By Al Cohen
Philadelphia Phantoms Correspondent

The Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League today recalled defenseman James Laux (Cherry Hill, N.J.) from the Trenton Titans of the ECHL.

Laux, a rookie who played the last two years at Colorado College, was signed as a free agent on May 19 and attended training camp with the Phantoms before getting assigned to Trenton on Oct. 6. He was scoreless in four games with the Titans, while also spending time on the injured list.

"James is a kid we have a lot of confidence in," said Phantoms head coach John Stevens. "He proved during training camp that he can play at this level and we look forward to him contributing to the success of the team."

Laux compiled 22 points (7G, 15A) and 32 penalty minutes over 36 games in 2002-03 to help Colorado College capture the Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season championship and reach the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. The Tigers' 30 total wins last season tied for the second most in school history.

The 23-year-old, who attended Cherry Hill West High School and also played for the Philadelphia Little Flyers Junior B team, recorded nine points (4G, 5A) and 10 PIM in 2001-02 during his first season at Colorado College.

Prior to attending Colorado College, Laux spent two seasons with the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. In 2000-01, he helped Weyburn win the Anavet Cup title (Manitoba-Saskatchewan champion) and was named top defenseman at Canada's Royal Bank Cup national tournament.

Laux could make his Phantoms debut this Friday at 7:05 p.m., when the team hosts the Lowell Lock Monsters at the Wachovia Spectrum. Philadelphia then plays at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday before entertaining the Portland Pirates on Sunday at 6:05 p.m.