The
Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional
ice hockeyIce Hockey is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a puck into the opposing team's goal. It is a fast-paced and physical sport...
team that played in the
American Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League . 28 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL's 29 active clubs...
from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth-most-populous city in the United States.In 2008, the population of the city proper was estimated to be over 1.4 million, while the metropolitan area's population of 5.8 million made it the country's fifth-largest...
and played its home games at both the
Wachovia SpectrumThe Wachovia Spectrum The Wachovia Spectrum The Wachovia Spectrum (formerly known as the Spectrum (1967–1994), CoreStates Spectrum (1994–1998) and First Union Spectrum (1998–2003) is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as part of the South Philadelphia Sports...
and, when the Spectrum was unavailable because of other events such as ice shows or the circus, at the adjacent
Wachovia CenterThe Wachovia Center, formerly known as the Spectrum II , CoreStates Center, and the First Union Center, is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
which served as the alternate home venue for a small number of the club's regular season games as well as many (and sometimes all) of its
Calder CupThe Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
playoff matches. The Phantoms won two Calder Cup titles (1998, 2005) prior to the franchise being sold in early 2009 because the Spectrum was being closed and is scheduled to be demolished in the Fall of 2009. The new owners are moving the club to
Glens Falls, New YorkGlens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,354 at the 2000 census...
for the 2009-10 season, becoming the
Adirondack PhantomsThe Adirondack Phantoms are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League , who began play in the 2009–10 AHL season. The Phantoms are based in Glens Falls, New York, playing home games at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The Phantoms are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's...
.
History
The Philadelphia Phantoms (1996-2009) were the fourth AHL franchise to call Philadelphia home following the Ramblers/Rockets (1936-42), Rockets (1946-49), and Firebirds (1977-79).
Predecessor AHL clubs in Philadelphia
When the
Canadian-American Hockey LeagueThe Canadian-American Hockey League existed from 1926 until the 1936. Following the 1935-36 season the CAHL merged with the original International Hockey League to form the International-American Hockey League for the 1936 season...
(1926–36) and original International Hockey League (1929–36) began playing an interlocking schedule in 1936–37 as the International-American Hockey League, the then defending "Can-Am" champion
Philadelphia RamblersThe Philadelphia Ramblers were a minor professional ice hockey team based in the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Ramblers played for six seasons during the infancy of the American Hockey League from 1935 to 1941.-History:...
(
née Philadelphia ArrowsThe Philadelphia Arrows were a professional ice hockey team that played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1927, the club was Philadelphia's first professional hockey team and played in the Canadian-American Hockey League. The team changed its name to the Philadelphia Ramblers beginning...
) became one of the new combined circuit's eight original member clubs. (After two seasons of interlocking play, the two leagues formally merged on June 28, 1938; the circuit renamed itself the
American Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League . 28 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL's 29 active clubs...
in 1940.) By 1942, however, that original Philadelphia franchise (which was renamed the "Rockets" in 1941 after losing its affiliation with the
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
) fell on hard times and permanently suspended operations.
The AHL's next two tries in Philadelphia were made in 1946 by a new
Philadelphia RocketsThe Philadelphia Rockets were a minor professional ice hockey team based in the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rockets played for three seasons in American Hockey League from 1946 to 1949...
(1946–49) and again in 1977 by the NAHL refugee
Philadelphia FirebirdsThe Philadelphia Firebirds were a minor league professional ice hockey team that played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1974 to 1979.From 1974 to 1977 the Firebirds were a member club of the North American Hockey League winning the league's Lockhart Cup play-off championship in 1976. The...
(1977–79), but neither team met with much longevity or on-ice success. (The 1946–47 Rockets in fact still hold the AHL mark for fewest wins in a season at five on a record of 5–52–7.) The AHL's dismal record in the city all changed, however, with the establishment in 1996 of a fourth AHL club in the city, the Phantoms, which went on to win a pair of
Calder CupThe Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
titles (1998, 2005) during its thirteen season run.
The Flyers bring the AHL back to Philadelphia
The Phantoms were the third AHL franchise to be owned and operated by the
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
as their top development club following the
Quebec AcesThe Quebec Aces, also known in French as Les As de Québec, were an amateur and later a professional men's ice hockey team from Quebec City, Quebec. The Aces were founded in 1928, and played until 1971. The team played home games at the Quebec Coliseum from 1930 to 1971.The Aces were Allan Cup...
(1967-71) and the
Maine MarinersThe Maine Mariners were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Portland, Maine, USA at the Cumberland County Civic Center.-History:...
(1977-83). For the twelve seasons (1984–96) immediately prior to founding the Phantoms, the Flyers had maintained a highly successful affiliation with the
Hershey BearsThe Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. The team is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Home games are played at the Giant Center. Hershey is the longest-existing member club in the AHL, joining the league in 1938; the team played its 5,000th game on...
