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Sellout Crowd Packs Glens Falls Opener

October 12, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Over 5,000 fans jammed into the Glens Falls Civic Center for the beginning of the 25th AHL season in Glens Falls. An electric atmosphere and monster noise-level for much the game was eventually overcome late by the visiting Hartford Wolf Pack who tallied a late goal by Brodie Dupont for a 3-2 win.

The Phantoms led 2-1 in the first period on goals by Mark Alt and Ben Holmstrom. But the Phantoms couldn't break Hartford goalie Cameron Talbot despite 35 total shots on goal. J.T. Miller's second goal of the weekend and fourth goal of the season opened the scoring for Hartford early in the game.

But despite the final count, this was a night for celebration as the Phantoms' rabid fan-base came through in a big-time way by making the game an official sellout well before the doors had even opened. Final attendance for the game was 5,031. The seating capacity and official sellout mark at the Glens Falls CIvic Center is 4,794. After that point only Standing Room tickets are available and Adirondack fans gobbled up over 200 of those as well.

The Phantoms certainly had their chances in this one. Head coach Terry Murray liked much of what he saw from his crew despite the final result, "I thought the effort was good. I had no problem with the effort," Murray said. "They scored the first goal but you rally and you play and you compete and you fight and you do a lot of good things out there. I thought we kept it up.

The most frustrating aspect of the finish perhaps was the deciding goal that went off Heeter's stick but still snuck through combined with the fact that Adirondack had one they could have taken for themselves for the second consecutive night. "It's a 2-2 game until two minutes left in the game," Murray said. "And they get a lucky shot from the blue-line. Those are the kinds of games you've got to find a way to get the job done and we let it slip away again tonight."

Still it was a magical night that got off to a roaring start with a high-paced game and an exciting and electric atmosphere inside the building. It was almost 34 years ago to the date that the first game was played inside the Glens Falls Civic Center. On October 11, 1979, Jody Gage scored the first FOUR goals of his career and the Adirondack Red Wings defeated the Hershey Bears 8-3.

"This is so much fun. Opening Night is great," said Phantoms Co-President Rob Brooks. "What a great way to start the season. I like to walk around and say Hi to everybody. It's like a family atmosphere here in Glens Falls. It's such a great place with a lot of nice people and I enjoy it. Our mission is to get people in the seats. We gotta set the stage to let the hockey world know that Glens Falls needs a team."

Holmstrom got his greasy goal on a loose puck in the slot for his second of the season just as a penalty to Michael Haley of Hartford had expired and with the 2-1 lead at the first break the huge turnout went wild.

An early second-period tying goal by the Wolf Pack combined with lots of whistles and penalties breaking the flow of the game resulted in things calming down a bit after that. Adirondack had a key 5-on-3 penalty kill in the third period and Rob Bordson, Cullen Eddy and Oliver Lauridsen made some nifty plays to keep the game deadlocked.

Later in the third period, Jason Akeson would make a save on a puck that had rebounded away from Phantoms goalie Cal Heeter into a mess of players. Akeson got a block in the crease and kicked one away. Heeter would later earn #2 Star of the game honors despite taking the L in the contest. And the second-year pro from Ohio State would return to the ice and applaud to the crowd as his show of appreciation for the tremendous support showered on the team tonight.

The game was the 10th sellout in Glens Falls history for the Phantoms and the fifth time breaking the 5,000 mark. It was the team's largest crowd since March 10, 2012 when the Phantoms drew 5,163 in a game against the Albany Devils. Adirondack's most recent sellout had been on Opening Night last year with 4,801 on October 13, 2012 against the Portland Pirates.

Adirondack is now 3-2 in home openers and had a three season win-streak snapped. It was the Phantoms first home opener loss since their first game in Glens Falls on October 3, 2009. Coincidentally, Adirondack also lost that one via a late goal in a 3-2 decision. Jamie McGinn, older brother of Tye McGinn, scored the winning goal with just 12 seconds left for the Worcester Sharks in that game.

The Phantoms out-shot the Wolf Pack 35-30 in the game. Adirondack has out-shot their opponents in all three games they have played now. This was Adirondack's first game that did not go to overtime...although it was just 127 seconds away from doing so before Dupont's goal squeaked through on Heeter despite the goalie getting a good piece of it.

Adirondack was 1-for-6 on the power play although they were almost 2-for-6; Holmstrom's goal came just one second after a penalty had ended. Hartford was 0-for-5. The Phantoms record moves to 1-1-1 while Hartford improved to 3-0-1. The Phantoms and Wolf Pack meet eight more times in the regular season. The Pack next return to Glens Falls on December 6. The Phantoms next visit to Hartford will be December 13.

Ben Holmstrom played his 184th came in the AHL and is now one away from tying Kevin Marshall's record for most games played in Adirondack Phantoms' history. Holmstrom is scheduled to tie and then break that record in the next two away games.

The Phantoms return to action Monday afternoon with a 2:00pm contest at the Albany Devils at Times Union Center in the first of 12 meetings between the Northway Rivals. Adirondack will travel to Wilkes-Barre, PA to tangle with the Penguins next Friday night.

The Phantoms' next home game is next Saturday, October 19 against the defending Northeast Division champion Springfield Falcons. Adirondack is also at home on Friday, October 24 taking on the Norfolk Admirals. Call the Phantoms for tickets at 518-480-3355.



American Hockey League Stories from October 12, 2013


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