By Al Cohen
Philadelphia Phantoms Correspondent

The Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League drew a total of 25,373 fans for their games on Friday and Sunday for the team's most successful weekend at the gate in five years.

A season-high crowd of 13,226 attended Friday's 4-1 win over Hershey, which featured the club's first-ever Teddy Bear Toss. Thousands of stuffed animals were thrown onto the ice following Philadelphia's first goal of the night, and will now be distributed by the Phantoms to local children's hospitals and shelters in the Philadelphia area.

Philadelphia returned to action on Sunday afternoon and had 12,147 people at the Wachovia Spectrum for a 3-2 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The first 4,000 kids (14 & under) received an Antero Niittymaki bobblehead doll, courtesy of Wachovia.

The two-game attendance total of 25,373 was the best weekend result since Philadelphia drew a combined 27,401 fans on April 5 & 7, 2000. Ironically, those two games were against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey as well.

"The Philadelphia Phantoms are thrilled with the strong turnout of fans this weekend," said Chief Operating Officer Frank Miceli. "We had two outstanding promotions, the team had been on the road for two weeks and we were facing our two biggest rivals, so everything just added up to two great nights at the Spectrum."

Philadelphia, which is tied for first place in the AHL's East Division, is back home on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Following a pair of road games, the Phantoms host Wilkes-Barre again on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.