Phantoms Season Preview

Published on October 4, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms will raise the curtain on their 11th season in the American Hockey League and begin their quest for a third Calder Cup championship when they host the Norfolk Admirals, primary affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, at the Wachovia Center this Friday night at 7:05. Among the exciting events of the night:

* Keith Primeau will sign autographs on the concourse from 6-7 PM.
* The first 10,000 fans will receive Magnet Schedules courtesy of Toyota.
* Phantoms fans will have their first chance to experience the Wachovia Center's brand-new, state-of-the-art scoreboard.

Phantoms ticket prices remain the same for this season, and are affordable for the entire family. Tickets are $19, $18 and $14 with kids 14 and under only $8. Great seats are still available! Individual tickets can be purchased online at www.phantomshockey.com, by phone at 1-800-298-4200, or at select Acme Markets. Season tickets and game plans are still available and can be purchased by calling 215-465-4522. More information is available at www.phantomshockey.com

CONTINUING A DECADE OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Since their inception in 1996, the Phantoms have continually developed players for the Flyers, a tradition that is already going strong into the 2006-07 season. Winger Riley Cote, one of the most popular players to ever don a Phantoms jersey, has made the Flyers out of training camp. When he makes his NHL debut, Cote will become the 80th player to have appeared for both clubs, and the 52nd to advance to the Flyers after spending time developing with the Phantoms. Several other former Phantoms are expected to play major roles for the Flyers this year, including Antero Niittymaki, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, R.J. Umberger, Joni Pitkanen, Freddy Meyer, Randy Jones, and Boyd Kane.

2006-07 PHANTOMS BY THE NUMBERS

Average Age: 23.9
Average Height: 6 feet
Average Weight: 198.2

Rookies: 10
Veterans: 6
Players with NHL Experience: 12

Rookies joining Phantoms from collegiate programs: 4
Rookies joining Phantoms from Canadian junior programs: 3
Rookies joining Phantoms from overseas: 3

Countries represented: 6 (Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, United States) U.S. States represented: 5 (Pennsylvania, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Illinois) Canadian Provinces represented: 6 (Alberta, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Saskatchewan)

MEET THE PHANTOMS - RETURNING PLAYERS

Rejean Beauchemin - G, 6-1, 195, age 21: Beauchemin will be returning as a rookie after spending much of last season with Trenton of the ECHL. He posted a 2.69 GAA in 15 games for the Phantoms last season.

Ben Eager - LW, 6-2, 227, age 22: Eager played 49 games for the Phantoms last season and an additional 25 for the Flyers. He posted 256 PIMs last season with the Phantoms. He was slowed by an injury in training camp and starts the season with the Phantoms, but is poised to make a return to the Flyers whenever needed.

Matt Ellison - RW, 6-0, 192, age 22: Ellison will be returning to the Phantoms for his first full season with the club. The Flyers obtained Ellison last season from the Chicago Blackhawks for Patrick Sharp and Eric Meloche. He has played in 41 NHL games with Chicago and Philadelphia. Ellison had 25 points in 48 games with the Phantoms last year after his arrival.

Triston Grant - LW, 6-2, 190, age 22: "T- Bird" will be returning to the Phantoms for his second season after being drafted by Philadelphia in 2004. He posted 194 penalty minutes in 64 games during his rookie season last year. He is one of the many tough guys in this season's lineup.

Martin Houle - G, 5-10, 180, age 21: Houle will likely be the Phantoms No. 1 goaltender this season, but will constantly be at the ready for a Flyers call-up as the first goalie to fill in for injuries. He spent most of the preseason with the Flyers and was impressive in exhibition game action. Houle is one of three returning goaltenders for the Phantoms this season. He posted a 2.54 GAA in 40 games last season. Houle won the 2005-06 Phantoms Rookie of the Year award.

Eric Meloche - RW, 5-10, 202, age 30: Meloche is one of the three Ohio State players in the organization this season, along with Nate Guenin and R.J. Umberger. He returns to the club after being traded to the Blackhawks last season with Patrick Sharp in exchange for Matt Ellison and a draft pick. Meloche missed the early part of last season with an injury, scoring a goal and adding two assists in 10 games before the trade. He posted 21 points in 47 games for Norfolk after the deal.

Scott Munroe - G, 6-2, 200, age 24: Munroe will be returning for his first full professional season after joining the Phantoms for the final weeks of the 2005-06 campaign. He spent four years at the University of Alabama/Huntsville, where he set most of the school's goaltending records over his four-year collegiate career.

