Kyren Williams is a top-10 running back. The Rams’ defensive front, led by Jared Verse and Byron Young, is among the best in the league. The Eagles have a chance against any team in the NFC, but the Rams would provide the most difficult test.

    Neiburg: I wanted to say the Rams, because I do believe they are the best team in the NFC, but the Eagles seem to have their number, and, as of right now, a playoff game vs. the Rams would be at Lincoln Financial Field. Instead, I’ll go with the Seahawks. I don’t trust Sam Darnold to win a big game, but the Eagles’ offense having to go up against that defense in front of that home crowd on the other side of the country in what would likely be the NFC title game is a daunting task.

    Jalen Carter is the Eagles’ only Pro Bowl starter. But the team has managed to get by without him at various times in 2025.

    Who’s more important to have fully healthy for the playoffs, Lane Johnson or Jalen Carter?

    Reiner: Yes. Is that an acceptable answer? Thankfully for the Eagles, they won’t have to pick, because both are expected to return in time for the playoffs. But for the sake of the exercise, I’ll pick Johnson. Fred Johnson has been solid in his absence, but the All-Pro right tackle is one of the best in the league at his position. Carter hasn’t been healthy for most of the year and the Eagles’ defensive front has fared well enough without him recently.

    Neiburg: Nothing against Carter, but the clear answer is Johnson. Right tackle is a singular position, and Johnson is a singular player, a future Hall of Famer who is still among the best players at his position. The Eagles’ defensive front has played well without Carter, and while getting him back and at full strength is a big deal, it’s not quite the same as inserting Lane Johnson in over Fred Johnson.

    Jalen Carter returns to practice and the Eagles are ‘hopeful’ that he’ll play against the Bills

    McLane: “Fully healthy” is rare for any player at this stage of the season, but assuming either is cleared to return for the playoffs, close to 90% should be good enough. Johnson has played through worse than his Lisfranc foot injury. He delayed surgery to repair a torn adductor two years ago and didn’t miss a beat. History has shown that when he isn’t in the lineup the Eagles struggle, going 15-27 since 2013. Carter’s absence hurt vs. the Giants in October, but the D-line has done a better job of covering for his loss these last three games. So I guess my answer is Johnson.

    Saquon Barkley came up well short of another 2,000-yard season while working behind a battered line that has struggled at times.

    Based on your observations of this team in training camp, what’s the single biggest surprise about the Eagles from your vantage point here in December?

    Neiburg: That an offense that returned 10 of 11 starters and hired a coordinator who had been on staff for years tailed off the way it has — especially in the running game. I knew Saquon Barkley wasn’t going to run for 2,000 yards again. I knew the Eagles were going to face stacked boxes. I didn’t expect the offensive line to struggle to run block this way and didn’t think moving the ball and getting first downs would be as much of a chore as it has at times this season.

    Reiner: The offensive line’s overall regression. Even with Landon Dickerson’s meniscus injury in camp, it seemed unlikely that the group would struggle so much, especially in the run game. The unit has been better over the last few weeks, as evidenced by Barkley’s recent surge. But for most of the season, the offensive line wasn’t the juggernaut that the Eagles have leaned on in the past.

    Saquon Barkley and the Eagles ran angry in the second half. It’s about time.

    McLane: I kind of saw the offensive regression coming, and certainly Barkley’s struggles, but not to the extent it’s been. That said, that the Eagles would have another first-time offensive coordinator come under fire for most of the season wasn’t a surprise either. So I’ll look at other phases.

    On defense, I thought Carter would be primed to take his game to another level with a contract extension potentially on the table this offseason. I know he was voted to the Pro Bowl and has been dealing with shoulder injuries, but he hasn’t had the desired impact. On special teams, Jake Elliott has hit rough patches before. But he had a great camp and first half of the season. That’s why the kicker’s late-season woes have come out of the blue for me.

    If you don’t yet know DBs coach Christian Parker’s name, you will.

    The NFL coaching carousel is about to start spinning. Which members of the Eagles staff would you expect to garner outside interest for head or assistant roles? Any future head coaches on this staff?

