Philadelphia Phantoms
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey
team that played in the American Hockey League
(AHL) from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup
playoff games, games were moved to the adjacent Wachovia Center. The Phantoms won two Calder Cup titles (1998, 2005) during their tenure in Philadelphia.
In anticipation of the planned closure and demolition of the Spectrum, the franchise was sold in early 2009. The new owners moved the club to Glens Falls, New York
for the 2009-10 season and renamed them the Adirondack Phantoms
.
When the Canadian-American Hockey League
(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 Ramblers
(née Philadelphia Arrows
) 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, and the circuit renamed itself the American Hockey League
in 1940. By 1942, however, that original Philadelphia franchise (which was renamed the "Rockets" in 1941 after losing its affiliation with the New York Rangers
) fell on hard times and permanently suspended operations.
The AHL's next two tries in Philadelphia were made in 1946 by a new Philadelphia Rockets
(1946–49) and again in 1977 by the NAHL refugee Philadelphia Firebirds (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 Cup
titles (1998, 2005) during its thirteen season run.
's Philadelphia Flyers
had maintained a highly successful affiliation with the AHL's oldest franchise, the Hershey Bears
, which included a Calder Cup
title in 1988. In September 1996, however the Flyers left their long-time home arena, the Spectrum, and moved across the parking lot into the soon-to-be-completed CoreStates Center. Instead of demolishing the Spectrum, Comcast Spectacor, the owner of both arenas as well as the Flyers, elected to keep it open and active, but doing so would require a tenant to fill the 80 to 100 NHL and NBA
dates the Spectrum would lose to the CoreStates Center.
To help achieve this end, the Flyers purchased an AHL expansion franchise in December 1995 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 Famer
and former Flyer winger Bill Barber
, assisted by veteran ex-Bear and Flyer defenseman Mike Stothers. This was the same tandem who were then coaching the Flyers’ prospects in Hershey.
, 6–3, in Springfield; the franchise's first goal was scored by defenseman John Stevens, the team's first captain (who had, coincidentally, 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 Americans
, 3–1, in the first regular season AHL game played in Philadelphia since the departure of the Philadelphia Firebirds 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 Bandits
in three games in the opening round of their first ever play-offs, the Phantoms then met their now already arch rivals, the Hershey Bears
, 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 Little
KO'd Bears' substitute netminder Sinuhe Wallinheimo
, 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 Atcheynum
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.)
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 Cup
games during which the Phantoms played and defeated the Rochester Americans
, Hershey Bears
, Albany River Rats
, and Saint John Flames
.
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 Little
who had allowed just 48 post season goals on his way to a 15–5 play-off record. Winger Mike Maneluk
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 Cup
twenty-four years earlier.
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 Thoroughblades
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.
and winger Don Nachbaur
, to complete the new staff. In November 2003, long-time NHL tough guy and former Flyer left wing Craig Berube
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 Americans
.
While it may have only been a coincidence, not long after signing Berube the Phantoms and Binghamton Senators
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 Cup
winner Joe Mullen
, a 2000 inductee in Hockey Hall of Fame
and former teammate of Samuelsson's with the Pittsburgh Penguins
, 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 Paddock
, 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.
in Hershey. Goalie Antero Niittymaki
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. (Needing a win to make the playoffs, the Bears pulled their goalie during an overtime power-play and inadvertently directed the puck in their own net. As the last Phantom to touch the puck, Niittymaki was credited with the goal.)
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 Spezza
-led Binghamton Senators
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 Carter
of the OHL
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
(taken 11th overall) and Mike Richards
of the OHL Kitchener Rangers
(taken 24th) -- who each joined the Phantoms as their junior clubs were eliminated from the Memorial Cup
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 Admirals
, 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 Penguins
who had already upset the Binghamton Senators
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 Bruins
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 Wolves
, 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 Finnish
goaltenders—the Phantoms' Niittymaki and the Chicago's Kari Lehtonen
-- 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 Arrows
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 Kane
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 was just the fifth time that a professional hockey title in any league had been won in a game which took place in Philadelphia since the sport was first played in the city in 1927.