Alexandre Picard - D, 6-2, 220, age 21: Picard is returning to the Phantoms for his second full season. He won the Phantoms Most Coachable Player Award last season and also made his NHL debut, skating with the Flyers in six games. He is another one of the talented young players on the team who the Flyers will be watching closely this season. Picard posted 33 points last season for the Phantoms. Picard will also be the Phantoms locker room correspondent in the debut of his "Pic of the Week" section of our website. He will choose a new player to interview every week on phantomshockey.com.

David Printz - D, 6-5, 220, age 26: Printz returns for his third season with the Phantoms after posting a career-high 20 points and 135 PIM last season. Printz suited up in all 80 games for the Phantoms last season - the only player to do so - and played one game with the Flyers. He is one of three returning defensive mainstays in the Phantoms organization along with John Slaney and Alexandre Picard. Printz also figures to be under watch by the Flyers this season.

John Slaney - D, 6-0, 199, age 34: Phantoms captain John Slaney returns for his sixth full season with the Phantoms. He won his third Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Phantoms Best Defenseman last year, and became the AHL's all time leading scorer among defensemen with his 454th point. He played in his fifth AHL All-Star game last year, and this season will be his second year as team captain.

Rosario Ruggeri - D, 6-1, 216, age 22: Ruggeri, who was drafted in 2003, is aiming to spend most of his time with the Phantoms after playing the better part of two years with Trenton of the ECHL. He will be looking to use the past two years as experience to contribute to this season's club. He suffered an ankle injury last season and only saw 32 games with Trenton.

Stefan Ruzicka - RW, 5-11, 205, age 21: Ruzicka returns for his second full season with the Phantoms. He posted 48 points in 73 games last year. He was also called up by the Flyers for a game last season. Ruzicka's soft hands and crafty playmaking abilities make him one to watch this season, as he's fully made the transition to the pro ranks.

Tony Voce - LW, 5-8, 188, age 25: Voce led the Phantoms in scoring last season with 55 points (28g, 27a). The Northeast Philadelphia native is returning for his third season with the Phantoms and adds to an already powerful group of attackers.

NEWCOMERS

Frederik Cabana - C, 6-0, 185, age 20: Cabana joins the Phantoms this season after four successful seasons with Halifax of the QMJHL. His ability to agitate players on the ice will be of great use in the AHL. He accrued 127 points over a four-year span with Halifax. He hopes to develop his already well-rounded game and continue his success as a player on the professional level.

Daniel Corso - C, 5-10, 180, age 28: Corso is coming back to the AHL after playing two seasons in Germany. Corso tallied 28 points in 29 games last season with the Frankfurt Lions of the DEL. Corso has played in 77 NHL games over four seasons with St. Louis and Atlanta.

Mark Cullen - C, 5-11, 175, age 27: Cullen joined the Flyers organization from the Chicago Blackhawks in an off-season trade for the rights to Vaclav Pletka. He made his NHL debut last season with the Blackhawks, scoring seven goals and adding nine assists for 16 points in 29 games. He spent the rest of the season in Norfolk, where he knocked home 29 goals and collected 39 assists for 68 points in just 54 games. Cullen played three years for the Houston Aeros, winning a Calder Cup there in 2003, and also played four years of collegiate hockey at Colorado College.

Matt Davis - C, 5-11, 188, age 23: Davis joins the Phantoms after four seasons at Miami University (Ohio). He played the first three as a defenseman but switched to center halfway in his junior year. His two-way abilities bring versatility to the club.

Martin Grenier - D, 6-5, 245, age 25: Grenier comes to the Phantoms this season after playing for Hartford (AHL) last season. He played in 76 games for the Wolf Pack and had 278 PIM. He is a hard-nosed player who plays a gritty style of hockey not uncommon in most of the Phantoms' players. At 6-5, he is a true presence.

Nate Guenin - D, 6-2, 210, age 23: Guenin comes to the Phantoms out of Ohio State University (CCHA). Guenin led the team in penalty minutes all four seasons at Ohio State. He was voted Hardest Hitting Defenseman in last season's CCHA Captains Poll. He is a tenacious and gritty defenseman who fits the mold of this year's Flyers organization. He is one of two Pennsylvania natives on the team, hailing from just outside of Pittsburgh.