, the league's senior franchise (1938-present) which included winning a
Calder CupThe Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
title in 1988. With the Flyers' impending move in September, 1996, from their long-time (1967–96) home at the
SpectrumThe Wachovia Spectrum The Wachovia Spectrum The Wachovia Spectrum (formerly known as the Spectrum (1967–1994), CoreStates Spectrum (1994–1998) and First Union Spectrum (1998–2003) is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as part of the South Philadelphia Sports...
across the parking lot to the then soon to be completed CoreStates Center (later called the First Union Center, now the
Wachovia CenterThe Wachovia Center, formerly known as the Spectrum II , CoreStates Center, and the First Union Center, is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
), however, Comcast Spectacor, as the owner of both arenas as well as the Flyers, elected to keep the older building open and active instead of demolishing it as has been the fate of so many other similar arenas. This, however, required finding one or more new tenants to fill some of the 80 to 100 or so NHL and NBA dates each year which the Spectrum would lose to the much larger new Center.
To help achieve that end, in December 1995, the Flyers purchased an AHL expansion franchise which would begin operation in the 1996–97 season. A few weeks later it was announced that the new team would be named the Philadelphia Phantoms and be coached by
Hall of FamerThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
and former Flyer winger
Bill BarberWilliam Charles "Bill" Barber is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League . As part of the famed LCB line, Barber helped lead the Flyers to the franchise's two Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975...
assisted by veteran ex-Bear and Flyer defenseman Mike Stothers, the same tandem who were then coaching the Flyers’ prospects in Hershey.
Early success
The Phantoms played their first ever regular season game on October 4, 1996, defeating the
Springfield FalconsThe Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center and are the top affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League .-History:...
, 6–3, in Springfield; the franchise's first goal was scored by defenseman John Stevens, the team's first captain (who had, ironically, scored the first goal in Falcons' history as that team's first captain). The club made its Spectrum debut two days later on Sunday, October 6, before an enthusiastic crowd of 9,166 which saw them defeat the visiting
Rochester AmericansThe Rochester Americans are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, formerly known as Rochester War Memorial Arena, which was renovated in the mid-1990s...
, 3–1, in the first regular season AHL game played in Philadelphia since the departure of the
Philadelphia FirebirdsThe Philadelphia Firebirds were a minor league professional ice hockey team that played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1974 to 1979.From 1974 to 1977 the Firebirds were a member club of the North American Hockey League winning the league's Lockhart Cup play-off championship in 1976. The...
in 1979. By season's end the Phantoms had compiled a 49–18–3–10 record for a league best 111 points, ten more than second overall Hershey's 101. Center Peter White captured the Sollenberger Trophy as the AHL's top scorer with 105 points while center Vinnie Prospal finished fourth overall in the league with 95 despite having been called up to the Flyers with 17 games left in the season.
After sweeping aside the
Baltimore BanditsThe Baltimore Bandits were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena...
in three games in the opening round of their first ever play-offs, the Phantoms then met their now already arch rivals, the
Hershey BearsThe Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. The team is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Home games are played at the Giant Center. Hershey is the longest-existing member club in the AHL, joining the league in 1938; the team played its 5,000th game on...
, in a most eventful best-of-seven second round set. After dropping the opening game, 5–3, the Phantoms evened the series with a 7–4 victory in a most memorable game two which featured, among other things, 350 minutes in penalties (171 to the Phantoms), fourteen game misconducts, a pair of suspensions, a one sided fight in which goalie
Neil LittleNeil Little is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization nearly his entire professional career, helping backstop the Philadelphia Phantoms to two Calder Cup championships and playing in two career NHL games with the Flyers...
KO'd Bears' substitute netminder
Sinuhe WallinheimoMika Sinuhe Wallinheimo is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. He currently represents JYP in the SM-liiga.-International play:...
, and most unusual of all the appearance in the game of no less than
five goalies (J.F. Labbe, Wallinheimo, and Sylvain Rodrique for Hershey; Little and Dominic Roussel for Philadelphia). After dropping game six, 3–2, in a marathon affair at Hershey which ended when
Blair AtcheynumBlair Atcheynum is a retired professional ice hockey right wing. Atcheynum is of Cree First Nation descent....
slipped the Bears' 57th shot of the night (and the 121st overall by both teams) behind Little on a breakaway at :42 of the third overtime, the Phantoms' first season came to an end when Hershey edged them again, 3–2, in Game 7 at the Spectrum three nights later on May 14. (Hershey went on to win their eighth Calder Cup title a few weeks later.)
1998: Philadelphia's first Calder Cup
As in their inaugural season, the Phantoms again finished first overall in 1997–98 with 106 points on a record of 47–23–2–10, and again Peter White took home the Sollenberger Trophy as the league's top scorer with another 105 point season. Sell out crowds of 17,380 also packed the Spectrum eight times during the regular season schedule with a total season attendance of 472,392, and over 100,000 more attended the club’s home
Calder CupThe Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
games during which the Phantoms played and defeated the
Rochester AmericansThe Rochester Americans are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, formerly known as Rochester War Memorial Arena, which was renovated in the mid-1990s...
,
Hershey BearsThe Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. The team is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Home games are played at the Giant Center. Hershey is the longest-existing member club in the AHL, joining the league in 1938; the team played its 5,000th game on...
