Latest news with #Phantoms
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bruins Intriguing Prospect Traded In USHL
Boston Bruins prospect Cooper Simpson has been traded in the United States Hockey League (USHL), as the Youngstown Phantoms have announced that they have acquired Simpson from the Tri-City Storm.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Comeback Kid Announce ‘Wake The Dead' 20th Anniversary Australian Tour
Comeback Kid have announced an Australian tour for early 2026, taking place across late January and early February. The tour will mark the band's first in three years, and comes after their recent announcement on the Froth & Fury line-up alongside the likes of Polaris, Soulfly and In Hearts Wake. The full list of tour dates, as well as pre-sale and ticketing information, can be found below. The tour will see the Canadian hardcore veterans playing their breakthrough album Wake The Dead in its entirety, to celebrate its 20th anniversary. They will be joined on all dates by American hardcore band Gridiron, who are making their debut in Australia as part of the tour, as well as Sydney band Phantoms for all dates except the Perth date and the Froth & Fury festival in Adelaide. In a statement shared to social media, the band noted that Australia was the first place that they performed Wake The Dead live when they toured in 2005. 'What a place to celebrate this amazing year,' they wrote. Comeback Kid – 'Wake The Dead' Wake The Dead, Comeback Kid's second album, was released in February 2005. It was the band's last to feature their original lead vocalist Scott Wade, who departed the band a year after its release. Andrew Neufeld, who was the band's rhythm guitarist at the time, took over on vocals and has held the position ever since. Only he and lead guitarist Jeremy Hiebert remain from the band's original line-up; they have been joined by rhythm guitarist Stu Ross since 2012 and bassist Chase Brenneman since 2015. Their current touring drummer is Terrance Pettitt. Gridiron were formed in 2020, featuring alumni from hardcore bands such as Year Of The Knife and Never Ending Game. Their second studio album, Poetry From Pain, was released earlier this year. Phantoms, meanwhile, are veterans of the Australian hardcore scene. Originally prominent in the mid-to-late 2000s, the band reunited a handful of years ago and have since released two EPs of new material: 2022's Hell Is Empty and 2024's All The Devils Are Here, both on Last Ride Records. Comeback Kid Wake The Dead 2026 Tour Friday, January 30th – Amplifier Bar, Perth WA* Saturday, January 31st – Adelaide Showgrounds, Adelaide SA* Sunday, February 1st – Prince Bandroom, Melbourne VIC Wednesday, February 4th – Manning Bar, Sydney NSW Thursday, February 5th – Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle NSW Friday, February 6th – Crowbar, Brisbane QLD * – Phantoms not appearing. A pre-sale for the tour will go live from 5pm local time today (Wednesday, July 30th). General sale will follow on Thursday, July 31st at 11am local time. Both can be accessed via . Bullet For My Valentine Announce 2025 Australian Tour Prince of Darkness Departs: Ozzy Osbourne Dies Aged 76 The Darkness Announce 'Dreams On Toast' 2026 Australian Tour The post Comeback Kid Announce 'Wake The Dead' 20th Anniversary Australian Tour appeared first on Music Feeds. Solve the daily Crossword
Global News
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Saskatchewan duo to represent Canada at 2025 U15 Softball World Cup in Italy
One of Saskatchewan's rising stars when it comes to softball, Alanya Dimen has been turning a lot of heads this year playing with the Saskatoon U15 Phantoms organization. That's included Softball Canada as well, as the Saskatoon-based catcher is preparing for the biggest tournament of her life this week. 'They emailed my mom and she called me crying and was like, 'You made the team,'' said Dimen. For the first time in her young career, Dimen will wear the red and white of the Canadian national softball team as she will represent her province and country at the 2025 U15 Women's Softball World Cup in Italy. It's a tournament she's spent the last several weeks preparing for, with just a few days left until making her debut with the Canadian U15 roster. Story continues below advertisement 'I couldn't tell anyone,' said Dimen. 'It was a week of not being able to tell anyone. It was so hard, but I was just excited all week and I couldn't focus.' Garnering attention from Softball Canada through some national identification camps held in Saskatoon over the past year, Dimen is expected to bring a combination of power and skill to Team Canada according to Phantoms head coach Danny Mantyka. 'I've had the privilege of coaching Alayna for a couple of years,' said Mantyka. 'Got to see her early on in her younger years, we could tell that she had above average skills. Especially her arm strength, her game-calling as a coacher.' 'We are beyond excited.