    McLane: Vic Fangio has the best pedigree and should get another chance to be a head coach. But he’s 67 and has said he has no desire to be in that chair again, which is good news for the Eagles. I think special teams coordinator Michael Clay could be a CEO-type head coach some day. Of the assistants, defensive backs coach Christian Parker is likely to get poached to head a defense sooner rather than later.

    Reiner: The 33-year-old Parker has become a rising star in the league, getting the most out of young cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in their first two seasons in the NFL. He has a long career ahead of him, and it might not be possible for Fangio to keep him around for much longer.

    Neiburg: If I had to guess one coach from this list who gets a promotion next year, it’s Parker. Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt has already been a coordinator (with the Seahawks in 2022-23) and could do it again. Clay has a bright future in this league. And Kevin Patullo — yes, that one — might be a head coach one day. Just not this next coaching cycle.

    Dallas Goedert (88) and DeVonta Smith (6) have both demonstrated their value to an offense that has struggled at times.

    Who would be No. 1 on your ballot for offensive MVP, if the season ended today?

    Neiburg: This one was tough, and it feels like we’re just giving out a participation trophy. You don’t need me to tell you that the Eagles’ offense hasn’t been very good this season, despite the amount of money the team dedicates to offensive players. A few weeks ago, I’d have said DeVonta Smith, but he’s sort of tailed off a little. I’ll go with Dallas Goedert, who has been a major red zone weapon and has more touchdowns (10) than he had in the last three seasons combined.

    Handing out credit for the Eagles’ record playoff run, also what NFL refs got right and DK Metcalf did wrong in Week 16

    McLane: Smith has slipped some since we last had this question at the bye. But that’s more circumstantial than anything related to his performance. Smith’s success in the first half of the season led to defenses clouding him more, which has created space for fellow receiver A.J. Brown. Smith has still delivered when called upon and is on track to have the third 1,000-yard season of his career. He’s also a willing blocker as he showed on Saquon Barkley’s 48-yard run vs. the Commanders.

    Reiner: Goedert. He’s been the star of the Eagles’ top-ranked red zone offense, leading the team with nine touchdowns inside the 20 (10 touchdowns on the season overall). For a player who didn’t look like he was returning to the Eagles this offseason, he’s had one of the better seasons of his eight-year career.

    Quinyon Mitchell (left) and Cooper DeJean (right) have both been vital to the defense’s success.

    How about defensive MVP?

    Reiner: Quinyon Mitchell. In his second season, he earned more responsibility in Fangio’s defense, whether he’s traveling with opposing teams’ top receivers or lining up on the boundary side. He’s risen to the challenge. Mitchell leads the league with 17 pass breakups. He’s also conceded catches on just 42.3% of his targets, the lowest rate among cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps.

    Neiburg: Jordan Davis. Has he been the overall best performer on the defense? Probably not, but we sort of already knew what to expect out of Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Zack Baun, and Co. But with Davis, the talk in the offseason was about a transformed body and how he was ready to take the next step. He walked the walk.

    McLane: This may be controversial, but I’m going with Cooper DeJean. Mitchell is also deserving — quarterbacks have stayed away from testing him and when they have, he’s often answered the bell. But DeJean has a more difficult job in the slot, in my opinion. It’s why Fangio has refused to move him exclusively to the outside. The second-year corner has to match up vs. faster receivers and bigger-bodied tight ends, while also supporting the run defense from an inside position.

  • Letters to the Editor | Dec. 24, 2025

    Letters to the Editor | Dec. 24, 2025

    Police corruption

    In your recent editorial, “Will the Philadelphia Police Department ever be free of scandal?” you provided a valuable albeit disheartening summary of the examples of police misconduct and corruption that surfaced in 2025. These recent events are part of “a systemic problem that has undermined the department for decades” and underscored the need for independent accountability. Our organization, the Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC), has not conducted any police investigations because the police employment contract remains an obstacle to our efforts. Despite our public advocacy before City Council, broad support from lawmakers, community partners, and the public, and our groundbreaking testimony at the interest arbitration hearing, CPOC’s demand to carry out our public mandate was denied.