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 Niittymaki
, Jeff Carter
, Mike Richards
, Patrick Sharp
, Jon Sim
, Joni Pitkanen
, Dennis Seidenberg
, Freddy Meyer
, and R.J. Umberger -- all saw regular service with the Flyers in 2005–06 while Ben Eager
, Randy Jones
, Wade Skolney
, and Ryan Ready
also were called up at one time or another during the season. Dennis Seidenberg was traded during the 2005-06 season to the Phoenix Coyotes
and now is under contract with the Boston Bruins
.
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 Hitchcock
as head coach a month into the season.
Due to the impending demolition of the Wachovia Spectrum, originally scheduled for February 4, 2009, it was announced that Comcast Spectacor reached an agreement to sell the Phantoms to the Brooks Group of Pittsburgh
. The new ownership has expressed an interest in eventually moving the Phantoms to Allentown, Pennsylvania
conditioned on the construction of a new multi-purpose arena there. Until a permanent new home is ready for the club, it will operate temporarily in Glens Falls, New York, the former home of the AHL Adirondack Red Wings
. Comcast Spectacor continued to operate the team through the conclusion of the 2008-09 AHL season.
Throughout their final season, the Phantoms wore a series of specialty jerseys 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 trick
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 Hart, 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 was the fourth overall between the two Pennsylvania clubs, although the first since 2000.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team that played in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The 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 games, games were moved to the adjacent Wachovia Center. The Phantoms won two Calder Cup titles (1998, 2005) during their tenure in Philadelphia.
In anticipation of the planned closure and demolition of the Spectrum, the franchise was sold in early 2009. The new owners moved the club to Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
for the 2009-10 season and renamed them the Adirondack Phantoms
Adirondack Phantoms
The Adirondack Phantoms are a 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 Philadelphia Flyers...
.
History
The Phantoms were the fourth AHL franchise to call Philadelphia home, following the Ramblers/Rockets (1936–1942), Rockets (1946–1949), and Firebirds (1977–1979).Predecessor AHL clubs in Philadelphia
Canadian-American Hockey League
The Canadian-American Hockey League, popularly known as the Can-Am League, was a professional ice hockey league that operated from 1926 to 1936. It was a direct ancestor of the American Hockey League....
(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 Ramblers
Philadelphia Ramblers
The 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 Arrows
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...
) 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, and the circuit renamed itself the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
in 1940. By 1942, however, that original Philadelphia franchise (which was renamed the "Rockets" in 1941 after losing its affiliation with the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
) fell on hard times and permanently suspended operations.
Philadelphia Rockets
The 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 Firebirds (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 Cup
Calder Cup
The 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
For the twelve seasons (1984–96) prior to the Phantoms' founding, the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The 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...
had maintained a highly successful affiliation with the AHL's oldest franchise, the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
, which included a Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The 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. In September 1996, however the Flyers left their long-time home arena, the Spectrum, and moved across the parking lot into the soon-to-be-completed CoreStates Center. Instead of demolishing the Spectrum, Comcast Spectacor, the owner of both arenas as well as the Flyers, elected to keep it open and active, but doing so would require a tenant to fill the 80 to 100 NHL and NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
dates the Spectrum would lose to the CoreStates Center.
To help achieve this end, the Flyers purchased an AHL expansion franchise in December 1995 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 Famer
Hockey Hall of Fame
The 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 Barber
Bill Barber
William Charles Barber is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played twelve seasons 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. This was 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 FalconsSpringfield Falcons
The 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 Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The Falcons' two main rivals are the Connecticut Whale and the...
, 6–3, in Springfield; the franchise's first goal was scored by defenseman John Stevens, the team's first captain (who had, coincidentally, 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 Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
, 3–1, in the first regular season AHL game played in Philadelphia since the departure of the Philadelphia Firebirds 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 Bandits
Baltimore Bandits
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...
in three games in the opening round of their first ever play-offs, the Phantoms then met their now already arch rivals, the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
, 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 Little
Neil Little
Neil Little is a Canadian former 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 National Hockey League games...
KO'd Bears' substitute netminder Sinuhe Wallinheimo
Sinuhe Wallinheimo
Mika Sinuhe Wallinheimo is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. As the last team he represented JYP in the SM-liiga...
, 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 Atcheynum
Blair Atcheynum
Blair Atcheynum is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger. Atcheynum is of Cree First Nation descent.-Playing career:...
