By Al Cohen
Philadelphia Phantoms Correspondent

The Philadelphia Phantoms today found out their opponents for the upcoming 2003-04 season, as the American Hockey League revealed its 1,120-game schedule format. Each of the AHL’s 28 teams will play an unbalanced 80-game schedule featuring traditional and regional rivalries. The entire 2003-04 schedule is expected to be announced early next month.

Philadelphia will be facing a league-high 19 different teams next season, with 52 of its 80 games against fellow East Division foes. The Phantoms take on the rival Hershey Bears the most (12 games), followed by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Norfolk (10 games apiece), Bridgeport (8 games) and Albany and Binghamton (6 games apiece).

The Phantoms will play two games against each of the seven teams in the Atlantic Division, and have non-conference match-ups with Hamilton, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Grand Rapids, Milwaukee and the expansion Toronto Roadrunners. Teams not on the Phantoms schedule this year include Cleveland, Manitoba, Rochester, St. John’s, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio and Utah.

“Next season’s schedule format is going to allow the Phantoms to build up rivalries with more teams than ever before,” said Chief Operating Officer Frank Miceli. “Our fans will have an opportunity to see every team in the Eastern Conference who we will be battling with for playoff position. We can’t wait until the schedule is finalized so we know how it all shapes out.”

The following is a breakdown of 2003-04 Phantoms opponents and number of games with each:

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division	-------	East Division
Hartford Wolf Pack (2)		Albany River Rats (6)
Lowell Lock Monsters (2)		Binghamton Senators (6)
Manchester Monarchs (2)		Bridgeport Sound Tigers (8)
Portland Pirates (2)		Hershey Bears (12)
Providence Bruins (2)		Norfolk Admirals (10)
Springfield Falcons (2)		Philadelphia Phantoms
Worcester IceCats (2)		Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (10)
Western Conference
North Division		West Division
Cleveland Barons (0)		Chicago Wolves (0)
Hamilton Bulldogs (2)		Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (4)
Manitoba Moose (0)		Grand Rapids Griffins (2)
Rochester Americans (0)		Houston Aeros (0)
St. John's Maple Leafs (0)		Milwaukee Admirals (2)
Syracuse Crunch (2)		San Antonio Rampage (0)
Toronto Roadrunners (2)		Utah Grizzlies (0)

The Phantoms are currently accepting season ticket and game plan deposits for the 2003-04 season. Call 215-465-4522 for more 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.