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Joining Dimen on Team Canada in Italy will be Regina U15 Fighting Saints pitcher Kenzie Newman, who will be making her second appearance this year for the Canadian roster. Newman was a part of the Canadian contingent which competed at the 2025 U15 Pan-American Championships in Acapulco, Mexico, in March, helping secure a fourth-place finish at the tournament. 2:06 Saskatoon Berries rocket to top of WCBL standings with undefeated home record She said it's humbling to be selected to Team Canada for a second time, given the effort it's taken to get to this point. Story continues below advertisement 'It's countless hours that I've put in on and off the field, it's just amazing,' said Newman. 'I'm in the weight room, I'm on the diamonds all the time. It's just amazing.' While they usually play in separate cities, Dimen and Newman have a history of playing with each other as part of the 222's fastpitch travel team and various camps over the years. Dimen said the pair have developed some chemistry from on the mound and behind home plate which she hopes will be noticeable early in Italy. 'We have always been a really strong duo and connected really well with pitching and catching,' said Dimen. 'I think it will be really good, she's a very good teammate.' According to Mantyka, elite talent like the pair of Team Canada members is helping to put Saskatchewan on the map when it comes to youth softball and continue their journey of promoting girls to higher levels of the sport. 'These girls have aspirations of playing U17, U19 and beyond,' said Mantyka. 'There's lots of role models out there that have gone to the college level. When they get to this age, and with the help of the Tommy Douglas Softball Academy as well, many girls are realizing their dreams and beyond.' That's the case for Newman, who is aiming to gain the attention of NCAA Division I programs and earn a full-ride scholarship once she has completed her high school stint. Story continues below advertisement Even more than the personal accolades and attention, she said it's important for the group to try and bring some hardware back to the communities that have supported them. 'There's so many different ways that we represent Saskatchewan in our country,' said Newman. 'I just think that it's really an amazing opportunity that I get to be a part of the Softball Canada community and I get to join all the legacies.' Team Canada will open the tournament on Friday versus Czechia, a game which Dimen expects to bring plenty of emotions out — finally getting the opportunity to stand behind home plate wearing the maple leaf on her jersey. 'I think I'll cry,' said Dimen. 'It will be insane, it's going to be such an amazing opportunity and I cannot wait.' Canada's opening game of the tournament will be played at 2 a.m. Saskatchewan time on Friday against Czechia, with round-robin games also set against Singapore, the United States, Chinese Taipei and Australia.
New York Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
‘It was like a mini NHL': Twenty years ago, a star-laden team won it all in the AHL's greatest season
Ben Stafford always had grander plans. After four years as a spunky two-way center at Yale University and three more bouncing around minor-league hockey, the Minnesota native dreamed of a career in military medicine. He spent one year at medical school after hanging up his skates, before that path changed and he joined the United States Marine Corps, deploying to places such as Fallujah, Iraq and Kuwait. He is now the chief operating officer of a renewable energy company headquartered in New York City. Advertisement But before all that, Stafford had one final, unforgettable season in professional hockey 20 years ago, playing in the American Hockey League for the eventual champions, the 2004-05 Philadelphia Phantoms. 'Getting into that season, I had a pretty good sense that it would be my last year,' Stafford said. 'I was just scratching and clawing, anything to get a cup of coffee in the show. I loved playing for (coach John Stevens), I loved the players, I loved Philly. So it was all good. But it just wasn't progressing.' The competition for Stafford, then 26, who had posted a modest 12 goals in 73 games with the Phantoms the previous season, got much stiffer in 2004-05, both internally and around the league. Because of the NHL lockout, which wiped out the entire season, the AHL was loaded with up-and-coming players and prospects, many of whom would have been in the NHL had it not been for the work stoppage and many of whom went on to become stars. It was, quite simply, the most talent-laden season in modern AHL history. Jason Spezza led the league in scoring, with 117 points in 80 games for the Binghamton Senators. Eric Staal paced the Lowell Lock Monsters, posting 77 points. Dustin Brown managed 74 points for the Manchester Monarchs. Patrice Bergeron tallied 61 points in 68 games for the Providence Bruins. In 54 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury went 26-19-4 with a 2.52 goals-against average. Brent Burns, Duncan Keith, Niklas Kronwall, Kevin Bieksa, Mike Cammalleri, Ryane Clowe, Zach Parise, Joffrey Lupul, Ryan Whitney, Ryan Kesler — all of them, and many others, spent 2004-05 in the AHL. And the Phantoms, with a mix of fresh faces, seasoned minor league vets and rugged enforcers — including Patrick Sharp, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, R.J. Umberger and more — proved to be the greatest team in a league that, for a brief moment, was the greatest in the world. Advertisement 'Everywhere we went, we saw multiple NHL players playing down in the minors that season,' said Sharp, who went on to win three Stanley Cup championships with the Chicago Blackhawks and an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada. 