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
Calder Cup
The 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 Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
, Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
, Albany River Rats
Albany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
, and Saint John Flames
Saint John Flames
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....
.
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 Little
Neil Little
Neil Little is a Canadian former 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 National Hockey League games...
who had allowed just 48 post season goals on his way to a 15–5 play-off record. Winger Mike Maneluk
Mike Maneluk
Mike Maneluk is a Canadian professional ice hockey left wing. He retired from ice hockey in 2009 after several poor seasons and a loss in form that led to him failing to find a team for the 2010 season and he finally left Switzerland and returned to Canada...
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 Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's 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 Wells Fargo) 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 Thoroughblades
Kentucky Thoroughblades
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...
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
Kjell Samuelsson is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning...
and winger Don Nachbaur
Don Nachbaur
Donald Kenneth Nachbaur is a retired professional ice hockey player...
, to complete the new staff. In November 2003, long-time NHL tough guy and former Flyer left wing Craig Berube
Craig Berube
Craig "The Chief" Berube is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals and New York Islanders...
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 Americans
Tri-City Americans
The 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...
.
While it may have only been a coincidence, not long after signing Berube the Phantoms and Binghamton Senators
Binghamton Senators
The Binghamton Senators are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . Nicknamed the B-Sens, they play in Binghamton, New York at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Along with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL, the B-Sens are minor league affiliates of the Ottawa Senators...
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 Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winner Joe Mullen
Joe Mullen
Joseph Patrick 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...
, a 2000 inductee in Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The 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 Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The 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 . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
, 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 Paddock
John Paddock
Alvin John Paddock is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and the former head coach of the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . During his long career in the American Hockey League he won five Calder Cup championships and was inducted into the AHL's Hall...
, 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 CenterGIANT Center
The Giant Center is a 10,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a census-designated place in the Harrisburg metropolitan area. It is home to the Hershey Bears ice hockey team, the longest-existing member of the American Hockey League since 1938...
in Hershey. Goalie Antero Niittymaki
Antero Niittymäki
Antero Pertti Elias Niittymäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently a member of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. He has previously played for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as 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. (Needing a win to make the playoffs, the Bears pulled their goalie during an overtime power-play and inadvertently directed the puck in their own net. As the last Phantom to touch the puck, Niittymaki was credited with the goal.)
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 TigersBridgeport Sound Tigers
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are an ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. It has been the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who also own the franchise, since its inception, and use the same team colors as the parent Islanders do. The team is based in...
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 Spezza
Jason Spezza
Jason Anthony Rocco Spezza is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, an alternate captain of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League...
-led Binghamton Senators
Binghamton Senators
The Binghamton Senators are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . Nicknamed the B-Sens, they play in Binghamton, New York at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Along with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL, the B-Sens are minor league affiliates of the Ottawa Senators...
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 Carter
Jeff Carter
Jeff Carter is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League...
of the OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The 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 Greyhounds
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The 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 Richards
Mike Richards
Michael Richards is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . He previously played for and was captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.-Early years:...
of the OHL Kitchener Rangers
Kitchener Rangers
The 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. The Rangers hosted...
(taken 24th) -- who each joined the Phantoms as their junior clubs were eliminated from the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
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 Admirals
Norfolk Admirals
The Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, 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 Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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 Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
who had already upset the Binghamton Senators
Binghamton Senators
The Binghamton Senators are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . Nicknamed the B-Sens, they play in Binghamton, New York at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Along with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL, the B-Sens are minor league affiliates of the Ottawa Senators...
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 Bruins
Providence Bruins
The Providence Bruins are 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 Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
, 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 Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
goaltenders—the Phantoms' Niittymaki and the Chicago's Kari Lehtonen
Kari Lehtonen
Kari Lehtonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Dallas Stars 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.
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...
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
Ben Stafford
Ben Stafford is a retired American professional ice hockey player. Over four seasons, Stafford played 259 regular season games and 35 playoff games in the American Hockey League before retiring from hockey to join the US Marine Corps....
(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 Kane
Boyd Kane
Boyd 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 was just the fifth time that a professional hockey title in any league had 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 2004–052004–05 AHL season
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...