,
Albany River RatsThe Albany River Rats are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- History :...
, and
Saint John FlamesThe Saint John Flames were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League from 1993 to 2003 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Calgary Flames bought and relocated the Utica Devils, to be their AHL affiliate....
.
A crowd of 17,380 (the club’s ninth sell out of the year) filled the Spectrum on the evening of June 10, 1998, for game six of the finals which saw the Phantoms play a virtually flawless contest as they defeated the Flames, 6–1, behind the stellar goaltending of
Neil LittleNeil Little is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization nearly his entire professional career, helping backstop the Philadelphia Phantoms to two Calder Cup championships and playing in two career NHL games with the Flyers...
who had allowed just 48 post season goals on his way to a 15–5 play-off record. Winger
Mike ManelukMike Maneluk is a Canadian ice hockey left wing. He currently plays for Lausanne HC.- Career :...
earned the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the play-off MVP while also being the league's leading post season scorer with 34 points on 13 goals and 21 assists. Team captain John Stevens (who had also won Calder Cups with Hershey in 1988 and Springfield in 1991, and would coach the Phantoms to another title in 2005) and his teammates paraded the Calder Cup around the same ice as the Flyers had skated their first
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
twenty-four years earlier.
1999 AHL All Star game
On January 24, 1999, the Phantoms hosted the 1999 AHL All-Star Game before a crowd of 14,120 at the then First Union (now Wachovia) Center. Philadelphia defenseman Sergei Klimentiev, center Richard Park, and goalie Jean-Marc Pelletier all skated for the PlanetUSA team in that game, while centers Peter White and Jim Montgomery joined head coach Bill Barber and assistant coach Mike Stothers on the Canadian squad for which White also served as captain. Pelletier won the game’s MVP award with his outstanding period of work for PlanetUSA in their 5–4 win over Barber's Canadian squad.
The Phantoms continued to draw fans through the turnstiles at a prodigious rate in 1998–99 as they drew a then-franchise single game attendance record of 19,532 at the First Union Center on February 28, 1999 to see the Phantoms and the
Kentucky ThoroughbladesThe Kentucky Thoroughblades were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, who existed from 1996 to 2001. The Thoroughblades were based in Lexington, Kentucky, playing home games at Rupp Arena...
skate to a 3–3 draw. With a capacity crowd of 17,380 at the Spectrum on April 11 to watch the Phantoms conclude their home schedule against the Hershey Bears, the club established an AHL-best overall single season attendance record of 480,106 for an average of 12,002 fans per game.
Coaches
With head coach Bill Barber's promotion to the Flyers after the 1999–2000 season as an assistant (and later head) coach, assistant coach John Stevens (who had been forced to retire as a player the previous season because of a serious eye injury) became the second head coach of the Phantoms in June 2000. Stevens, the team's first captain, was soon joined by two more former Flyer players, defenseman
Kjell SamuelssonKjell Samuelsson is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently the associate coach of the Adirondack Phantoms of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:...
and winger Don Nachbaur, to complete the new staff. In November 2003, long-time NHL tough guy and former Flyer left wing
Craig BerubeCraig "The Chief" Berube is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and is currently an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL.-Playing career:...
signed with the Phantoms to finish his 18-year pro career back in Philadelphia as a player/assistant coach. At the end of that season he retired as a player to become a full-time assistant coach for the 2004–05 campaign replacing Nachbaur who had since returned to the WHL as head coach of the
Tri-City AmericansThe Tri-City Americans are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League, based in Kennewick, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center. Every game is broadcast locally on the Tri City Americans flagship radio station , and each game can also be heard streaming...
.
While it may have only been a coincidence, not long after signing Berube the Phantoms and
Binghamton SenatorsThe Binghamton Senators are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Binghamton, New York at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:...
combined for 373 penalty minutes in a 5–1 Sens' win at the Spectrum on December 28, 2003, to establish new club records for most PIM (210), combined PIM, and even an individual team mark set by Peter Vandermeer with 44 PIM. After 11 fights and 15 game misconducts, the game was called with eight seconds remaining due to a lack of enough remaining players on each team. When John Stevens was promoted to the Flyers as an assistant coach after the 2005–06 season, Berube was named the Phantoms' third head coach in June, 2006. After John Stevens was promoted to Flyers head coach, Berube left the Phantoms to join Stevens' staff as an assistant coach. Samuelsson, a Phantoms' assistant coach for six seasons, was named the 4th head coach in Phantoms history on October 23, 2006, and two-time
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winner
Joe MullenJoseph Mullen is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins from 1980–1997. He won three Stanley Cups in 1989 with Calgary, and in 1991 and 1992 with Pittsburgh...
, a 2000 inductee in
Hockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
and former teammate of Samuelsson's with the
Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League and are the defending Stanley Cup champions. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first...