'The All-Star team that year was just a stacked list of prospects that basically all went on and had great careers. It's cool to look back at that list and actually be a part of it.' Said Stevens: 'It was like a mini NHL, with the young stars of tomorrow. It was a lot of fun to be a part of it.' Despite the league's influx of talent, the Phantoms didn't have a player in the top 20 in scoring in the regular season, despite finishing in second place in their division with a tidy 48-25-7 record. Umberger, their top-line center and a 2001 first-round pick by Vancouver, set the pace with 65 points (21 goals, 44 assists) in 80 games, while journeyman Jon Sim potted a team-high 35 goals. 'We were more of a team-team,' Stevens said. 'We didn't have one guy carrying the load.' But they still had a roster sprinkled with future NHL talent. Up front, Umberger eventually spent 11 seasons in the league, including a pair of stints with the Flyers, and Sharp, who played mostly as the Phantoms' second-line center, was one of the better wingers of his era with 939 career games over parts of 15 seasons with the Flyers, Blackhawks and Stars. On defense, Dennis Seidenberg (859 career NHL games), Joni Pitkanen (535) and Randy Jones (365) anchored a stingy group that was led by the offensive-minded John Slaney, who was late into what was mostly a minor-league career but who also had 268 NHL games with seven different teams. There was an abundance of toughness, as the Phantoms finished fourth in the AHL with 2,244 penalty minutes. There was Ben Eager (407 career NHL games) and Riley Cote (156) and later Todd Fedoruk, who joined midway through the season as an established NHL player/enforcer. He went on to play for five more years in the NHL, finishing with 545 career games. Advertisement In goal, Antero Niittymaki, who got the bulk of the work in net that season, went on to play for six NHL seasons with the Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and San Jose Sharks. He was backed up by AHL and Phantoms veteran Neil Little, who was the starter seven years earlier when the club captured its first Calder Cup in 1998, in front of a raucous, sellout crowd at the Spectrum. 'We were loaded,' Little said of the 2004-05 squad. 'We had Nitty in net, as well. He had the bulk (of the work) and I was kind of helping him transition into being a No. 1 guy. And then we were loaded on the D core, and up front we had all kinds of talent and toughness. We had all the ingredients. It was just a matter of, can we put this all together?' Slaney, now an assistant coach with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners, said, 'You knew some players like (Sharp) were going to play in the NHL eventually, and Randy Jones on the back end, and Joni Pitkanen. Every night, you could see these players getting better and better — they were performing at a high level. For me, being an older guy, watching the younger guys perform really well was exciting. They were focused on doing the right things every night.' Overseeing the club was Stevens — already a notable figure in Philadelphia hockey after he captained the 1998 championship Phantoms team as a defenseman. Then, after an eye injury forced him into early retirement, he worked as an assistant under former Phantoms coach and Flyers legend/Hall of Fame forward Bill Barber. Stevens eventually replaced Ken Hitchcock as the Flyers' coach in 2006, guiding them to an appearance in the Eastern Conference final in 2008, before going to Los Angeles, where he was a part of Stanley Cup championship teams in 2012 and 2014 as an assistant to Darryl Sutter. Stevens won another championship as an assistant to Bruce Cassidy's Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, where he remains today. One of Stevens' assistants with the Phantoms then was Craig Berube — considered one of the toughest players in NHL history, who went on to win the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues as their head coach in 2019, and who just completed his first season behind the Toronto Maple Leafs' bench. Stevens, Berube and assistant coach Kjell Samuelsson established the Phantoms' team identity early. It was a defensive mentality built on hard work, playing for one another and pushing back with their ample toughness when necessary in a league in which every team still had at least one or two glove-droppers. 'We were coached by a really good coach,' Seidenberg said. 