Series of roster moves for Phantoms
December 15, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Flyers recently announced several transactions related to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms. Gritty winger Josh Gratton is scheduled to make his NHL debut tonight when the Flyers host Vancouver, after he was called up to the big club this morning along with Ben Eager and Pat Kavanagh. Eric Chouinard was returned to the Phantoms yesterday, and Matt Ellison was also assigned to the AHL squad.
Gratton, 23, is in his second season with the Phantoms after signing with the organization in the summer of 2004. Through 29 games this season, Gratton has seven points (3-4-7) to go along with his 146 penalty minutes. The recipient of the Phantoms Community Service Award in 2004-05, Gratton was second on the squad last year with 246 penalty minutes in just 57 games, and added 78 PIM in 21 games during the Calder Cup Playoffs. His NHL debut comes after working his way through the professional ranks. Gratton started his pro career with San Diego of the ECHL in 2003-04, where he spent the first half of the season before earning a call-up to AHL Cincinnati. Gratton is a native of Brantford, Ontario and is the cousin of former Flyers center Chris Gratton.
Kavanagh returns for his second tour of duty with the Flyers. He appeared in one game for the big club on Nov. 22 vs. Tampa Bay. Kavanagh is the Phantoms leading scorer with 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points in 29 games, and was the Toyota Phantoms Player of the Month for November. Kavanagh was a member of the Canucks organization for five seasons, appearing in six regular season games and three playoff games for Vancouver from 2000-2004.
Eager has appeared in five of the last six Flyers contests, registering two assists. Meanwhile, Chouinard returns to the Phantoms after appearing in the Flyers win over Columbus on Tuesday, and Ellison joins the team for the first time this season after appearing in four NHL contests for Philadelphia and registering his first point as a Flyer with an assist in the Columbus game. Ellison was acquired in the trade that sent former Phantoms Patrick Sharp and Eric Meloche to the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 5.
Gratton will become the 14th member of the 2004-05 Calder Cup Champion squad to dress for the Flyers this season (Pitkanen, Carter, Richards, Sim, Umberger, Eager, Seidenberg, Jones, Niittymaki, Meyer, Ready, Skolney, Sharp, Gratton). He will also become the 10th member of the 2005-06 Phantoms to dress for a game this season (Umberger, Eager, Jones, Meyer, Kavanagh, Ready, Chouinard, Skolney, Storr, Gratton).
The Phantoms return to the ice Friday night, Dec. 16, when they host the Hamilton Bulldogs on Superhero Night at the Wachovia Spectrum. John Slaney will be chasing history, as he enters the game needing just two points to become the American Hockey League's all-time leading scoring defenseman. Tickets are available online at www.phantomshockey.com or by phone at (215) 336-2000, (856) 338-9000 or (302) 984-2000. As always, all kids tickets for all Phantoms games are just $8.
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