TONIGHT – It’s a Phantoms Gameday, once again Preseason Style, as the Phantoms trek up the Pennsylvania Northeast Extension for a 6:05 p.m. clash with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Lehigh Valley (0-1) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (2-1) are engaging in a rematch of Tuesday’s preseason opener in which the Penguins prevailed 4-0 at PPL Center.
Tonight is the only away game of the preseason for Lehigh Valley. The Phantoms wrap up their preseason slate back at PPL Center on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. against the Hershey Bears.
LAST TIME – Several newcomers and tryout players took to the ice Tuesday in the Lehigh Valley Phantoms preseason opener against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Penguins came away with a 4-0 victory in a matchup of teams that are early in their process of learning systems and getting on the same page. The preseason contest also marked the official debut of the Phantoms in the team’s 10th season in the Valley which is presented by Service Electric.
Lehigh Valley’s lineup included five tryout players on contract with the Reading Royals of the ECHL as well as several familiar faces such as Garrett Wilson, Elliot Desnoyers, Zayde Wisdom and Jordy Bellerive. Newcomers on AHL contracts who dressed for the contest included Evan Polei and Ryan Chyzowski while young prospects Ethan Samson and Alexis Gendron got their first official taste of the American Hockey League and recently acquired Helge Grans dressed in a Phantoms jersey for the first time.
WELCOME! – More arrivals from the Flyers have boosted Lehigh Valley’s Training Camp roster to a whopping 36 players. The most recent additions from Philadelphia Training Camp include defensemen Ronnie Attard and Adam Ginning who are both entering their second season with Lehigh Valley. Also back is center Tanner Laczysnki. Defenseman Victor Mete has almost 250 games of NHL experience with Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto and goaltender Cal Petersen is a two-time AHL All-Star with the Ontario (Cal.) Reign of the AHL and has played in 101 NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings.
2023 Phantoms Training Camp Roster CLICK HERE
YOUNG PROSPECTS – Some newcomers and young prospects on the team:
Defenseman #2 Helge Grans joins the team for his first look in a Phantoms uniform. The former Los Angeles Kings second-rounder was acquired in the three-team trade that also brought Cal Petersen and Sean Walker to the Flyers organization.
#5 Ethan Samson is ready to make a splash in his rookie season. The 20-year-old from the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League was a Round 6 selection of the Flyers in 2021 and cranked up 18 goals and 42 assists for 60 points from the blueline last year.
#29 Alexis Gendron is only 19 years old and also excited for his first professional season. The seventh-rounder out of the Quebec Major Junior League cranked up 55 goals between two teams last season and can blow you away with his speed. His father is Flyers scout Martin Genrdron and had a long career mostly in the AHL and old IHL.
BACK IN ORANGE AND BLACK – Some of the solid mainstays and part of the leadership group of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms who are returning this season include Garrett Wilson, Louie Belpedio, Adam Brooks and Cooper Marody. Two of the guys will be a smidge more difficult to identify at first as Belpedio has changed his jersey number to 7 (from 47) and Marody has changed his number to 20 (from 25).
#17 Garrett Wilson is the most experienced of the group.
The rugged 31-year-old winger is back for his fourth season with Lehigh Valley after racking up 18 goals and 195 penalty minutes last year.
#7 Louie Belpedio re-signed for a two-year deal with the Flyers. The Miami (Ohio) product was an alternate captain last season and scored 8-19-27 in 70 games last year.
#24 Adam Brooks began the season with an injury but upon his return and getting his game back to top speed the former Calder Cup winner with Toronto racked up 35 points in 54 games including 10 goals.
#20 Cooper Marody followed a similar timeline with injury issues holding back at the beginning of the season before he took off in the second half. Marody had a hat trick among his 15 goals and 40 points in 47 games.
UP NEXT – The Phantoms travel to Wilkes-Barre on Saturday evening for the team’s lone away preseason game. The Phantoms return to PPL Center on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. for a clash against the defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears to put a bow on the preseason slate.
The highly anticipated 10th Season of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, presented by Service Electric, begins on Saturday, October 14 with an Opening Night clash against the Cleveland Monsters. Opening Weekend continues with a big 1:05 p.m. matinee on Sunday, October 15 taking on the Belleville Senators.
UPCOMING –
Tuesday, October 3 (7:05) – W-B/Scranton Penguins at Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Preseason)
Saturday, October 7 (6:05) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms at W-B/Scranton Penguins (Preseason)
Sunday, October 8 (1:05) – Hershey Bears at Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Preseason)
Saturday, October 14 (7:05) – Cleveland Monsters at Lehigh Valley Phantoms (OPENING WEEKEND!!)
Sunday, October 15 (1:05) – Belleville Senators at Lehigh Valley Phantoms (OPENING WEEKEND!!)
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