, joined the club as his assistant coach. Berube returned to the Phantoms as head coach again with the 2007–08 season (and Samuelsson to associate coach) while Mullen joined former Phantoms' mentor John Stevens with the Flyers as an assistant coach for the NHL club. Berube himself joined the Flyers' coaching staff in 2008 and was replaced behind the Phantoms' bench by former Flyer winger
John PaddockAlvin John Paddock is a former Canadian ice hockey player and the former head coach of the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League...
, a five time Calder Cup winner as a player (two times) and coach (three times) including with the 1987-88 Hershey Bears when that club was the Flyers' AHL affiliate.
A goalie scores -- shorthanded and in OT
The Phantoms clinched the F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy as the AHL’s East Division 2003–04 regular-season champion with a 0–0 tie in Bridgeport on April 10 for its fourth division title and 13th shutout of the season. (The previous franchise record for shutouts was just five.) The following night the club ended the regular season by completing its improbable 12–0 season sweep in games of the rival Hershey Bears with a bizarre 3–2 overtime victory at the GIANT Center in Hershey. Goalie
Antero NiittymakiAntero Niittymäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. Currently a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, he has played the majority of his career for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . He has previously played in the SM-liiga and the American Hockey League...
was credited with the game-winner on a shorthanded, empty-net goal 2:32 into the extra session, making him the first-ever Phantom goaltender to "score" a goal. (With the Bears needing two points in their final games of the season to make the playoffs, Hershey coach Paul Fixter pulled his goalie in overtime when the home team got a powerplay but then the Bears inadvertently shot the puck into their own net when their pointman missed a pass. Niittymaki was credited with the goal because he was the last Phantom player to have touched the puck.) Over the season Philadelphia had outscored Hershey, 47–14, in the 12 match-ups between the two clubs. But despite finishing the regular season with 46 wins and 101 points, the Phantoms were upset in the second round of the play-offs by the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.- History :...
, a team that had finished the season 15 points behind them.
2005: A second Calder Cup
The 2004–2005 season would see the now 70-year old Calder Cup return to Philadelphia for a second time, and do so in record setting fashion. After dropping their first two games of the season on the road, the Phantoms posted a 5–3 victory over Hamilton in their home opener on October 22 which would prove to be the first win in an AHL-record 17-game win streak which they set with 3–1 victory in Hershey on November 27. On April 15 Antero Niittymaki's 4–1 victory over Hershey also broke the team record for most wins in a season by a goalie as he registered his 32nd win to break veteran teammate Neil Little’s mark of 31 set in both 1996–97 and 1997–98. While Niittymaki saw most of the playing time in the season, veteran Phantom netminder Neil Little was still able to make his mark as he became just the 10th goaltender in AHL history to accumulate 200 wins when he shut out the
Bridgeport Sound TigersThe Bridgeport Sound Tigers are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League; it has been the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League since its inception, and use the same team colors as the Islanders do...
on March 4 as the club compiled a 16–7–1 record over the final two months of the regular season to finish just three points behind the
Jason SpezzaJason Anthony Rocco Spezza is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League...
-led
Binghamton SenatorsThe Binghamton Senators are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Binghamton, New York at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:...
for second place in the division.
While the Phantoms were already a very solid contender entering the play-offs, the roster improved drastically with the addition of the Flyers' two graduating 2003 first-round draft picks -- centers
Jeff CarterJeff Carter is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . He is an alternate captain for the Flyers during away games.-Playing career:...
of the
OHLThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsThe Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey...
(taken 11th overall) and
Mike RichardsMichael Richards is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and team captain for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
of the OHL
Kitchener RangersThe Kitchener Rangers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League that have called Kitchener, Ontario, Canada their home since 1963. The Rangers are a publicly owned hockey team, governed by a 40-person Board of Directors made up of season ticket subscribers...
(taken 24th) -- who each joined the Phantoms as their junior clubs were eliminated from the
Memorial CupThe Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. Each year the champions from three CHL member leagues; the Western Hockey League , Ontario Hockey League , and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , along with a host team,...
playoffs. Carter arrived in time for the final week of the regular season schedule and went on to lead the AHL in playoff scoring with 23 points (12–11) in 21 games. Richards joined the club a game into the second round and went on to collect 15 points (7–8) in 14 games.
The Phantoms' 2005 play-off run began against the
Norfolk AdmiralsThe Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, USA at the Norfolk Scope.-History:...
, a team that had defeated Philadelphia in six of their ten regular-season meetings including the last game of the season played at the Spectrum on April 17. Philadelphia took the first round set in six games with a 4–2 victory at the Wachovia Center located across the parking lot from the Spectrum. (With the circus in the Spectrum for two weeks as the play-offs began and no conflicting Flyers' post season dates at the Center because of the lockout, the AHL club would end up playing all 13 of its home Calder Cup games in the much larger NHL building.)
In the second round they met the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.- History :...
who had already upset the
Binghamton SenatorsThe Binghamton Senators are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Binghamton, New York at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:...
in their first round set. After the Phantoms took the first two games at home and split games three and four in Wilkes-Barre, the series returned to the Center for one of the most memorable games in team history. Trailing 4–1 approaching the midway point of the third period of game five, the Phantoms exploded for six unanswered goals over the game's final ten minutes en route to a 7–4 victory and a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals against the
Providence BruinsThe Providence Bruins is an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...
whom the Phantoms dispatched as well in six games with another victory at the Center which also extended their post season home ice record to a perfect 11–0.
