PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Flyers selected defenceman Travis Sanheim with the 17th overall pick in the NHL draft.

The Philly crowd was rowdy all night and ready to cheer the latest Flyer. The little-known Sanheim was ranked 53rd among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and was not expected to be a first-round pick.

But Flyers general manager Ron Hextall gambled on the 6-foot-3, 180-pounder from the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.