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 Niittymaki
Antero Niittymäki
Antero Pertti Elias Niittymäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently a member of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. He has previously played for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as in the SM-liiga and the American Hockey League...
, Jeff Carter
Jeff Carter
Jeff Carter is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League...
, Mike Richards
Mike Richards
Michael Richards is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . He previously played for and was captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.-Early years:...
, Patrick Sharp
Patrick Sharp
Patrick Sharp is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Sharp was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
, Jon Sim
Jon Sim
Jonathan Sim is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for HC Slavia Praha of the Czech Extraliga...
, Joni Pitkanen
Joni Pitkänen
Joni Pitkänen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Dennis Seidenberg
Dennis Seidenberg
Dennis Seidenberg is a German professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League...
, Freddy Meyer
Freddy Meyer
Frederick Meyer IV is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for Modo Hockey of the Swedish Elitserien.- Playing career :Meyer was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers on May 21, 2003 to an entry level contract...
, and R.J. Umberger -- all saw regular service with the Flyers in 2005–06 while Ben Eager
Ben Eager
Benjamin Eager is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Randy Jones
Randy Jones (hockey player)
Randy Jones is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League . He previously played for the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning....
, Wade Skolney
Wade Skolney
Wade Skolney is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who most recently played for Acroni Jesenice of the Austrian Erste Bank Eishockey Liga . He previously played one game in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2005–06 season...
, and Ryan Ready
Ryan Ready
Ryan Ready is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for EHC München of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga .-Playing career:...
also were called up at one time or another during the season. Dennis Seidenberg was traded during the 2005-06 season to the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
and now is under contract with the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
.
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 Hitchcock
Ken Hitchcock
Ken Hitchcock also known as "Hitch" is an NHL hockey coach and pro scout, currently coaching the St. Louis Blues.-Early Years:...
as head coach a month into the season.
The final season
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. The new ownership has expressed an interest in eventually moving the Phantoms to Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
conditioned on the construction of a new multi-purpose arena there. Until a permanent new home is ready for the club, it will operate temporarily in Glens Falls, New York, the former home of the AHL Adirondack Red Wings
Adirondack Red Wings
The 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. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
. Comcast Spectacor continued to operate the team through the conclusion of the 2008-09 AHL season.
Throughout their final season, the Phantoms wore a series of specialty jerseys 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.
Hat Trick
Hat 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 Hart, 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 was the fourth overall between the two Pennsylvania clubs, although the first since 2000.
Regular season
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals for | Goals against | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 1996–97 AHL season 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 1997–98 AHL season 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 1998–99 AHL season 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 1999–2000 AHL season 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 2000–01 AHL season 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 2001–02 AHL season 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 2002–03 AHL season 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 2003–04 AHL season 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 2004–05 AHL season 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 2005–06 AHL season 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 2006–07 AHL season 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 2007–08 AHL season 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 2008–09 AHL season The 2008–09 AHL season is the 73rd season of the American Hockey League. 29 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 1996–97 AHL season 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 Baltimore Bandits 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 Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... |
— | — |
| 1997–98 1997–98 AHL season 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 Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial... |
W, 4–0, HER Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... |
W, 4–2, ALB Albany River Rats The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :... |
W, 4–2, SJNB Saint John Flames 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 1998–99 AHL season 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, CIN Cincinnati Mighty Ducks The 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 Kentucky Thoroughblades 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 Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial... |
— |
| 1999–2000 1999–2000 AHL season 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 Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... |
— | — | — |
| 2000–01 2000–01 AHL season 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 Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial... |
L, 2–4, WBS Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 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 Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza... |
— | — |
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season 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 Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial... |
L, 0–3, SYR Syracuse Crunch 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... |
— | — | — |
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season 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 2003–04 AHL season 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 Norfolk Admirals The Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Norfolk Scope.-History:... |
L, 2–4, WBS Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 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 Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza... |
— | — |
| 2004–05 2004–05 AHL season 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 Norfolk Admirals The Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Norfolk Scope.-History:... |
W, 4–1, WBS Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 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 Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza... |
W, 4–2, PROV Providence Bruins The Providence Bruins are 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 Chicago Wolves The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois... |
| 2005–06 2005–06 AHL season 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 2006–07 AHL season 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 2007–08 AHL season 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 Albany River Rats The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :... |
L, 1–4, WBS Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 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 Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza... |
— | — |
| 2008–09 2008–09 AHL season The 2008–09 AHL season is the 73rd season of the American Hockey League. 29 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 Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... |
— | — | — |
Single season
- Goals: 47 Mike ManelukMike ManelukMike Maneluk is a Canadian professional ice hockey left wing. He retired from ice hockey in 2009 after several poor seasons and a loss in form that led to him failing to find a team for the 2010 season and he finally left Switzerland and returned to Canada...
