The 2022-23 season is now underway as the home schedule kicks off tonight with the Cleveland Monsters. Here’s what you need to know to get ready for the game:
How Are We Doing?
The Phantoms faced off with the Penguins affiliate last weekend in Wilkes-Barre. While the team didn’t generate a lot off offense, goalie Troy Grosenick, who played with the Bruins last season, held everything together so that the Phantoms could sneak out with a 3-2 OT victory on a last-second goal by Louie Belpedio.
The next day in Hershey, the team was again grossly out-shot, but lost a close contest 2-1. The Phantoms had only 15 shots on goal in the game. The team is now 1-1 as we begin the home schedule.
Flyers/Phantoms Transactions
D Ronnie Attard, G Sam Ersson, and F Hayden Hodgson joined the team in time for last weekends’ games. Veteran F Zack MacEwen was called to the Flyers, who are suffering some injuries. D Louie Belpedio was called up as well. G Pat Nagle was sent to Reading. F Alex Kile had been loaned to ECHL Maine, but was recalled. F Olle Lycksell returned from Philadelphia.
As per usual, we haven’t had any injury updates or news. However, I noted in the lineups last weekend that veteran D Kevin Connauton didn’t play in either game (the Phantoms do not have a veteran roster limit problem this season). F Ryan Fitzgerald, who missed much of last season due to injury, was also a scratch for both games.
Player Spotlight
Veteran defender Kevin Connauton, who hasn’t played yet for the Phantoms, came to the Flyers organization from Florida last season. Between the two clubs he played in 39 games. He has also been with Colorado, Arizona, Columbus and Dallas in the NHL. He first broke into professional hockey with the AHL Manitoba Moose during the 2010-2011 season. He last played in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles in 2019-2020, playing in 38 games. He was originally drafted by Vancouver in the third round in 2009.
Team Outlook/Standings
In the COVID-shortened 2021 season, we had a fun, young team that scored goals and challenged for the division lead before finally getting out-paced by Hershey. In a way, it was tough to know what that team really was, firstly because they only played the Penguins, Hershey and New Jersey and secondly, because some of the young players were only available because Major Juniors was on hiatus due to the pandemic.
We were hopeful, then, for last season. However, injuries to potential contributors and lineup fluctuations due to the Flyers caused some unrest. Add in a new, first-time head coach in Ian Laperrière, and you could suggest the team under-performed.
It’s normal to be optimistic this time of the season, but the roster this season is very deep and very talented. Thus far, it looks like a much-improved team on paper, and not one that should be penciled in for the bottom of the division. However, they have to perform. And, the Flyers need to support them by providing good players and making roster moves to benefit both the teams. Of course, we serve at the pleasure of Philadelphia, but if they’re going to ransack the AHL roster every time they want to save a buck against the cap or have four extra guys sitting in suits at press level every NHL game, it’s going to hurt. Also, with quotes this week from Philadelphia about bad-attitude players being left with the Phantoms rather than being called up? I don’t know, but hopefully “the room” is in good shape here this season. So I’m hopeful. I’m worried that we aren’t generating offense. I’m curious about how the power play will look. And I’m excited to see some of these players like Cooper Marody and Olle Lycksell and Elliot Desnoyers with the return of Zayde Wisdom and Tyson Foerster. Plus Cam York and Ronnie Attard on defense and a healthy Sam Ersson in net. I could go up and down the roster saying good things about all these guys, but they’re going to have to do it on the ice.
GAME DAY!
Tickets: This game was nearly sold out last time I checked. Grab tickets before heading downtown tonight, and load them into your digital wallet ahead of time.
Parking: It’s a moving target. Here’s what I know: Parking at the major Transportation Authority facilities near the arena has gone up to $10. That’s the Spiral, North Lot, Germania Lot and ATC Deck. It’s $8 if you pay ahead with Park Mobile. (For concerts and major events it’s $15/$12) Parking at the Community Deck and the Maple Street Deck (new? open?) is $5 in person or in advance ($10 for concerts). Head-in parking is strictly enforced to please the Park Mobile Overlords. Season Ticket Members can purchase a season pass for the Orange/Arena Deck for about $6/game. Pre-purchase parking in the Arena Deck is also $6 plus fees, I think. Cash or credit is accepted at all locations. Source
Pre-Game: Check out the new “Sports and Social” where The Hamilton Kitchen and Bar used to be. Check out “Pennsylvania Rye Company” where grain. used to be. And, of course Bru Daddy where Roar once was and Blended by Bru Daddy where Queen City BBQ was. They’ve got the pre-game party on the Arts Walk going again this season. Give that a look-see if you like.
Cleveland is in town. They are the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets and play in the AHL North. This is their only visit to the Lehigh Valley this season, tonight and tomorrow. There wasn’t a lot of familiar names when I looked at their roster. Right now, their three leading scorers are all right wings–or at least labeled that way: Kirill Marchenko, Emil Bemstrom, and Trey Fix-Wolansky. It’s certainly early in the season, but Cleveland’s special teams are near the bottom of the standings right now.
Broadcast: TV-2 on Service Electric; FREE game of the week on AHL.TV; Audio via the app, the web, or AM-1470.
OFFICIALS
Referee: Conor O’Donnell (#41)
Referee: Katie Guay (#25)
Linesperson: John Rey (#16)
Linesperson: Bill Lyons (#27)
MEDIA KIT (Rosters, Stats, etc)
What To Watch
- Watch the Phantoms prospects. Who looks exciting to you?
- Watch the special teams. So far so good; but it’s early.
- Watch the offense. Are they having problems getting shots because they’re patient? Because they’re not possessing the puck? Because they don’t look well-coached? Because the defense can’t get the puck into the zone? What gives?
- Check out new stuff like ordering a beer to your seat and the new 99 Bottles pick-up window and Big Woody’s Pizza and the Beer Market. Let me know what you think.
- Watch to see what the jerseys look like for home games. They wore the orange on the road last weekend, which seemed familiar. Is there anything new in the home whites?
Up Next
We’re back at it tomorrow afternoon for a rematch with Cleveland. Event time is 3:05PM. The team will stay home this week and face Wilkes-Barre and Bridgeport next Friday and Saturday respectively.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207
What’s New for Season Ticket Members?
-Ticket Exchange
-Early Entrance
-Mobile Ticket Banner
-Flyers Discounts
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