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Ice forward Philp released by Philadelphia Flyers

Kootenay Ice forward Luke Philp was released from his amateur tryout with the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday
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Forward Luke Philp

Leading scorer Luke Philp is headed back to the Kootenay Ice.

Philp, 19, was released from an amateur tryout with the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday afternoon as the team reduced its training camp roster.

The native of Canmore, Alta., led the Ice in scoring during the 2014-15 campaign, tallying 30 goals and 52 assists.

The 5-foot-10, 181-pound pivot went undrafted in both years of eligibility at the NHL Entry Draft (2014 and 2015), but has continued to draw interest from pro clubs.

Prior to the 2014 WHL season, Philp spent time at Toronto Maple Leafs rookie camp, before attending Flyers development camp this past spring, which led to an invite to fall camp.

In 225 career WHL games, all with the Ice, Philp has registered 82 goals and 206 points.

The shifty centreman returns to an Ice squad overloaded with overage players, as seven remain on the roster.

It is expected the team will stretch out the bulk of decision making regarding its overage players until closer to the Oct. 16 deadline.

Teams are permitted to carry more than three overagers up until Oct. 16, but only three overage players are permitted to play on any given night.

Tough competition remains for the three overage slots with goaltender Wyatt Hoflin,  defencemen Tanner Faith, Tyler King and Tanner Lishchynsky, and right wingers Jaedon Descheneau and Jon Martin all still in the mix.

Descheneau, a 2014 fifth-round pick (124th overall) of the St. Louis Blues, is the lone player still at NHL camp.

King, who underwent off-season knee surgery, is out indefinitely.

The Kootenay Ice open the 2015-16 WHL regular season Friday (7 p.m.) at Western Financial Place when the Calgary Hitmen visit Cranbrook.