Three Phantoms Nominated for PHPA Awards

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Event Spotlight:
Three Phantoms Nominated for PHPA Awards
Monday, May 20, 2002

By Al Cohen
Philadelphia Phantoms Correspondent

Defenseman Dan Peters was one of eight nominees announced recently for theProfessional Hockey Players' Association 2001-02 US Airways Player of theYear Award. The annual award is presented to an AHL or ECHL player who demonstrates the most outstanding charitable service to his playing community. The winner, who will receive two tickets to anywhere US Airways flies in North America or the Caribbean, will be announced in June. Peters took time out of his schedule on several occasions this season to read to school children, and participated in Phantoms Player Clinics as well as the Phantoms Wives bachelor auction for charity.

Centers Mark Freer and Jarrod Skalde were nominated for the inaugural PHPA 2001-02 Timex IronMan Player Award, which is presented to one AHL player and one ECHL player who participated in every one of his club's regular-season games and displayed outstanding offensive and defensive skills. The winners, who will receive his and hers Timex IronMan watches, will also be announced in June. Freer, the only person to play in all 80 Phantoms games this season, finished third on the team with 51 points and 36 assists. Skalde also appeared in 80 AHL games, but split it between Philadelphia (16 games) and the Chicago Wolves (64). He registered a combined 60 points (19G, 41A).

STEVENS' RIVERSHARKS APPEARANCE RESCHEDULED FOR MAY 31

Head coach John Stevens will now be throwing out the first pitch at the Camden (NJ) Riversharks baseball game on Friday, May 31. The Atlantic League showdown vs. the Long Island Ducks begins at 6:35 p.m. that night.

MURPHY NAMED TO ALL-ECHL SECOND TEAM

Goaltender Dan Murphy, who went 2-1 in four games with the Phantoms this season, was named to the 2001-02 All-East Coast Hockey League second team. When not with Philadelphia, Murphy appeared in 45 games with the Trenton Titans, ranking second in the ECHL in goals-against average (2.12) and tied for first in wins (30).

FORMER PHANTOMS STILL ALIVE IN NHL & AHL PLAYOFFS

Philadelphia's season might have come to a premature end, but a trio of former Phantoms are enjoying some postseason success. Right wing Paul Healey, who played in Philadelphia from 1996-99 and still ranks third all-time in goals (81) and seventh in points (138), is a key contributor for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto is currently tied at 1-1 with the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Defensemen Joe DiPenta and Francis Lessard of the Chicago Wolves will soon be participating in the Calder Cup Finals. DiPenta and Lessard, who were traded to the Atlanta Thrashers organization in separate deals within a 10-day period in March, just helped Chicago knock off the Houston Aeros in the Western Conference Finals. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers currently own a 3-2 lead over the Hamilton Bulldogs in the East.

WOODS NAMED UHL'S TOP DEFENSEMAN

Martin Woods, who played in one game for the Phantoms during the 1996-97 season, was recently selected the United Hockey League's Top Defenseman. In 74 games with the Flint Generals, Woods totaled 27 goals and 68 assists for 95 points, which ranked tops among all UHL defensemen and tied for fifth overall.

2002-03 SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

The Phantoms are now accepting deposits for 2002-03 season ticket plans. Deposits are only $50 per seat. Call the Phantoms sales staff for more information at 215-465-4522.

Comcast-Spectacor (www.comcast-spectacor.com) is the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm which owns the Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Phantoms, Flyers Skate Zone, Comcast SportsNet, and the Bowie Baysox, Delmarva Shorebirds and Frederick Keys baseball teams, all affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles. Comcast-Spectacor is also the principal owner of Global-Spectrum, which manages public assembly facilities and events worldwide.