By Al Cohen
Philadelphia Phantoms Correspondent

The Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League will open their 2004 training camp this Monday, Sept. 27 at the Sovereign Bank Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J. A total of 33 players are set to hit the ice as the Phantoms prepare for their 2004-05 season opener on Saturday, Oct. 16 in Hartford.

Fifteen players from last year's East Division championship squad are participating in training camp, including goaltenders Antero Niittymaki and Neil Little; defensemen John Slaney, Dennis Seidenberg, Freddy Meyer, Randy Jones and Wade Skolney; and forwards Peter White, Patrick Sharp, Boyd Kane, Mark Murphy and Ben Stafford.

Among the new faces in camp this year are Flyers defenseman Joni Pitkanen, Philadelphia native Tony Voce and free agent acquisitions Eric Meloche, Ryan Ready and Josh Gratton.

All practices at the Sovereign Bank Flyers Skate Zone are open to the public. Media access to players will occur approximately 10 minutes after the conclusion of practice, which may include weight-room training.

Philadelphia has four preseason games scheduled, beginning on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:00 p.m. vs. the Albany River Rats at the Polonia Bank Flyers Skate Zone in Northeast Philadelphia. The Phantoms' other home exhibition game is set for Friday, Oct. 8 at 5:00 p.m. vs. the Norfolk Admirals at the Sovereign Bank Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees. The preseason game schedule wraps up on Monday, Oct. 11 at 7:00 p.m., when the Phantoms take on the ECHL's Trenton Titans at Sovereign Bank Arena.

Preseason games at the two Flyers Skate Zones are open to the public and cost $10 per person, with a portion of the proceeds going to youth hockey programs. Tickets can be purchased at the respective Flyers Skate Zones, or by calling 856-309-4400 (Voorhees) or 215-618-0050 (Northeast). Call 609-599-9500 for ticket information on the Trenton game.

The Phantoms open the home portion of the 2004-05 season on Friday, Oct. 22 at the Wachovia Center vs. the Hamilton Bulldogs. Phantoms tickets, which are priced at $19, $18 and $14 for adults, and $8 for children 14 and under, can be purchased at the Wachovia Center box office and all Ticketmaster locations throughout the Delaware Valley. Seats can also be charged by phone by calling (215) 336-2000, (856) 338-9000 or (302) 984-2000, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Please call the Phantoms sales office at (215) 465-4522 for information on all ticket options, or log on to www.phantomshockey.com.