The Lehigh Valley Phantoms Are Ready To Rally The Valley
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are getting ready for the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Phantoms were sent reinforcements for the Philadelphia Flyers after the conclusion of their season.
Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms Are Ready To Rally The ValleyThe Lehigh Valley Phantoms are gearing up for a thrilling playoff run, ready to 'Rally The Valley' against the formidable Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. This best-of-three series, a departure from the NHL's best-of-seven format, underscores the unique challenge of the Calder Cup playoffs
. With a season record of 32-31-9, the Phantoms are making their 14th playoff appearance in franchise history, a testament to their enduring competitive spirit.
With recent transactions in the past week, the Phantoms added forward Massimo Rizzo to their roster after an amateur tryout. Rizzo just won the NCAA national championship with Denver. The Flyers signed the forward to a two-year entry-level contract.
The Flyers' decision to send down Bobby Brink, Olle Lycksell, Adam Ginning, and Ronnie Attard to the Phantoms presents a unique opportunity for these players to experience the intensity of playoff hockey.
Notably, Olle Lycksell, the Phantoms' leading goal scorer before his call-up to Philadelphia, has been a key contributor. In his 38 games for Lehigh, he scored an impressive 19 goals and 20 assists, totaling 39 points. His performance in the Calder Cup Playoffs last year, with two goals and two assists in three games, further underscores his potential.
Another bright spot for Lehigh was Samu Tuomaala, who was sent to the All-Star Classic in San Jose in February. Tuomaala played 69 games with 15 goals and 28 assists.
Defenseman Emil Andrae, who played a few games with the Flyers, had a tremendous season. Andrae was able to continue to become a more robust defender and play with a faster pace, which he needed more time to be ready for with the Flyers this past season. Andrae, in his 61 games, had five goals and an impressive 27 assists.
The Phantoms won the Calder Cup in 1998 and 2005. Notably, the 2005 Cup win was significantly brought up within the past week as Jeff Carter announced his retirement from hockey.
There has yet to be a doubt that head coach Ian Laperriere has been seeing success in Lehigh. The Flyers have a sound farm system that will only become more dominant once some of the newly acquired draft picks come over. For now- the Phantoms are ready to play some playoff hockey.
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