Phantoms Weekly
April 7, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
The Phantoms lost three of four games (two in overtime) during the final week of the regular season to finish one point out of the Calder Cup Playoffs. On Wednesday, Andrej Nedorost scored the game-winner with 66 seconds left in overtime to give the Syracuse Crunch a 4-3 victory. Brad Moran recorded a goal and an assist, while Karl Goehring notched the win by making 43 saves. Peter Vandermeer had an assist and scored 5:05 into the third period to even the score at 3-3. Neil Little stopped 23 shots in the loss. Philadelphia bounced back to post a 2-1 overtime win over the Hershey Bears on Friday, as John Slaney's goal with 77 seconds left in the extra session was the difference. Kirby Law also scored and Little made 35 saves for the win. Travis Brigley tallied the lone goal for Hershey and Peter Budaj finished with 29 saves. The Bears got their revenge at home the next night in a 4-2 decision. Eric Bertrand led Hershey with three points (1G, 2A), Brett Clark and Mark Freer each added a goal and an assist, and Budaj turned aside 35 shots. Andre Savage and Ian MacNeil each netted third-period goals and Little registered 20 saves for the Phantoms. On Sunday, Dennis Seidenberg's goal with 31.3 seconds left forced overtime, but Toby Petersen scored his second of the game 56 seconds into OT as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins posted a 4-3 victory. Sebastien Caron stopped 30 shots to collect the win, while Little stopped 24 shots. Slaney totaled a goal and two assists in defeat.
PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS
4/1 - DELETE Jim Vandermeer, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
4/7 - DELETE John Slaney, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
4/7 - DELETE Neil Little, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
4/7 - DELETE Dennis Seidenberg, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
4/7 - DELETE Kirk Furey, released from PTO
ROCHESTER EDGES PHANTOMS FOR FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT
Philadelphia and Rochester entered the final day of the regular season even at 79 points in the race for the 10th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Phantoms owned the tiebreaker, but wound up one point out of the playoffs when they dropped a 4-3 decision in overtime to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and the Americans downed Hamilton, 4-2. It was a small bit of revenge for Rochester, which is winless in the last 10 regular-season meetings with Philadelphia and has also been eliminated by the Phantoms in the playoffs in each of the last two years.
PHANTOMS REVEAL TEAM AWARD WINNERS
Second-year center Ben Stafford was the big winner on Sunday, when the Phantoms announced their team award winners. Stafford captured the team's Most Consistent Player Award, the Phan Club's first-annual Unsung Hero Award, as well as the American Specialty/HG Insurance/AHL Man of the Year Award, which recognizes achievement in community service. Right wing Mike Lephart took home the Phantoms' Community Service Award, defenseman Jim Vandermeer captured the Most Coachable Player Award for the second straight year, center Patrick Sharp won the Rookie of the Year Award, Brad Tiley received the Barry Ashbee Award for being the club's best defenseman, and captain Mark Greig was honored as the team's leading scorer. Goaltender Neil Little was also voted as the Fans' Choice Award winner through online voting at the Phantoms website, www.phantomshockey.com. It is the fifth time Little has won the award in the seven-year history of the franchise.
GREIG TOPS TEAM IN SIX CATEGORIES
Right wing Mark Greig enjoyed another banner season in 2002-03, leading the club in points (74), goals (30), assists (44), power-play goals (13), game-winning goals (8) and shots (250). It is the third year in a row he has either led or tied for the team lead in goals and points. Greig also put together the longest goal (6), assist (7) and point (10) streaks on the Phantoms this season, while the goal and assist streaks also tie for the longest in the AHL in 2002-03.
Other category winners include Ben Stafford (80 games played), Dan Peters (plus-10 rating), Peter Vandermeer (335 Penalty minutes), Kirby Law & Ian MacNeil (2 shorthanded goals each), and Neil Little (18 wins, 999 saves, 2.49 GAA).