With the victory over Providence the Phantoms were back to the Calder Cup Finals for the first time since 1998 and would meet the
Chicago WolvesThe Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois. The Wolves are owned by Don Levin and Buddy Meyers, who are a pair of Chicago business owners.Originally a member of...
, another powerhouse team that up until that point had breezed through the playoffs including a sweep of the Manitoba Moose in the Western Conference Finals. While both teams had plenty of scoring power, it was expected to be a battle of two stellar
FinnishFinland , officially the Republic of Finland
, is a Nordic country and democracy situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. It borders Sweden on the west, Russia on the east, and Norway on the north, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland...
goaltenders -- the Phantoms' Niittymaki and the Chicago's
Kari LehtonenKari Lehtonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League...
-- who had both been stellar performers all season long. Even though the Phantoms had finished the regular season with 103 points on a record of 48–25–3–4, for the first time in the 2005 post season the they would have to open a series on the road as Chicago had finished with 105 points (49–24–5–2) -- and had lost just
seven times at home all season.
As expected, the first three games of the series were tight checking, low scoring contests which featured stellar goaltending at both ends of the ice. Niittymaki, however, who was just a little bit better than Lehtonen, his fellow Finn, earning a surprise 1–0 shutout victory in game one. He was even better in game two, however, holding the high scoring Wolves to just one goal in a 2–1 double overtime victory to send the series back to Philadelphia where the next three games -- if necessary -- would be played and Phantoms were already 11–0 in the play-offs. Niittymaki again held the Wolves to just one goal as the Phantoms defeated Chicago again, 2–1, in game three. Through almost eleven periods of hockey over three games, Niittymaki had allowed the high scoring Wolves (245 regular season goals) just two goals while Lehtonen and had been solved for just five by the Phantoms, but that differential of three goals was enough to give Philadelphia a 3–0 stranglehold on the series going into game four on June 10.
An AHL playoff-record crowd of 20,103 NHL-lockout hockey starved fans filled the seats as the puck dropped that night hoping to see a Philadelphia professional hockey team win a play-off title on home ice for just the
fifth time in the seventy-eight years since the C-AHL
Philadelphia ArrowsThe Philadelphia Arrows were a professional ice hockey team that played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1927, the club was Philadelphia's first professional hockey team and played in the Canadian-American Hockey League. The team changed its name to the Philadelphia Ramblers beginning...
first played a pro hockey game in the city in 1927. The Phantoms did not disappoint the SRO crowd as they defeated the Wolves handily, 5–2, with center Ben Stafford (who retired after the play-offs and is now a Lieutenant in US Marine Corps serving in Iraq) collecting the Cup-winning goal. Rookie Jeff Carter's 23 points (12–11) earned him individual honors as the AHL's top scorer in the play-offs and Niittymaki won the Jack Butterfield Award as the Calder Cup MVP. After the Phantoms shook hands with the Wolves' players at center ice AHL President Dave Andrews handed the Calder Cup to team captain
Boyd KaneBoyd Kane is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who plays for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:...
who skated it around the ice. Ironically exactly seven years earlier to the day, Phantoms' coach John Stevens had received the same Cup from the same hands a few hundred yards away at the Spectrum as captain of the 1997–98 Phantoms. The Phantoms' victory also represents the
only time that a professional team in any sport has captured a play-off championship in a game played at the Wachovia Center, and just the fifth time that a professional hockey title in any league has been won in a game which took place in Philadelphia since the sport was first played in the city in 1927.
Phantoms in the NHL
The
2004–05The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season...
Phantoms not only brought the Calder Cup back to Philadelphia for a second time, but also sent a dozen members of its championship roster on to the NHL in 2005–06. Nine players --
Antero NiittymakiAntero Niittymäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. Currently a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, he has played the majority of his career for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . He has previously played in the SM-liiga and the American Hockey League...
,
Jeff CarterJeff Carter is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . He is an alternate captain for the Flyers during away games.-Playing career:...
,
Mike RichardsMichael Richards is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and team captain for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
,
Patrick SharpPatrick Sharp is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
,
Jon SimJonathan Sim is a professional ice hockey player. He is a forward for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League.-Awards:* 1997–98: Second All-Star Team...
,
Joni PitkanenJoni Pitkänen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman with the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
,
Dennis SeidenbergDennis Seidenberg is a professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Florida Panthers of the NHL.-Playing career:...
,
Freddy MeyerFrederick Meyer IV is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the New York Islanders of the NHL.- Playing career :...
, and R.J. Umberger -- all saw regular service with the Flyers in 2005–06 while
Ben EagerBenjamin Eager is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. He attended Immaculata High School in Ottawa.-Playing career:...
,
Randy JonesRandy Jones is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Adirondack Phantoms of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:...
