PREVIEW: Phantoms vs. Bears, Preseason
Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears
PPL Center, Allentown, PA
October 5, 2024 (7:05 p.m.) – Preseason Game #2
TONIGHT – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms meet the Hershey Bears in preseason game #2 at PPL Center. The Phantoms enter this game with an 0-1 mark on the preseason while the Bears are 1-0-1 after splitting a pair of extra-time contests against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The last time Lehigh Valley and Hershey met on the ice was in the Division Semifinals of the Calder Cup Playoffs with the Bears eliminating the Phantoms 3 games to 1 on their way to a second consecutive Calder Cup title.
The Phantoms were 4-6-2 against Hershey in the regular season and had more wins against the top team in the AHL than any other team in the 2023-24 campaign. The Phantoms and Bears are slated to meet 10 more times in the 2024-25 season.
ROSTER – 32 players are currently on the Lehigh Valley roster following a slew of transactions this week. Many of the most popular players from recent seasons are back! View the Phantoms roster for tonight’s game on the Phantoms 365 app or at PhantomsHockey.com :
MEDIA MATERIALS – Fans can browse rosters and Media Materials for both teams here:
https://www.phantomshockey.com/media-materials/
LAST TIME – A group mostly comprised of newcomers and tryout players took the ice on Tuesday night to open the preseason but dropped a 6-1 decision to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Zayde Wisdom scored Lehigh Valley’s lone goal i the third period to break up rookie prospect Sergei Murashov’s bid for a shutout. Jordan Martel scored a goal with two assists for the Baby Pens while Justin Lee had a pair of goals. Eetu Makiniemi had 32 saves on 38 shots and kept the Phantoms in the game to start.
The Bears dropped a 4-3 shootout decision at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday but but bounced back with a 4-3 overtime triumph back at GIANT Center on Friday with Bogdan Trineyev scoring the winner. Former Phantoms Mike Vecchione also tallied for the Chocolate and White.
WELCOME BACK! – Ten players were assigned or returned to the Phantoms from Philadelphia’s training camp yesterday. The group includes Emil Andrae, Adam Ginning, Helge Grans, Hunter McDonald, Alexei Kolosov, Cal Petersen and Cooper Marody. Additionally, there are some new additions who signed with the Flyers for this season including big forwards Rodrigo Abols from Latvia and Oskar Eklind from Sweden.
Two more players were placed on waivers for purposes of assigning to the Phantoms later today once they are eligible: Olle Lycksell and Anthony Richard.
MORE TRANSACTIONS – Ten players have been released from their tryout contracts or assigned to the Reading Royals of the ECHL. Among those sent to Reading are goaltenders Parker Gahagen and Keith Petruzzelli as well as defenseman Emile Chouinard and forward Tyler Gratton. Released from tryout contracts are Logan Britt, Brock Caufield, Connor McMenamin, Lou-Felix Denis, Vinnie Purpura.
PHANTOMS SIGNEES – Some new and returning Phantoms who have been signed to AHL deals for the 2024-25 season:
9 Sam Sedley – D
10 Matt Brown – F
11 Nick Capone – F
14 Emile Chouinard – D
17 Garrett Wilson – F
20 Cooper Marody – F
23 Gianfranco Cassaro – D
25 Matt Miller – F
36 Sawyer Boulton – F
39 Jacques Bouquot – F
55 Xavier Bernard – D
57 Mason Primeau – F
59 Tyler Gratton – F
31 Parker Gahagen – G
80 Keith Petruzzelli – G
COMING UP – The preseason concludes on Sunday, October 6 at 3:05 with a rematch exhibition tilt on the road at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Opening Night for the Phantoms is Saturday, October 12 against the Hartford Wolf Pack featuring a rally towel giveaway presented by Service Electric.
UPCOMING
Saturday, October 5 – Home Game – Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears
Sunday, October 6 (3:05) – Away Preseason Game – Phantoms at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Saturday, October 12 – Opening Night! – Phantoms vs. Hartford Wolf Pack – Rally Towels
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms officially begin the 2024-25 season with Opening Night at PPL Center on October 12 against the Hartford Wolf Pack.
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