| Seth DeWitt
Adirondack Phantoms
July 9
On my arrival to Day 4 of the Flyers Prospect Camp,
I found out that the team would not be scrimmaging.
The prospects will scrimmage on Monday July 11,
which will be the last day of the 2011 camp.
The first session got underway around 9 a.m. with
2010-2011 Phantoms Luke Pither, Tom Sestito Andrew
Rowe, Kevin Marshall and Oliver Lauridsen hitting
the Virtua Center ice first. The second session
started around 10:30 a.m. with forwards Matt Read,
Ben Holmstrom and Eric Wellwood along with defensemen
Marc-Andre Bourdon and Tyler Hostetter.
Adirondack Phantoms assistant coach Riley Cote
along with Flyers Personnel Joel Bouchard, Ian Laparierre,
Derian Hatcher and Jeff Reese ran the two groups
through puck possession and shooting drills as well
as through “herbies.”
Herbies are a player’s worst nightmare and
I can attest to that. It is a drill in which you
skate from goal line to blue line and back, goal
line to red line and back, goal line to blue line
and back and today extended from goal line to goal
line
After practice, I caught up with Adirondack Phantoms
Head Coach Joe Paterson who was seeing the prospects
for the first time at the camp.
Q: What have you been up to this off-season?
I’ve been doing a lot of Public Relations
things in the local area. I have been out with Dax
doing a lot of things. Getting out in the community
towards the end of the school and having some fun.
We just celebrated 200 appearances in the local
area, which is a huge accomplishment.
Q: How has it been going out in the community with
Dax?
It’s about getting out in the community.
It is important for not only Dax to get out but
the players as well. We want to continue to build
that relationship with the fans. I believe when
the fans get to know the players it makes them want
to come out to the games more. Fans begin to have
a personal relationship with the players. When the
players are out and having success, fans want to
cheer them on even more. I think we saw that down
the stretch in the last seven games when the team
was having success on the ice and the crowd was
starting get over 4,000 people. You could see that
there was a lot of energy in the building from not
only the fans but from the players as well. It is
a great to have that relationship and was exciting
down the stretch for our team.
Q: The American Hockey League approved a division
realignment this past week. The Phantoms will play
in the newly formed Northeast Division with the
Albany Devils, Springfield Falcons, Bridgeport Sound
Tigers and Connecticut Whale. What are your thoughts
on the change in divisions?
I think it will be exciting for our fans. You get
to see a team in Bridgeport, which is the New York
Islanders farm team. With that being a New York
team and the Flyers playing the Islanders a lot,
it will be good for our fans. Seeing Springfield
and Albany as well will be good. We will see be
crossing over to play Rochester, Hershey and Wilkes
Barre and I know our fans really enjoy getting to
see those teams as well.
Q: Today is your first day here in Voorhees checking
out this year’s prospect camp. What are your
thoughts on some of the newest editions to the organization?
I think it has been very good. You get a chance
to see some of the new players like Sean Couturier
who was drafted in the first round this year and
someone like Brayden Schenn that came over in the
trade from the Kings organization. In addition,
it is great to see players like Ben Holmstrom, Eric
Wellwood, Mike Testwuide and Kevin Marshall that
were with the Phantoms last season who came to this
camp. It is good for both sides. It is good for
the young guys to see what it takes to be a good
American Hockey League player and those guys do
a great job of setting a good example. This camp
has really been a camp on high skill and off the
ice workouts like Trial on the Isle. The camp has
been a lot of teach and a lot of good skill competition.
It shows them the tools on how to prepare as a pro.
The 2011 Flyers Prospect Camp continues on Sunday
July 10 and ends with a scrimmage on Monday July
11.
Opening Night for the Adirondack Phantoms is Satuday,
October 8.
Season tickets and other ticket packages for the
Adirondack Phantoms are on sale now. It's the best
entertainment value around! Phantoms Season Ticket
Holders get great savings, terrific seats, and have
access to exclusive benefits. Call 518-480-3355
to speak with a Phantoms representative on the best
plan for you.
Follow the Adirondack Phantoms on Facebook at ADKHockey
and on Twitter at PhantomsHockey throughout the
rest of the summer.
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