,
Wade SkolneyWade Skolney is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga...
, and
Ryan ReadyRyan Ready is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger.-Playing career:After playing his first seven NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2005–06, Ready signed with the Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL on September 15, 2006.-Awards:*1998–99: First All-Star Team *1998–99: Leo Lalonde...
also were called up at one time or another during the season. Dennis Seidenberg was traded during the 2005-06 season to the
Phoenix CoyotesThe Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team currently based in Glendale, Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and now is under contract with the
Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
.
Richards, Jones, Carter, Niittymaki, Eager, Umberger and Pitkanen would move on to become regular players for the Flyers. However, Pitkanen was traded before the 2007-08 season, Eager during that season and Umberger before the 2008-09 season.
Coach John Stevens joined the Flyers as an assistant coach at the start of the 2006–07 season and replaced
Ken HitchcockKen Hitchcock also known as "Hitch" is an NHL hockey coach and pro scout, and current head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets....
as head coach a month into the season.
The Final Season
Due to the impending demolition of the
Wachovia SpectrumThe Wachovia Spectrum The Wachovia Spectrum The Wachovia Spectrum (formerly known as the Spectrum (1967–1994), CoreStates Spectrum (1994–1998) and First Union Spectrum (1998–2003) is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as part of the South Philadelphia Sports...
, on February 4, 2009, it was announced that Comcast Spectacor has reached agreement to sell the Phantoms to the Brooks Group of
PittsburghPittsburgh is a city in and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and the second largest city in the state. Its population was 334,563 at the 2000 census; by 2006, it was estimated to have fallen to 312,819. The population of the seven-county metropolitan area is...
. The new ownership has expressed interest in eventually moving the Phantoms to
AllentownAllentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 106,632...
provided that a multi-purpose arena can be constructed there. Until a permanent new home is found for the club it will have to operate starting in 2009-2010 in a temporary location. The site that was given the most serious consideration for that was Glens Falls, New York, the former home of the AHL
Adirondack Red WingsThe Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center...
from 1979 to 1999. Comcast Spectacor continues to operate the team through the conclusion of the 2008-09 AHL season and play-offs.
Throughout their final season, the Phantoms wore a series of specialty jersey in commemoration of The Spectrum and its history. These included among others a jersey designed after the jerseys worn in the 1976 NHL All-Star game, a Broad Street Bullies jersey and a black Spectrum jersey with red, orange, green and blue stripes similar to the Spectrum logo.
On April 10, 2009, the Phantoms played their final regular season home game at the Spectrum in front of a standing room only crowd of 17,380 (the 21st sell-out in team history) and defeated the Hershey Bears, 5-2. Rob Siriani collected the final regular season
hat trickHat Trick, hat-trick or Hattrick may refer to:*hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match*Hattrick — online football management game*Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
in Spectrum history while the win also secured the Phantoms a berth in the Calder Cup playoffs. During a pregame ceremony, one final banner was raised to the rafters of The Spectrum paying tribute to "The Final Home Game" and included the signature sign-off off of
Gene HartGene Hart was an American sports announcer for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League.-Biography:...
, the late longtime voice of the club's NHL parent Philadelphia Flyers: "Good night and good hockey."
The Phantoms ended their thirteenth and final AHL regular season schedule with a 3-2 loss in Hershey the following night which set up a Hershey/Philadelphia match-up in the first round of the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs. The series is the fourth overall between the two Pennsylvania clubs, although the first since 2000. On April 28, 2009 it was announced that the Phantoms would begin play in Glens Falls, New York beginning in the 2009-2010 season.
Regular Season
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals
for | Goals
against | Standing |
|---|
| 1996–97 The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division...
|
80 |
49 |
18 |
10 |
3 |
— |
111 |
325 |
230 |
1st, Mid-Atlantic |
| 1997–98 The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western...
|
80 |
47 |
21 |
10 |
2 |
— |
106 |
314 |
249 |
1st, Mid-Atlantic |
| 1998–99 The 1998–99 AHL season was the 63rd season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Providence Bruins finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...
|
80 |
47 |
22 |
9 |
2 |
— |
105 |
272 |
221 |
1st, Mid-Atlantic |
| 1999–2000 The 1999–2000 AHL season was the 64th season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hartford Wolf Pack finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...
|
80 |
44 |
31 |
3 |
2 |
— |
93 |
281 |
239 |
3rd, Mid-Atlantic |
| 2000–01 The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty...
|
80 |
36 |
34 |
5 |
5 |
— |
82 |
246 |
244 |
4th, Mid-Atlantic |
| 2001–02 The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion...
|
80 |
33 |
27 |
15 |
5 |
— |
86 |
206 |
210 |
3rd, South |
| 2002–03 The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season...
|
80 |
33 |
33 |
6 |
8 |
— |
80 |
198 |
212 |
4th, South |
| 2003–04 The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer....
|
80 |
46 |
25 |
7 |
2 |
— |
101 |
216 |
168 |
1st, East |
| 2004–05 The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season...
