Hockey is back in Center City Allentown for the Phantoms’ 2025-26 season. The home schedule begins tonight with the first of two pre-season tilts, games two and three of the 3-game preseason schedule. The Penguins’ affiliate is in town.
Way Back To Wednesday
The preseason began on Wednesday with a 5-1 loss in Hershey. That feels right.
But, it’s a lot of try-outs and ECHL guys at this point, so there’s not a ton to project from the outcome. This is how they lined up: [Italics = Tryout Contract]
9 Golder 13 Rizzo 10 Robertson
40 McMenamin 57 Jo. Frasca 22 Ja. Frasca
44 Michel 15 Burke 36 Boulton
8 Deveaux 2 Mongo 11 Capone
41 LeGurrier 24 Berger
7 Meehan 42 Chouinard
26 Kulakov 53 Sevigny
1 Perets (80 Petruzzelli)
Takeaway: Any time you can put two guys on the same line with the same name it’s got a Slap Shot feel to it, and we’re here for that.
“Who’s On The Team This Season? Where’s Stortini?”
Years after 1B Andy Tracy left the IronPigs, folks would still come to the ballpark wondering why they didn’t recognize any of the names on the team when the new season starts. That’s part of life down here in the minor leagues–although perhaps a bit less on the hockey side–there will always be roster turnover, for better or worse.
We had some transactions on Thursday following the Wednesday game, so let’s review those first:
Added from NHL Philadelphia:
F Karsen Dorwart #23
F Jacob Gaucher #56
F Lane Pederson #25
Loaned to ECHL Reading
F Nick Capone
G Keith Petruzzelli
Released From Tryout; Returned To ECHL Reading
F Jacob Frasca
F Jacob LeGurrier
F Connor McMenamin
F Yvan Mongo
D Artem Kulakov
Released From Tryout and Returned to ECHL Maine
F Wyllum Deveaux
Roster For Tonight
Tryout Guys
F Nolan Burke #15
F Jeremy Michel #44
F Jordan Frasca #57
D Jack Page #45
D Vincent Sevigny #55
Forwards
9 Carson Golder
12 Davin Kaplan
13 Massimo Rizzo
17 Garrett Wilson
20 Cooper Marody
21 Alex Bump
22 Tucker Robertson
23 Karsen Dorwart
25 Lane Pederson
27 Samu Tuomaala
36 Sawyer Boulton
43 Oscar Eklind
52 Denver Barkey
56 Jacob Gaucher
72 Alexis Gendron
74 Zayde Wisdom
90 Anthony Richard
Defenders
3 Helge Grans
4 Ty Murchison
6 Emil Andrae
7 Ben Meehan
14 Emile Chouinard
19 Hunter McDonald
24 Carter Berger
Goalies
1 Yaniv Perets
33 Vinnie Purpura
34 Carson Bjarnason
35 Aleksei Kolosov
GAME DAY!
Show Time: 7:05PM
All Gates: 6:00PM
Premier Member Gates (WFMZ and Air Products): 5:45PM
Tickets: Widely available. As low as $25 plus fees through PPL Center, upstairs. Seats next to mine are $60 which is kind of a lot for preseason hockey, but represents value for me, I guess. We’re seeing some $12 choices on the secondary markets.
Parking: We will attempt to beat the parking overlords tonight. Wish us luck. We’ve got a new license plate so past transgressions are forgiven?
Penguins: The Scranton version played Hershey Thursday morning and finishes with this game tonight, before starting their regular season next Saturday. You’ll recognize a few names on the team from last season, and they might be getting some reinforcements from Pittsburgh. The old friend I spotted is Kyle Criscuolo.
OFFICIALS
Referee Rob Hennessey (#87)
Referee Adam Tobias (#16)
Linesperson Davids Rozitis (#62)
Linesperson John Rey (#16)
MEDIA KIT
What To Watch
- Grab a printed roster or print from Media Kit above, or just load on your phone–start learning the names and numbers of the new guys even if some of them might end up in Reading. We’ll try to provide some player capsules and such around here once the roster has been finalized.
- Watch the goalie play. It felt like we went through a ton of goalies last season; Parker Gahagen was our best at the end, and then Hershey knocked him out with an injury. He began the season as our fourth option in net. We’re going to need good goalies and we’re going to need a couple of them.
- Check out that new scoreboard. How are they using it? Does it improve the fan experience with hockey information or is it a fancy billboard or posing magnet?
- Check on how cashless the arena is now. Last season, Burger Prime, Bru Daddy Bar, Tim Horton’s, and Chickie’s would take cash. Otherwise it was card. There was no good gift card or reverse ATM option.
- Check out the store for any new merch. Do they have anything good this season?
- Check out the uniforms. Usually there’s a pre-season getup. Last season the prevailing thought is that they didn’t come in on time and then they ended up using them for a couple games in the middle of the season.
- If you see any Phantoms’ brass, ask them if they regret giving Hershey a whole week to prepare for an elimination game when we had them on the ropes. Ask them if the Friday night sell-out was worth it. We’re not still salty or anything.
- Watch the new coach. It might be a case of “meet the new coach same as the old coach won’t score on power plays again,” but you never know.
- Speaking of that, take a peek at the special teams and see what you think? Feeling good, or not so much?
- We wouldn’t be at all surprised to see an unannounced parking increase. Pre-purchase from PPL Center and the Phantoms to avoid surprises.
What’s Next?
Right back here tomorrow for a look at Hershey at 3:05PM. Remember, your favorite bars and restaurants may not be open that early or on a Sunday for pre-game. Also, free street parking in some locations on Sundays (This may not apply to Hamilton Street or the Unit Blocks North and South, although with limited enforcement you milage may vary.)
The season opens next weekend with games on both Saturday and Sunday.
Hockey Night In Allentown may or may not appear tomorrow. However, we expect to be back for all home games this season. Jack Mitroka returns as our credentialed photographer, but is currently recovering from an unfortunate episode of Deer Versus Motorcycle; we wish him a speedy and pain-free return to hockey pictures.
Let us know if there are any features you would like to see in this space this season.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207
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