SOME PHANTOMS DO MAKE PLAYOFFS
Defensemen John Slaney and Dennis Seidenberg and goaltender Neil Little were recalled by the Flyers on Monday for their upcoming playoff series with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The trio join defenseman Jim Vandermeer, who has been with the big club since last week. Defenseman Kirk Furey also returned to the ECHL's Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, who currently hold a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five first round series vs. the Trenton Titans.
FORMER TEAMMATES HAUNT PHANTOMS
The Phantoms surrendered four goals to former teammates during their three games over the weekend. On Friday, Travis Brigley (1999-2000) scored the lone goal for Hershey in Philadelphia's 2-1 overtime win. The following night, it was Mark Freer (2000-02) and Eric Bertrand (1999-2000) leading the Bears to a 4-2 triumph. On Sunday, Guillaume Lefebvre (2000-03) scored in his first game as a member of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who posted a 4-3 overtime victory.
PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS (final)
* Mark Greig tied for ninth in points (74), tied for fifth in game-winning goals (8) and tied for fourth in minor penalties (61)
* Neil Little ranked 11th in goals-against average (2.49)
* Antero Niittymaki tied for 17th in goals-against average (2.58)
* John Slaney tied for 10th among defensemen in points (42) and was tops in game-tying goals (2)
* Brad Tiley tied for 18th among defensemen in points (36)
* Peter Vandermeer finished second in penalty minutes (335) and major penalties (35)
* The Phantoms finished third in penalty minutes per game (24.9)
* The Phantoms ranked second in shots allowed per game (27.01)
PHANTOMS NOTES
* Brad Tiley recorded his 300th AHL point on April 2 vs. Syracuse
* Kirby Law scored his 100th AHL goal on April 4 vs. Hershey
* Ian MacNeil notched his 100th AHL point on April 5 at Hershey
* Neil Little surpassed 20,000 minutes played in the AHL on April 5 at Hershey
* Philadelphia finished 21-0-2 when scoring four goals or more in a game
* Ben Stafford was the only Phantom to appear in all 80 games
* The Phantoms went into overtime in seven of their last nine home games, but unfortunately went 2-4-1 during that span
* A total of 13 people played for both the Phantoms and Flyers this season
TICKET INFORMATION
The Phantoms are currently accepting season ticket and game plan deposits for the 2003-04 season. Call 215-465-4522 for more information.
American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2003
- Bryzgalov, Popovic, Hedstrom and Reirden Join Anaheim - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Wolves Face Hershey in Quarterfinal Matchup - Chicago Wolves
- Rangers Name Don Maloney General Manager of the Hartford Wolf Pack - Connecticut Whale
- Eight Players Added To Monarchs Roster In Anticipation Of The Playoffs - Manchester Monarchs
- Phantoms Weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
- Bulldogs Finish Season on Top of AHL - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Admirals Make History with First AHL Playoff Appearance - Milwaukee Admirals
- Ritchie Rejoins Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
- Sound Tigers Head Into Playoffs On Four Game Win Streak - Bridgeport Islanders
- IceCats Raise Thousands for Habitat for Humanity - Worcester IceCats
- Hossa, Komisarek and Ward to Join Bulldogs for Playoffs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Sound Tigers Announce Several Transactions - Bridgeport Islanders
- Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin Named AHL Player of the Week - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Aeros Set First Round Playoff Dates - Houston Aeros
- Moose Finish Regular Season as Ninth Seed - Manitoba Moose
- Pirates Open Playoffs against Manitoba - Portland Pirates
- AHL Playoff Time is Here - AHL
- Wolf Pack Announce Qualifying Round Playoff Schedule - Connecticut Whale
- Maple Leafs Announce Year End Award Winners - Toronto Marlies
- Pens' Aubin named Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Norfolk Captures Second South Division Title - Norfolk Admirals
- Sixth Annual West Michigan Sports Awards Wet for May 13 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Postseason Play Begins Sunday as Bears Head to Chicago - Hershey Bears
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