|
80 |
48 |
25 |
— |
3 |
4 |
103 |
235 |
185 |
2nd, East |
| 2005–06 The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals....
|
80 |
34 |
37 |
— |
2 |
7 |
77 |
197 |
232 |
6th, East |
| 2006–07 The 2006–07 AHL season was the 71st season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs won their first Calder Cup, defeating the defending champions, the Hershey Bears in the finals....
|
80 |
31 |
41 |
— |
2 |
6 |
70 |
222 |
271 |
7th, East |
| 2007–08 The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:...
|
80 |
46 |
27 |
— |
4 |
3 |
99 |
236 |
212 |
2nd, East |
| 2008–09 The 2008–09 AHL season is the 73rd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams each played 80 games in the regular season, which ran from October 8 until April 12.-Team and NHL affiliation changes:...
|
80 |
43 |
30 |
— |
2 |
5 |
93 |
234 |
232 |
4th, East |
Playoffs
| Season | Prelim | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals |
|---|
| 1996–97 The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division...
|
— |
W, 3–0, BALT The Baltimore Bandits were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena...
|
L, 3–4, HER The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. The team is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Home games are played at the Giant Center. Hershey is the longest-existing member club in the AHL, joining the league in 1938; the team played its 5,000th game on...
|
— |
— |
| 1997–98 The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western...
|
— |
W, 3–1, ROCH The Rochester Americans are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, formerly known as Rochester War Memorial Arena, which was renovated in the mid-1990s...
|
W, 4–0, HER The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. The team is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Home games are played at the Giant Center. Hershey is the longest-existing member club in the AHL, joining the league in 1938; the team played its 5,000th game on...
|
W, 4–2, ALB The Albany River Rats are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- History :...
|
W, 4–2, SJNB The Saint John Flames were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League from 1993 to 2003 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Calgary Flames bought and relocated the Utica Devils, to be their AHL affiliate....
|
| 1998–99 The 1998–99 AHL season was the 63rd season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Providence Bruins finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...
|
— |
W, 3–0, CINThe Cincinnati Mighty Ducks were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, at the Cincinnati Gardens.-History:...
|
W, 4–3, KEN The Kentucky Thoroughblades were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, who existed from 1996 to 2001. The Thoroughblades were based in Lexington, Kentucky, playing home games at Rupp Arena...
|
L, 2–4, ROCH The Rochester Americans are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, formerly known as Rochester War Memorial Arena, which was renovated in the mid-1990s...
|
— |
| 1999–2000 The 1999–2000 AHL season was the 64th season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hartford Wolf Pack finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...
|
— |
L, 2–3, HER The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. The team is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Home games are played at the Giant Center. Hershey is the longest-existing member club in the AHL, joining the league in 1938; the team played its 5,000th game on...
|
— |
— |
— |
| 2000–01 The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty...
|
— |
W, 3–1, ROCH The Rochester Americans are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, formerly known as Rochester War Memorial Arena, which was renovated in the mid-1990s...
|
L, 2–4, WBS The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.- History :...
|
— |
— |
| 2001–02 The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion...
|
W, 2–0, ROCH The Rochester Americans are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, formerly known as Rochester War Memorial Arena, which was renovated in the mid-1990s...
|
L, 0–3,SYR The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter. They are the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets.-History:...
|
— |
— |
— |
| 2002–03 The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season...
|
Out of playoffs. |
| 2003–04 The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer....
|
— |
W, 4–2, NOR The Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, USA at the Norfolk Scope.-History:...
|
L, 2–4, WBS The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.- History :...
|
— |
— |
| 2004–05 The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season...
|
— |
W, 4–2, NOR The Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, USA at the Norfolk Scope.-History:...
|
W, 4–1, WBS The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.- History :...
|
W, 4–2, PROV The Providence Bruins is an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...
|
W, 4–0, CHI The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois. The Wolves are owned by Don Levin and Buddy Meyers, who are a pair of Chicago business owners.Originally a member of...
|
| 2005–06 The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals....
|
Out of playoffs. |
| 2006–07 The 2006–07 AHL season was the 71st season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs won their first Calder Cup, defeating the defending champions, the Hershey Bears in the finals....
|
Out of playoffs. |
| 2007–08 The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:...
|
— |
W, 4–3, ALB The Albany River Rats are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- History :...
|
L, 1–4, WBS The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.- History :...
|
— |
— |
| 2008–09 The 2008–09 AHL season is the 73rd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams each played 80 games in the regular season, which ran from October 8 until April 12.-Team and NHL affiliation changes:...
|
— |
L, 0–4, HER The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. The team is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Home games are played at the Giant Center. Hershey is the longest-existing member club in the AHL, joining the league in 1938; the team played its 5,000th game on...
|
— |
— |
— |
Single Season
- Goals: 47 Mike Maneluk
Mike Maneluk is a Canadian ice hockey left wing. He currently plays for Lausanne HC.- Career :...
(1999–2000)
- Assists: 78 Peter White (1997–98)
- Points: 105 Peter White (1996–97 and 1997–98)
- Penalty Minutes: 416 Francis Lessard
Francis Lessard is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was drafted in the third round, 80th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Currently, his rights belong to the Phoenix Coyotes...
