Phantoms Announce 2002-03 Roster

By Al Cohen
Philadelphia Phantoms Correspondent

The Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League revealed their 22-man roster for the upcoming 2002-03 season today at their annual Meet the Team Media Luncheon and Press Conference. The event was held at Bullies Sports Bar & Restaurant inside the First Union Spectrum.

Head coach John Stevens' squad will once again feature a strong goaltending tandem in veteran Neil Little and rookie Antero Niittymaki. Little is coming off his best year as a pro, having ranked second in the AHL in goals-against average (2.02) and started in the 2002 AHL All-Star Classic. Niittymaki, 22, is a highly regarded 1998 draft pick by the Philadelphia Flyers from Finland.

John Slaney, the winner of the last two Eddie Shore Awards for being the AHL's top defenseman, returns to anchor the Phantoms back line. Slaney was also named AHL All-Star First Team for the second year in a row and served as captain for the Canadian team at the 2002 AHL All-Star Classic.

Veterans Brad Tiley, the 2000 Eddie Shore Award winner, and David Harlock, who has 212 NHL games under his belt, will join Slaney on defense. Rounding out the back line are Bruno St. Jacques, Jim Vandermeer, Dan Peters, Ian Forbes and rookie Wade Skolney.

Right wing Mark Greig, a 2002 AHL All-Star starter who tied for the team lead in scoring last season, heads up a formidable group of forwards. Returning players on the frontline are Kirby Law, Peter Vandermeer, Guillaume Lefebvre, Mike Lephart, Eric Betournay and Craig Brunel. Newcomers include Andre Savage, who scored 35 goals for the Manitoba Moose a year ago, Ian MacNeil, Mike Siklenka, Ben Stafford and rookie Jack Baker.

All told, the 2002-03 Phantoms roster includes 15 returning players and seven newcomers, as well as eight defensemen and 12 forwards.

The Phantoms open the 2002-03 season this Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:05 p.m., when they host the Rochester Americans at the First Union Spectrum. Tickets prices for Phantoms home games are $18, $17 and $13 for adults, and $8 for children 14 and under. The team also offers group rates, Game Plans, attractive premium area seating, birthday party and youth hockey packages, and the popular Family Value Pack. Please call the Phantoms sales office at 215-465-4522 for information, or log on to www.phantomshockey.com.

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.