‘If you start me up, I’ll never stop…”
–Glimmer Twins
Start It Up
Now the games count. We got a couple of pre-season affairs out of the way and now it’s ‘full-go’ on the 2024-25 hockey season, 10 years after the team debuted in downtown Allentown. Here’s a link to the ‘Hockey Night in Allentown” column for the very first regular-season game. That’s right, they got me started and I never stopped…
Team and Roster Notes
I’ll post the Media Kit below, as per usual, but if you just want a printable roster without digging through the big .pdf then go here: 2024-25 Roster – Oct12
There are a lot of familiar names returning from a squad that made the playoffs, dispatched Scranton, and gave eventual cup-winners Hershey all they could handle in the 2023-24 playoffs. Hopefully, some additions and another year of experience for the younger players will result in an improved team that can start the season fast–or at least not horrible–and then build momentum into the spring. Personally, I’ll be looking for the same things we always talk about around here–you can find those in the ‘What To Watch’ section below.
Happy to see: Glad to see F Zayde Wisdom back! He has struggled the last couple seasons, done some time in Reading and hasn’t reached the promise we all saw on the ice during the 2021 shortened season when he arrived as a teenager. He scored in one of the pre-season games and hopefully that’s something to build on and he can reach his potential this season, whatever that may be.
Biggest Surprise: G Alexei Kolosov is on the opening roster right here in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. He arrived jumping on the proverbial running train late last season after his season in Russia had concluded. It was perhaps tough to jump on that train as the team was pressing to make the playoffs right up until the end. In the off-season, reports started to surface about his unhappiness with the Phantoms, the Flyers and Allentown, PA. He wanted to stay in Russia if he couldn’t be on the Flyers, but that’s not really the way it works when you’re knocking on the door for that spot. You’ve got to pay your dues and stay ready for the North American game by playing and playing well in the AHL–it’s tough to get called up from the KHL mid-season, you know? So, after missing some of the run-up (rookie camp, etc.) to the season, I think the Flyers played hardball with him, and he’s here. I would look for him to play plenty here early on. If he’s better than Peterson and the Finn, Makiniemi, then he’ll stick around. If the NHL doesn’t appear to be in the cards for him, then the Flyers will probably grant him the opportunity to return to Russia for the balance of the season if that is what he still desires. Truthfully, it will probably show up in his play.
New Player Spotlight: #90 F Anthony Richard
Originally a fourth-round pick by Nashville in 2015, the 27yo played in 59 games with AHL Providence in 2023-24 and 9 with Boston in the NHL. He had 25 goals and 30 assists with Providence last season. He’s a lefty shot and he stands 5’10, 186lbs. He’s originally from Quebec.
GAME DAY!
The Hartford Wolfpack are in town! Look for plenty of Rangers fans in the house always on their best behavior. The New York affiliate is expected to be one of the better teams in the AHL Atlantic this season, according to those who watch the league more closely than I do. A quick scan of their roster includes a bunch of mildly familiar names but no old friends that I could spot. They have some prospects, though, including #18 C Bryce McConnell-Barker, #31 G Dylan Garand, #10 F Adam Sykora, #9 F Brett Barard, and #78 F Brennan Othmann (#2 overall prospect, 1st round 2021).
Arena Notes: Tickets are now through Ticketmaster and mostly electronic. Measures are in place to prevent screen shots and although Ticketmaster is no one’s best friend, the old Paciolan/Comcast stuff was not great. Maybe the fees will be better? The Parking situation remains unchanged it seems, although if it does change we’ll be the first to know. Pre-pay with Park Mobile if you like. Good seats still remain for season opener, but they are pricey through the primary market. Check the secondary markets as there may be some deals to be had. Bring a card. Much of the arena is now cash-less, although they won’t tell you that until you get to the front of the line. Doors for the public at 6:00PM, but season ticket premier folks can get in at 5:45 at special entrances. Event time is 7:05 but don’t count on hockey until closer to 7:20 tonight. TV and radio are mostly unchanged locally. Tonight’s game will be available over the air on Channel 69.
OFFICIALS
Referee Jake Kamrass (#3)
Referee Chad Ingalls (#39)
Linesperson Josh Cleary (#45)
Linesperson John Rey (#16)
MEDIA KIT
What To Watch
- As always, watch for who leads the team onto the ice for warm-ups–that’s your starting goalie. I’m thinking we see Peterson today if Coach gives deference to the veteran. If we see Kolosov, that means they want him working.
- Watch for some cohesiveness on offense as well as on the power play. If we’re going to get this thing started up right, we’ve got to give ourselves a chance offensively.
- Watch to see who the blue-line pairs are. Watch for their communication and ability to move the puck without turning it over.
- Watch the officials. Perhaps I’ll try to scout them a bit this season.
Up Next
No Sunday game and no week-day game to start the season. The team will head up the pike to face Wilkes on Friday and then we complete the home-and-home with them here next Saturday night.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207
PS: Everyone wants to be ‘Norm’ walking into Cheers, but if I really think about it, I’m probably Cliffy.
Anyway, Little Known Fact: ‘Start Me Up’ by the Rolling Stones was originally written in 1975 as a Reggae song called ‘Never Stop’. Here:
Be First to Comment