'It was very structured. He instilled that attitude into the lineup.' Advertisement The Phantoms lost their first two games — and then promptly rattled off 17 straight wins, then an AHL record. They scored more than four goals just twice during that streak, while seven of those wins were by one goal — including four in overtime and two in the shootout, which was new to the AHL that year and was phased into the NHL the following season. The undercurrent of the ongoing NHL lockout, though, often made headlines. Several times throughout the season, there seemed to be progress toward a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the NHL Players' Association, only for it fall apart. Considering there were players on every AHL team who would inevitably be recalled to the NHL were they to come to an agreement — including guys such as Sharp, Seidenberg and Pitkanen, who had all spent significant time with the big club the previous season — the potential for distraction was there. But that didn't happen. The Phantoms' longest losing streak of the season was five games in December, with four of those losses coming in either overtime or the shootout. Said Sharp: 'I was really interested in what was going on at the highest level, as far as, 'Are we going to play games this year? Is there going to be a training camp? Am I going to get a chance to compete and show I can be an NHL player?' But on the other side of things, I was in the middle of a full season with teammates and coaches and training staff, and we were committed to what was going on there.' By mid-February, it was evident there wasn't going to be any NHL hockey that year. 'Once you knew that it was a lockout for the whole season, there was a huge commitment to our group that hey, we've got a chance to go deep in the playoffs,' Sharp said. 'And let's go get this thing.' But then Stevens had a problem. He knew Carter and Richards, hotshot prospects and Flyers first-round picks, were wrapping up their junior careers that year, and that he had to find a way to get them into the lineup when they came aboard in April. Advertisement Carter was drafted No. 11 in 2003 — arguably the deepest draft of the century so far. Richards was taken at No. 24. Both were standouts as teenagers. Carter led the Soo Greyhounds in scoring in each of his final three seasons there, eclipsing 30 goals every season, while Richards captained the Kitchener Rangers to the Memorial Cup in 2003 and was the captain of Team Canada's World Junior Championship squad in 2005, too. Everyone knew the pair would be in the NHL sooner than later — perhaps even that season, had there been one. Umberger and Sharp were the Phantoms' top two centers prior to the arrival of Carter and Richards — who were also centers. Stevens, as he recalled, went to Sharp with a sensitive question. 'How would you feel about playing wing?' Stevens asked. 'Would I be playing with Jeff Carter?' Sharp replied. He would be, Stevens told him. 'Then I feel pretty good about it,' Sharp said. Sharp had a chuckle when reminded of that exchange. 'That's pretty much exactly what happened,' he said. 'It seems like when I got put to the wing, it freed me up a little bit offensively. If that meant I got to play alongside Carts on the top line, I was going to be all for it, no doubt.' Said Carter: 'Sharpie was really good with me. He was a huge help for me just kind of adjusting to the pro game and everything that comes with it. All those guys were awesome. … It can be tough coming in at the end of the year, but no one cared. They just wanted to win. If I could play to my abilities and help them win, they were like, all right, let's go.' Carter, who arrived before Richards and managed to get into three regular-season games, immediately showed why he was such an exciting prospect. He led the Calder Cup playoffs in goals (12) and points (23), while Sharp was second in playoff scoring with 21 points. Advertisement Richards, who showed up midway through the Phantoms' second-round series against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, posted 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 14 playoff games, showcasing the renowned tenacity that eventually helped him become captain of the Flyers in 2008. The fit was seamless. 'They were so respectful,' said Stevens, who also coached Carter and Richards when they played key roles in the Kings' Stanley Cup championships. 'They were the guys picking up pucks at the end of practice. They were last ones getting on the elevator, getting on the bus. They were, in their own right, young stars at that time; everybody knew it. They didn't act like young stars. They acted like young guys that were happy to be a part of a team and were willing to do whatever they could to help out. I think because of that, they were easily accepted by the group, and allowed us to do what we did.' Suddenly, with solid goaltending and a much more high-powered attack adding to their two-way depth up and down the lineup, the Phantoms reached a new level. They dispatched the Norfolk Admirals in the first round in six games, the Penguins in the second round in five games, and the Bruins in the conference finals in six games to reach the Calder Cup finals and a meeting with the Chicago Wolves. And because of the circus taking over their home arena — the since-demolished Spectrum — the Phantoms moved into the NHL arena across the parking lot, then known as Wachovia Center. Flyers general manager Bob Clarke also allowed the Phantoms to use the Flyers' dressing room, giving them access to the more capacious and advanced facilities. 