Phantoms Weekly
October 14, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
The Phantoms opened the 2002-03 season on Saturday with an exciting 1-0 overtime win over the Rochester Americans in front of 7,595 fans at the First Union Spectrum. Mark Greig scored the lone goal of the game with 29.8 seconds left in the extra session, just moments after Philadelphia had gone on a two-man advantage. John Slaney and David Harlock were credited with the assists. The game featured an outstanding goaltending battle, as Philadelphia's Neil Little stopped all 29 shots he faced and rookie Ryan Miller made 21 saves for the Amerks.
LITTLE BACK TO BUSINESS
Goaltender Neil Little picked up where he left off last year on Saturday when he posted the American Hockey League's first shutout of the season. The veteran netminder made 29 saves, including 11 in the second period and eight apiece in the first and third, to notch his ninth career shutout and sixth as a Phantom. Last season, Little started for the Canadian team at the 2002 AHL All-Star Classic and finished second in the league in goals-against average (2.02).
CAPTAINS NAMED
The Phantoms announced last week that right wing Mark Greig has been selected team captain for the 2002-03 season and defensemen John Slaney and David Harlock will serve as assistant captains. Greig is entering his third season as captain since taking over during the 2000-01 season after Rob Murray was traded. Slaney also served as assistant captain last year with Mark Freer, who is now in Hershey.
GREIG APPROACHING MORE RECORDS
Right wing Mark Greig needs 63 points, 12 goals, eight power-play goals, 52 assists and 24 games played to overtake Peter White as the Phantoms' all-time leader in each category. Greig already tops the team in all-time shots on goal and is tied with Mike Maneluk for first in shorthanded goals.
PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS
10/10 - ADD Mike Siklenka, signed a PTO
PHANTOMS CONTINUE HOME OPENER SUCCESS
Philadelphia maintained their success in home openers, improving to 5-1-1 all-time. This was the third shutout in a home opener, as the Phantoms skated to a 0-0 tie with Syracuse in 1998-99 and downed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2-0 a year later. Philadelphia also improved to 6-1 all-time in season openers.
PHILLY USED TO PLAYING OVERTIME
Playing into overtime is nothing new to the Phantoms. Last season, Philadelphia set a club record with 23 overtime games played, going 3-5-15. Saturday's overtime win was the team's first since Nov. 21, 2001 at Hershey.
UPCOMING OPPONENT
The Phantoms went 7-2-3 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last year, including a 4-0-2 mark at home. Mark Greig led the Phantoms with 11 points (5G, 6A) in the 12 match-ups, while Neil Little went 4-2-2 with a 1.23 goals-against average in eight appearances vs. the Penguins. Philadelphia is 20-9-3 all-time vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, going 8-6-2 at home and 12-3-1 on the road. The Phantoms are currently on a three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) overall and seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2) at home vs. the Penguins. Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre play each other 10 times this season, with the next match-up after this weekend set for 11:05 a.m. on Nov. 6 in Philadelphia.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Friday, Oct. 18 will be Fire Safety Night. All children 14 and under will receive a Fire Safety Packet compliments of Toyota. Each packet contains an audio cassette tape, videotape and coloring book. The American Red Cross' Fire Prevention Unit will be set up in the concourse and an Emergency Response Vehicle will be parked outside the First Union Spectrum. The American Red Cross will also provide giveaways throughout the game and their mascot Fred Cross will be in attendance. In addition, the Washington Township (N.J.) Fire Dept. will have two fire trucks outside the Spectrum, a display on the concourse and their mascot Sparky the Fire Dog.
PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS
* Goaltender Neil Little has the early lead in goals-against average (0.00), save percentage (1.000) and shutouts (1).
* The Phantoms are tied for the lead in penalty killing (100.0).
PHANTOMS NOTES
* Philadelphia is 4-2 all-time in road openers.
* RW Craig Brunel played in his 100th game as a pro on Saturday.
* The Phantoms are now 5-0-2 in their last seven regular-season meetings with Rochester.
* Neil Little became the 16th goaltender to collect 150 career AHL wins. He also played in his 250th game as a Phantom on Saturday.
* The Phantoms recorded their 20th all-time regular-season shutout on Saturday.
* Defenseman David Harlock has four assists in his last four regular-season games.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets prices for Phantoms home games are $18, $17 and $13 for adults, and $8 for children 14 and under. The team also offers group rates, Game Plans, attractive premium area seating, birthday party and youth hockey packages, and the popular Family Value Pack. Please call the Phantoms sales office at 215-465-4522 for information, or log on to www.phantomshockey.com.
American Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2002
- Bulldogs Win Season Opener - Hamilton Bulldogs
- First Annual Ace Bailey Classic Tees Off Tomorrow - Manchester Monarchs
- Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Home Opening Weekend - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Old Rivals Houston and Chicago Visit this Weekend - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sound Tigers Open 2002-03 Season, Raise 2001-02 Banners - Bridgeport Islanders
- Phantoms Weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
- Bridgeport Sound Tigers Announce Roster Moves - Bridgeport Islanders
- Pirates Weekly - Portland Pirates
- Express Mart Mini Banner Give-Away Set For Saturday, October 19 - Syracuse Crunch
- Hartford Civic Center to Unveil New Curtaining System - Connecticut Whale
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- AHL's 67th Opener a Success - AHL
- Aeros Weekly Briefing - Houston Aeros
- Zigomanis Named Week's Top Player - AHL
- Crunch Extend Radio Deal - Syracuse Crunch
- Canucks recall Baumgartner - Manitoba Moose
- Norfolk Begins Season in First Place - Norfolk Admirals
- Crunch Weekly - Syracuse Crunch
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