Don Morrison - D, 5-10, 193, age 22: Morrison joins the Phantoms after his most successful of four collegiate seasons with Bowling Green (CCHA). He posted career highs in goals (6), assists (16) and points (22) last season, and 57 points in 143 games over a four-year span. Morrison is one of the many collegiate signings of this year's Phantoms.

Marty Murray - C, 5-9, 170, age 31: Murray is a newcomer from a year ago, but he's actually making his return to the Philadelphia organization this season. He spent most of two seasons with the Flyers from 2001-03 before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, and his time in Philadelphia included three games with the Phantoms. He brings some NHL experience to a younger Phantoms hockey club. He's returning to North America after playing the 2005-06 season for the Hannover Scorpions in Germany.

Gino Pisellini - RW, 6-0, 210, 20: Pisellini will make his pro debut with the Phantoms. He played in 63 games with Plymouth of the OHL last year and had a career high in points (31). He also posted 194 PIM and is a hardnosed and intense player. He will be a great fit with the Phantoms style of hockey.

Ryan Potulny - C, 6-0, 190, age 22: Potulny joined the Flyers for two games last season after finishing his junior season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He was a Hobey Baker Award finalist last season. He led the nation in points (63) and goals (38) before leaving school after his junior season to pursue his pro career. Potulny's brother Grant plays for the Binghamton Senators. He should be one of the more exciting players to watch this season.

Jussi Timonen - D, 6-0, 200, age 23: Timonen, who played the last four seasons in Finland, will make his North American professional debut this season. He's looking to follow in the footsteps of brother Kimmo Timonen, who plays for the Nashville Predators. Timonen will be working to adapt his speed and puck-handling skills to the smaller ice surface of North America.

Denis Tolpeko - LW, 6-0, 175, age 21: Tolpeko will make his professional debut with the Phantoms after three seasons in the Western Hockey League. He tallied 111 points in 179 games in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Regina Pats.

PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

Once again this season, the Phantoms have an exciting promotional schedule of giveaways and events for the entire family! It kicks off with Friday's magnet schedule giveaway and appearance by Keith Primeau, and continues throughout the season. Here's a few of the highlights:

Oct. 29 - On-Ice Halloween parade
Nov. 3 & 4 - Scout Night
Nov. 15 - School Day Game (11:15 AM)
Nov. 24 - Superhero night
Dec. 15 - PA Lottery Night
Dec. 17 - Phantoms Trading Cards (first 4,000 kids)
Dec. 29 - Cartoon Crazy Night
Dec. 30 - John Slaney Figurines (first 4,000 fans, courtesy of Toyota)
Jan. 5 - Phantoms Fleece Blankets (first 5,000 fans, courtesy of Dodge)
Jan. 7 - Postgame Skate with the players for kids 14 and under
Jan. 19 - NASCAR Night
Jan. 27 - Peter Forsberg bobbleheads (first 4,000 fans, courtesy of Toyota)
Jan. 28 - Tribute to Old Time Hockey, Jersey Auction
Feb. 2 - Rock 'n Roll Mic Night
Feb. 1 - Country Craze Concert
Feb. 23 - Teddy Bear Toss
March 2 - Seussapalooza
March 3 - Puzzle Banks (first 5,000 fans, courtesy of Wachovia)
March 16 - Passion in Pink Jersey Auction
March 18 - Phlex's Birthday Part
March 25 - Photo Night
March 30 - R.J. Umberger bobbleheads (first 4,000 fans, courtesy of Comcast)
April 6 - Faith & Family Night
April 13 - T-Shirt Jerseys (first 3,000 kids 14 and under, courtesy of PECO)
April 15 - Fan Appreciation Night/Jerseys Off Our Back

OCTOBER HOME GAMES

Date Opponent Site Time
Friday, October 6 Norfolk Admirals Wachovia Center 7:05
Sunday, Oct. 15 Binghamton Senators Wachovia Center 7:05
Sunday, Oct. 29 Hershey Bears Wachovia Center 7:05

B2 RETURNS

Once again this season, all 80 Phantoms games will be broadcast with streaming video through the league's partnership with B2 Networks. A ticket for the game is $6, which allows fans to watch the game via a broadband Internet connection from their own homes! B2 is offering the new Power Play package this season, which offers fans the opportunity to purchase a season pass to all 80 games for as little as $150, a savings of almost 70 percent off the regular price. Visit www.phantomshockey.com for more details.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 4, 2006


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