    Each day, when Philadelphians call us to report misconduct — as they do in increasing numbers every year — they expect us to investigate their complaints. They are let down when we have to tell them we can’t.

    Until we can perform the independent investigations Philadelphians voted for in 2020, the systemic misconduct of a small number of police officers will continue to plague the department and detract from the good work of many other officers. A fair and effective system of accountability is vital to any agency.

    We will continue to work — including performing real-time audits of the department’s internal investigations of police misconduct and exposing the problems with arbitration you mentioned in the editorial. We will work to reduce and address misconduct in the months and years to come, so that community trust can be built, wrongful convictions will be a thing of the past, and taxpayers will not pay such a high price for a failed system.

    Tonya McClary, Citizens Police Oversight Commission, Philadelphia

    . . .

    Who are the arbitrators who continue to let corrupt cops keep their jobs? And who is going to organize an effort to get them to change? It sounds counterintuitive, but shouldn’t the police union want to get rid of the rotten apples who make taxpayers question the integrity of police officers in general?

    Debbie Weiner, Quakertown

    . . .

    Your recent editorial about police misconduct raised several questions: Are members of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission being paid? If so, where does the money come from? How often do they meet? Why, in three years, has there not been one investigation? Why is the committee still in existence? Doesn’t anyone oversee them?

    By the way, I am definitely pro-police, my husband having served on the job for 38 years.

    And I have one more question: When will there be an investigation into the sheriff’s office? From the articles I’ve seen over the years, it appears that a serious look at what’s happening there is certainly needed.

    Florence Newman, Philadelphia

    . . .

    Your editorial questioned whether the Philadelphia Police Department will ever be free of scandal. The answer is no — at least for the foreseeable future. The underlying causes started well before the current commissioner. Issues with arbitration have been long-standing, and the city never seems to confront them during contract negotiations.

    The biggest issue, as the article pointed out, is recruitment. Lowering standards and the de-emphasis on education have hurt the department immeasurably. Many recruits have high school degrees, but can’t really read, write, or comprehend at a high school level. Understanding the laws of arrest, search and seizure, and the department’s voluminous directives is lost on many of them.

    The promotion system — which used to be completely anonymous (you were identified only by a number) — has become politicized, resulting in less competent supervisors managing less competent cops. The mayor needs to put together a task force to propose a new way forward — something far cheaper than budgeting tens of millions of dollars on legal settlements for misconduct, which will inevitably be needed each year.

    Charles Brennan, retired deputy commissioner, Philadelphia Police Department

    Rewriting history

    I am thankful my family and I were able to visit most of the museums that make up the Smithsonian Institution before the Trump administration began its content review.

    Once again, this administration is threatening to withhold funding unless the Smithsonian bows to the pressure to submit documentation so that this administration can purge “improper ideology” from the museum system. Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14253, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” is an attempt to rewrite what history can be shared with the public. It is a disgraceful attempt to remove and rewrite history in exhibits that target works and content mentioning slavery, race, transgender identity, and immigration. So instead of this nation learning from our errors of the past, we just rewrite history and never acknowledge these actions? How is this “restoring truth”?

    The Smithsonian Institution has served our country as an independent and nonpartisan institution for nearly 180 years. It needs to stay that way. Call your members of Congress to object to this administration’s attempts to rewrite history by bullying the Smithsonian Institution and other museums and historical exhibitions, including the President’s House Site on Independence Mall, which attempts to share nonpartisan, historically accurate information.

    This administration is now increasing its threats and pressure on institutions as the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration approaches. Use your voice before it is too late, and this administration purges what it — and only it — decides is “woke” ideology.

    An easy way to contact your senators and representatives is to use the 5Calls app, which is free, provides quick access, information on topics, and even scripts for your calls.

    Every voice counts. Please help block this administration’s efforts to rewrite our history.

