Phantoms Play First of Eight with AHL Champs

Published on October 23, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Adirondack Phantoms dropped the first of their eight scheduled games with the two-time defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears with a 5-1 setback Saturday night at Giant Center in Hershey, PA.

Rookie Andrew Rowe out of Michigan State broke up Hershey goalie Braden Holtby's bid for a shutout late in the 3rd with a sharp backhander top-shelf goal. Holtby looked shaky on a few occasions with some turnovers in his own end but the Phantoms were unable to push it past him until late in the game.

Eric Wellwood started out the 3rd period hitting the post on a feed by Greg Moore. And Ben Holmstrom raced forward on a breakaway and beat Holtby over his left shoulder but shot the puck squarely off the iron for the second post shot of the game.

The strange bounces were not isolated to the Hershey side. Late in the first period a drive from the right win by the Bears' Kyle Greentree was saved by Backlund but bounced off the trailing defenseman Oskars Bartulis and into the net for Hershey's second goal of the game.

Bartulis returned to the Phantoms for a conditioning assignment. Not in the lineup for the Flyers, Bartulis made the quick 80 mile trip to Hershey to play in the game for the Phantoms instead. It was his first game with Adirondack since last November. He had only played in two of the Flyers' first six games so far this season. The native of Lativa played in 53 games patrolling the Philadelphia blue-line last season.

Brian Willsie, Kyle Greentree, Steve Pinizotto and Ashton Rome with a couple were the goal scorers for the Bears.

Adirondack won the season series over the Hershey Bears last year going 4-3-1 against the AHL champs. Hershey lost only four home games all season in 2009-10, two of which came to the hands of Greg Gilbert's Phantoms.

Zac Rinaldo dealt the hit of the night midway through the second period when he creamed Hershey's Zach Miskovic in the corner of the Hershey end sending him flying a little bit before tumbling to the ice. Miskovic returned to take a shift a few minutes later.

Not content with how the game was progressing, several Phantoms players got into scraps with the Bears including Matt Clackson who dropped the gloves with Sheldon Souray. A couple minutes later it was Zac Rinaldo getting into a fight with Trevor Bruess. And a few seconds after that Kevin Marshall took one too many shoves from Ashton Rome and those two got engaged in a battle as well.

The game was the first of a two game series in Hershey with the weekend finale coming Sunday at 5 at Giant Center in "Chocolate-Town." Hershey will make their first appearance at the Glens Falls Civic Center on December 17.

The Phantoms come back home over Halloween weekend with some great promotions on tap. The weekend begins Friday, October 29 against the undefeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Look for Phantoms goodies and ticket vouchers at the team's table on Glen Street during the upcoming "Boo to You" Halloween block party earlier in the evening.

On Saturday, October 30 the Phantoms host the Rochester Americans as the first 1,000 kids age 14 and younger received Phantoms silly wrist bands courtesy of Saratoga Spine. There will be a kids costume parade around the ice in the second intermission. And all the Phantoms will be appearing during a post-game open skate so remember to bring your skates and gloves and your pens and cameras for autographs and photos!

Don't be left out! Tickets for all Phantoms games are on sale now. Discount rates are available for groups of 15 or more. Save off the individual ticket price by asking the Phantoms about their great group rate packages.

The AHL is celebrating their 75th anniversary season and is the top development league for the NHL. More than 85 percent of today's NHL players are American Hockey League graduates and more than 6 million fans attend AHL games every year.

Come watch future NHL stars and up-and-coming Flyers prospects with exciting Adirondack Phantoms hockey! A variety of ticket packages for all the fast-paced action are on sale now. The Phantoms selection of discount ticket packages includes 3-packs, 6-packs, 12 and 22 Select Plans, full season plans and Flex Packs. Choose the plan that works best for you! Get your tickets at the Phantoms office inside the Glens Falls Civic Center, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling the Phantoms at 518-480-3355.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2010


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