'We were getting treated like NHL players,' Slaney said. 'You've got the locker room, the weight room, the cold tubs — you're getting prepared for a game every night. That kind of stuff behind the scenes was great. It helped the trainers, and helped the players to be ready to perform.' The city took notice. The Phantoms had always drawn well for an AHL team since they were founded in 1996 — they led the league in attendance from 1996-97 to 2001-02, and were seventh that season, averaging 7,967 fans per game. But after they captured the first two games of the finals in Chicago, they returned to Philadelphia for games 3 and 4 to larger-than-normal crowds that were starved for a winning team. Advertisement 'One thing I noticed, it was louder every game compared to the Spectrum,' Slaney said. 'It was the only hockey in town in Philly at the time, so people were actually showing up.' More than 12,000 fans attended their 2-1 win in Game 3, in which goals by Richards and Sharp were the difference. Then, in Game 4 on June 10, 2005, the Phantoms drew an AHL-record sellout crowd of 20,103, all draped in purple T-shirts handed out at the door, to see the team complete the sweep with a 5-2 victory to raise the Calder Cup. And it wasn't Sharp, Carter, Richards or any other future NHL regulars who scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal. It was the scrappy Stafford, who managed to stay in the lineup for all 80 regular-season games and 21 playoff games, who hopped over the bench on a rush and potted the rebound of a shot from Sharp to give the Phantoms a commanding 3-0 second-period lead. It was just his second goal of the postseason, but it was the biggest of his career. 'Hard to believe, actually,' Stafford said, 'that it resulted in the way that it did.' (Editor's note: The Athletic's Kevin Kurz worked as assistant public relations director for the Philadelphia Phantoms in 2005. He joined The Athletic in 2017.) (Top photo of Mike Richards (right): Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Ian Laperrière's exit as Phantoms coach sparks bigger questions for Flyers' future
Laperrière's exit sparks Flyers' development shift (Image via: Getty Images) Ian Laperrière's four-year run as head coach of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms is reportedly coming to an end, according to a Daily Faceoff report. While he will remain with the Philadelphia Flyers organization in a different capacity, this coaching change raises important questions about the future of the Flyers' AHL affiliate and its role in developing NHL talent. How Laperrière's departure could impact Flyers' development pipeline — ADiMarco25 (@ADiMarco25) Laperrière's tenure with the Phantoms wasn't marked by deep playoff runs or Calder Cup glory. Instead, his focus was on steady player development, transforming prospects into NHL-ready contributors. Under his leadership, the Phantoms successfully helped transition players like Cam York, Sam Ersson, Bobby Brink, and Tyson Foerster from promising prospects into dependable Flyers. This steady production of talent is critical for any rebuilding NHL franchise. The Flyers are currently entering a new phase of their rebuild, one that demands faster results and impact players. GM Danny Brière has emphasized the importance of producing NHL difference-makers, not just players who can fill roster spots. This means the Phantoms' next head coach will have to push player development to the next level while maintaining the hard-working, gritty identity Laperrière instilled. Known for emphasizing work ethic, accountability, and consistency, Laperrière's coaching style reflected the Flyers' traditional toughness. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The next coach faces the challenge of balancing that grit with possibly introducing new strategies that align better with Rick Tocchet's vision for the NHL club. This decision will influence the development style and identity of the Phantoms moving forward. Despite the coaching change, the Phantoms' roster remains promising. Players like Emil Andrae and Anthony Richard showed they're ready to take the next step, while prospects including Jett Luchanko, Alex Bump, and Oliver Bonk are poised to make an impact in the near future. The Flyers' focus on drafting high-skill, high-character players makes having the right development system in place even more crucial. Also Read: Connor McDavid makes NHL history with playoff stat that even 'The Great One' Wayne Gretzky couldn't match Laperrière's continued role within the Flyers organization suggests his input will still shape the team's future. However, this coaching shift signals a critical moment for the Flyers' development pipeline as they aim to build a competitive NHL roster. Change is part of hockey's development cycle, but the Flyers' choice for the next Phantoms coach could be a defining factor in their rebuild and the road to becoming a playoff contender. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