    Judy Endicott, Fort Washington

    Insult to JFK’s memory

    Adding Donald Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center is an insult to John F. Kennedy, who, like our current president, came from a prominent family but instead devoted his life to serving others, not himself. During World War II, when Kennedy was disqualified from the Army due to his back problems, he enlisted in the Naval Reserves by downplaying those problems. He asked to be sent into active combat zones, subsequently becoming a decorated war hero. Always forward-thinking, Kennedy supported civil rights as president and paved the way for the U.S. to be the first to land men on the moon. Kennedy sought every opportunity to serve the American people. Trump, on the other hand, evaded military service, believing it beneath him. He is a backward-thinking man, rejecting science and concentrating on reversing scientific, economic, and social progress. Trump has exploited his position to enrich himself and his family by many millions, ignoring all laws and norms meant to prevent that. The Kennedy Center was built to honor one man, and Trump’s name does not belong on it.

    Jean A. Kozel, West Norriton

    Disbarred attorney

    I found it a bit ironic — and more than a little depressing — to learn that while our justice system is regularly being made a mockery of by baseless indictments filed by White House lawyers, the federal courts locally have disbarred an attorney who sought to overturn a death sentence.

    Mike Carroll, Philadelphia

    Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.

  • Dear Abby | Dinner unexpectedly comes with a show

    DEAR ABBY: I’m an active senior man. To keep my beard looking attractive, a hairstylist trims it every two weeks. I’ve had the same stylist for three years, and we have become good friends, to the point that she has invited me to her home for an evening meal with her family. I have been there several times, but on the last occasion, she did something odd and, I believe, disrespectful.

    She is a very attractive 50-year-old lady. Arriving at her home, I was left in the company of her parents while she and her son (and perhaps her husband) prepared the food. When it was finished, she brought me my plate, then served her parents. What shocked me was that she was dressed in what she called a swimsuit. To me, it was the barest thong and bra I had ever seen and two inches from being naked. Earlier that day, when she was trimming my beard, she wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt.

    Her excuse for the “swimsuit” was that there was something wrong with a spot on her hip that required a patch, and she couldn’t wear clothing over it because it would put too much pressure on the afflicted spot. (I don’t buy it.) I felt that, if nothing else, she could have at least put on one of her husband’s shirts. I felt embarrassed and insulted. Although I said nothing, I decided never to go to her home again. Should I tell her why if she asks?

    — LOOKING GOOD IN COLORADO

    DEAR LOOKING GOOD: Your “barber(ella)” wasn’t entertaining you alone. Her parents, son and (possibly) her husband were also there. She obviously felt comfortable enough around you that she wore something she usually wears in that environment and had no idea you would react the way you have. From now on, politely refuse her dinner invitations. If she asks why, I don’t think it would be rude to level with her that you felt embarrassed she wasn’t more covered up. It’s the truth.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My wife’s family is rather enmeshed. They have never really accepted me and are rude and unkind toward me. Recently, her father’s attitude has shifted from rude to downright hostile. He has tried to physically assault me. (I didn’t fight back.)

    They watch our kids three days a week. I appreciate it and try hard to be a respectful and good person, but I am not sure what to do. My wife is unable or unwilling to take a strong stance against her father’s behavior. Any advice?

    — PUNISHED IN PENNSYLVANIA

    DEAR PUNISHED: There is something wrong with your father-in-law. The next time he lays a hand on you, call the police and have him arrested, as you would ANY OTHER aggressor. As to your “enmeshed” wife, some joint sessions with a marriage counselor might help her to reorganize her priorities. However, if she can’t manage that, you may need to decide if you want to remain married to her or climb out of that snake pit.