(1999–2000)
- GAA: 1.96 Neil Little
Neil Little is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization nearly his entire professional career, helping backstop the Philadelphia Phantoms to two Calder Cup championships and playing in two career NHL games with the Flyers...
(2003–04)
- SV%: .926 Neil Little
Neil Little is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization nearly his entire professional career, helping backstop the Philadelphia Phantoms to two Calder Cup championships and playing in two career NHL games with the Flyers...
(2001–02)
Career
- Career Goals: 153 Peter White
- Career Assists: 319 Peter White
- Career Points: 472 Peter White
- Career Penalty Minutes: 1046 Pete Vandermeer
Pete Vandermeer is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is currently playing for the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League. Vandermeer made his NHL debut in 2007–08, appearing in two games for the Phoenix Coyotes. His younger brother Jim currently plays for the Coyotes....
- Career Goaltending Wins: 177 Neil Little
Neil Little is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization nearly his entire professional career, helping backstop the Philadelphia Phantoms to two Calder Cup championships and playing in two career NHL games with the Flyers...
- Career Shutouts: 18 Neil Little
Neil Little is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization nearly his entire professional career, helping backstop the Philadelphia Phantoms to two Calder Cup championships and playing in two career NHL games with the Flyers...
- Career Games: 431 Peter White
Phantoms Hall-of-Fame
- Bill Barber
William Charles "Bill" Barber is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League . As part of the famed LCB line, Barber helped lead the Flyers to the franchise's two Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975...
- Frank Bialowas
Francis Michael "The Animal" Bialowas is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in 4 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1993–94 NHL season....
- Bob Clarke
Robert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke but referring to himself as Bob Clarke, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an Executive with the team...
- Neil Little
Neil Little is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization nearly his entire professional career, helping backstop the Philadelphia Phantoms to two Calder Cup championships and playing in two career NHL games with the Flyers...
- Frank Miceli
- John Stevens
- Peter White
Other Professional Ice Hockey Teams in Philadelphia
| Professional Ice Hockey in Philadelphia |
| Seasons |
League |
Team |
| 1927–35 |
C-AHL The Canadian-American Hockey League existed from 1926 until the 1936. Following the 1935-36 season the CAHL merged with the original International Hockey League to form the International-American Hockey League for the 1936 season...
|
Philadelphia Arrows The Philadelphia Arrows were a professional ice hockey team that played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1927, the club was Philadelphia's first professional hockey team and played in the Canadian-American Hockey League. The team changed its name to the Philadelphia Ramblers beginning...
|
| 1930–31 |
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
|
Philadelphia Quakers The Philadelphia Quakers were a professional ice hockey team that played only one full season in the National Hockey League , 1930–31, at the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
|
| 1932–33 |
T-SHL |
Philadelphia Comets |
1935–36
1936–41 |
C-AHL The Canadian-American Hockey League existed from 1926 until the 1936. Following the 1935-36 season the CAHL merged with the original International Hockey League to form the International-American Hockey League for the 1936 season...
I-AHL/AHLThe American Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League . 28 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL's 29 active clubs...
|
Philadelphia RamblersThe Philadelphia Ramblers were a minor professional ice hockey team based in the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Ramblers played for six seasons during the infancy of the American Hockey League from 1935 to 1941.-History:...
|
| 1941–42 |
AHLThe American Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League . 28 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL's 29 active clubs...
|
Philadelphia RocketsThe Philadelphia Rockets were a minor professional ice hockey team based in the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rockets played for three seasons in American Hockey League from 1946 to 1949...
|
| 1942–46 |
EAHL -Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
|
Philadelphia Falcons |
| 1946–49 |
AHLThe American Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League . 28 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL's 29 active clubs...
|
Philadelphia RocketsThe Philadelphia Rockets were a minor professional ice hockey team based in the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rockets played for three seasons in American Hockey League from 1946 to 1949...
|
| 1951 |
EAHL -Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
|
Philadelphia Falcons |
| 1955–64 |
EHL -Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
|
Philadelphia Ramblers The Philadelphia Ramblers were a minor professional ice hockey team based in the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Ramblers played for nine seasons in the Eastern Hockey League from 1955 to 1964...
|
| 1967–present |
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
|
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
|
| 1972–73 |
WHAThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
|
Philadelphia Blazers |
1974–77
1977–79 |
NAHL
AHLThe American Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League . 28 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL's 29 active clubs...
|
Philadelphia FirebirdsThe Philadelphia Firebirds were a minor league professional ice hockey team that played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1974 to 1979.From 1974 to 1977 the Firebirds were a member club of the North American Hockey League winning the league's Lockhart Cup play-off championship in 1976. The...
|
| 1996–2009 |
AHLThe American Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League . 28 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL's 29 active clubs...
|
Philadelphia PhantomsThe Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and played its home games at both the Wachovia Spectrum and, when the Spectrum was unavailable because of other events such as...
|
External links