(1999–2000) - Assists: 78 Peter White (1997–98)
- Points: 105 Peter White (1996–97 and 1997–98)
- Penalty Minutes: 416 Francis LessardFrancis LessardFrancis Lessard is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a member of the National Hockey League Ottawa Senators organization, playing for the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League...
(1999–2000) - GAA: 1.96 Neil LittleNeil LittleNeil Little is a Canadian former 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 National Hockey League games...
(2003–04) - SV%: .926 Neil LittleNeil LittleNeil Little is a Canadian former 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 National Hockey League games...
(2001–02)
Career
- Career Goals: 153 Peter White
- Career Assists: 319 Peter White
- Career Points: 472 Peter White
- Career Penalty Minutes: 1046 Pete VandermeerPete VandermeerPeter Vandermeer is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who plays for the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL. Vandermeer played in two National Hockey League games during the season for the Phoenix Coyotes. He is the older brother of Jim Vandermeer.-External links:...
- Career Goaltending Wins: 177 Neil LittleNeil LittleNeil Little is a Canadian former 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 National Hockey League games...
- Career Shutouts: 18 Neil LittleNeil LittleNeil Little is a Canadian former 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 National Hockey League games...
- Career Games: 431 Peter White
Phantoms Hall of Fame
From 2005 to 2009, the Phantoms enshrined seven members into a team hall of fame. It is not known whether the Phantoms Hall of Fame will be continued in Glens Falls.| Individual | Year | Primary roles with Phantoms |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Barber Bill Barber William Charles Barber is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played twelve seasons 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... |
2005 | Head Coach (1996–2000) |
| Frank Bialowas 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.-External links:... |
2005 | Player (1996–1999) |
| Neil Little Neil Little Neil Little is a Canadian former 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 National Hockey League games... |
2006 | Player (1996–1998, 1999–2005) |
| John Stevens | 2007 | Player (1996–1999), Head Coach (2000–2006) |
| Bob Clarke Bobby Clarke Robert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke or, in later life, Bob Clarke, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team... |
2008 | General Manager (1996–2006) |
| Frank Miceli | 2009 | Chief Operating Officer (1996–2008) |
| Peter White | 2009 | Player (1996–2000, 2002–2004) |
Other professional ice hockey teams in Philadelphia
| Professional Ice Hockey in Philadelphia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Seasons | League | Team |
| 1927–35 | C-AHL Canadian-American Hockey League The Canadian-American Hockey League, popularly known as the Can-Am League, was a professional ice hockey league that operated from 1926 to 1936. It was a direct ancestor of the American Hockey League.... |
Philadelphia Arrows 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 | NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
Philadelphia Quakers Philadelphia Quakers (NHL) The Philadelphia Quakers were an American 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 Canadian-American Hockey League The Canadian-American Hockey League, popularly known as the Can-Am League, was a professional ice hockey league that operated from 1926 to 1936. It was a direct ancestor of the American Hockey League.... I-AHL/AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
Philadelphia Ramblers Philadelphia Ramblers The 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 | AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
Philadelphia Rockets Philadelphia Rockets The 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 Hockey League -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 | AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
Philadelphia Rockets Philadelphia Rockets The 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 Hockey League -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 Hockey League -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 Philadelphia Ramblers (EHL) 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 | NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers The 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... |
| 1972–73 | WHA World Hockey Association The 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 Philadelphia Blazers The Philadelphia Blazers were an ice hockey franchise in the World Hockey Association for the 1972–73 WHA season that was based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.... |
| 1974–77 1977–79 |
NAHL AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
Philadelphia Firebirds |
| 1996–2009 | AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
Philadelphia Phantoms |