  • Horoscopes: Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). Today’s luck comes from defining “luck” well or, to put a finer point on it, specifically. Because there is no universality to good fortune. What gives you a dollop of joy? Remember it, wish for it, look for it, and you’ll experience it.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Like a magician using clever sleight-of-hand, you’ll dabble in a bit of harmless misdirection today, all to charm, entertain and delight your audience. You’re after their bright, surprised smiles, and you’ll get them.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Mood fluctuation is totally normal given all you’re doing now. When the pace of life takes a lot of energy, you may not have a ton left for self-care. Do try and offer yourself tenderness and as much leeway as possible.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). People around you are more tuned into you than you think. You’ll get the evidence of that today. It may influence your future behavior, knowing someone is listening, watching and caring about what you do next. Maybe this feels like love.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). What you need is out there, waving its little arms, saying, “Hey! Over here!” The funny part? It might look nothing like what you ordered. Stay open. The right thing’s en route, even if it’s wearing a disguise.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There’s not a creature alive who thrives in bondage. You don’t like feeling controlled, even if the one controlling you is you. If your rules are too strict, you’ll rebel. What if you let go of the discipline today? What if you did what you naturally want to do?

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Everyone seems to have an agenda today — something they’re subtly aiming for, like a mood, a moment or a feeling. Most do it unconsciously. Not you. You know exactly what you want. Guide the action toward it, and enjoy the results.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Love wears many disguises. It can even look like debate, challenge or people on opposite sides of the room. Beneath each is the same impulse: to meet someone where they are, whether through engagement, contrast or by giving them space while you admire from a distance.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There’s a clown in every class, and today you’re that holiday jester, lighting the room with really charming comic relief. Your playful timing hits just right, and you also know when to bow out and let the room glow on its own.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). When to speak and when the unspoken says more. When to open and when to close the door. When rhyming’s good and when it’s a bad call. Your timing is stellar. You’ll sense these “whens” one and all.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Life offers a buffet of possibilities, so with whom shall you “dine?” Seek the company of people who need your help, because helping will feel good. Other contenders: the cheerful people who have an attractive attitude and/or interesting takes.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The force we call “destruction” has a negative reputation because people forget that it’s half of the force we call “creation.” Today, you’ll dismantle the fixture that’s been stressing you out, clearing space for something functional, lovely and far more reflective of the real you.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 24). Welcome to your Year of Wild Becoming. You’ll shed old versions of yourself with surprising ease and step into something truer, braver and more you. Your courage inspires others, and doors open because of it. Financial abundance reflects this inner transformation. More highlights: a creative project that takes off, friendships forged in spontaneous adventures, and love that sees you completely. Pisces and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 14, 22, 31 and 47.

  • Sixers waive rookie two-way guard Hunter Sallis after loss to the Nets

    Sixers waive rookie two-way guard Hunter Sallis after loss to the Nets

    The 76ers waived rookie Hunter Sallis, who was on a two-way contract, following Tuesday’s 114-106 loss to the Brooklyn Nets at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    The team made the move to sign MarJon Beauchamp to a two-way deal. Beauchamp was a member of the Delaware Blue Coasts, the Sixers’ NBA G League affiliate. The 6-foot-6 swingman has three years of NBA experience after being selected 24th in the 2022 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

    Sixers takeaways: Winless with their Big Three, Joel Embiid injury scare, and more from loss to Nets

    Beauchamp could get an opportunity to provide depth for the Sixers (16-12), who need another athletic wing with Kelly Oubre Jr. sidelined by a left knee sprain.

    Sallis, a 6-4 combo guard, logged the final minute of Tuesday’s contest. In seven games with the Sixers, the Nebraska native scored seven points on 3-for-5 shooting to go with four assists, one rebound, and five turnovers in 25 minutes. He averaged 12.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists through eight games with the Blue Coats.

    Beauchamp averaged 26.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists with Delaware in two regular-season games. He averaged 18.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in five games during the Tip-Off Tournament.

    MarJon Beauchamp began his career with the Milwaukee Bucks and has had stops with the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks as well.

    The Bucks traded the 25-year-old to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Kevin Porter Jr. on Feb. 6. However, the Clippers released Beauchamp on March 1. Three days later, he signed a two-way contract with the New York Knicks for the remainder of last season.

    ‘This is who he is’: High-flying rookie VJ Edgecombe has exceeded Sixers’ expectations

    Sallis signed with the Sixers as an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest.

    Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker are the Sixers’ other players on two-way contracts.