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ADIRONDACK PHANTOMS (5-2-0) vs. Norfolk
Admirals (4-2-1)
Phantoms - 1st Northeast Division, 3rd Eastern Conference
Admirals -2nd East Division, 5th Eastern Conference
Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY
Wednesday, October 26, 7:00 p.m.
Dollar Hot Dog Night!
Home Ice Advantage
Fresh off a five-game road trip in which they went
3-2-0, the first-place Phantoms return home for
a meeting with the high-scoring Norfolk Admirals
to open a three-game homestand. Wednesday’s
game starts a stretch in which the Phantoms will
play five of their next six games at home. The Phantoms
have won nine-straight games at home and are unbeaten
in regulation in their last 10 (9-0-1). This includes
the first two home games the team has played this
year on October 8 and 14. In the last 18 home games
dating back to last year, the Phantoms are an amazing
15-1-2.
Northeast Division Standings (As of 10/26/11)
1. Adirondack Phantoms (10 points)
2. Connecticut Whale (10 points)
3. Springfield Falcons (6 points)
4. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (6 points)
5. Albany Devils (6 points)
Denis Hamel Countdown – 4 Goals to
Catch Merkosky
Returning Phantoms leading scorer Denis Hamel continues
to rise up the all-time AHL ranks in goals, points
and total games played. Last weekend, he scored
two more goals for the Phantoms, which were the
320th and 321st goals in his illustrious 14-year
AHL career. His most-recent goal, last Saturday
in Albany, tied him with Bruce Cline (1955-68) for
13th place on the all-time AHL list. Hamel sits
just four goals back of Adirondack Hockey Hall of
Famer Glenn Merkosky (1980-1991) for 12th place
all-time in the AHL. The former Adirondack Red Wing
great, Merkosky, had 325 goals.
Denis is 41st all-time in total points with 617.
He is 34th in games played with 783, just seven
games ahead of veteran teammate Dan Jancevski. Hamel
has also played in 192 games in the NHL, giving
him a total of 975 professional games and an opportunity
to reach the 1,000 game milestone by midseason.
Phantoms Tidbits
Adirondack enters Wednesday as just one of five
teams with at least 10 points. The Phantoms are
one point back of the Hershey Bears for the league’s
best record. The other four teams with at least
10 points are the Hershey Bears (11 pts), St. John’s
IceCaps (11 pts), Houston Aeros (10 pts) and Connecticut
Whale (10 pts).
The Phantoms’ 10 points tie them with the
Connecticut Whale for first place in the Northeast
Division.
Adirondack has scored at least one power-play
goal in six of its first seven games—10-of-21,
24.4%. In the only game the Phantoms didn’t
score a power-play goal, Oct. 23 at Rochester, the
game-winning goal by Harry Zolnierczyk was a shorthanded
goal.
The Phantoms are third in the AHL in goals with
27. Only Norfolk (31) and Hershey (30) have scored
more. With eight more goals than their opponents,
Adirondack is tied for the second-best goal differential
in the league with St. John’s. The Hershey
Bears have the best differential at +11.
Michael Leighton is tied with Leland Irving of
the Abbotsford Heat for the league’s lead
in wins with four.
Garrett Roe leads AHL rookies with six assists.
Despite not playing in the last three games due
to a call up to the Flyers, Brayden Schenn is tied
for third among AHL rookies with eight points (4g,
4a).
Norfolk Admirals (NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay
Lightning)
Despite coming to Glens Falls on a two-game losing
streak, the Admirals have the league’s highest-scoring
offense (31 goals) and sit just two points behind
Hershey and St. John’s for the AHL’s
top overall record. With a record of 4-2-1 and nine
points, Norfolk is in second place in the East Division
and fifth in the Eastern Conference, trailing only
the Hershey Bears (11 pts), St. John’s IceCaps
(11 pts), Adirondack Phantoms (10 pts) and Connecticut
Whale (10 pts). The Admirals have the same number
of points as the Providence Bruins.
Norfolk’s leading scorer is Carter Ashton,
who leads all AHL rookies with six goals and 10
points. The son of former NHL player Brent Ashton,
Carter Ashton was the AHL’s Player of the
Week in his first week as a pro, earlier in the
month.
Norfolk’s second-leading scorer is Cory Conacher,
who trails only his teammate Ashton in AHL rookie
scoring. Conacher has nine points (4g, 5a), while
rookie Tyler Johnson (3g, 3a) is also among the
top 10 in AHL rookie scoring.
On the blue line, the Admirals are led by Mike Barberio
and Radko Gudas, In his second professional season,
Barberio (1g, 6a) leads AHL defensemen in scoring.
Meanwhile, Gudas provides offense and grit on the
back line. Gudas has four points (2g, 2a) and 13
penalty minutes this season, after he posted 165
penalty minutes as a rookie last year.
Dustin Tokarski and Jaroslav Janus spilt the goaltending
duties for the Admirals. Tokarski, a former Memorial
Cup-winning goalie with the Spokane Chiefs, is 2-2-0
and led Norfolk with 21 wins last season. Janus,
who spent most of last season with the ECHL’s
Florida Everblades, is 2-0-1 with a 3.26 goals-against
average and .904 save percentage.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, October 26, 7:00 - Phantoms vs. Norfolk
at the GFCC. $1 hot dogs.
Friday, October 28, 7:00 - Phantoms vs. Connecticut
at the GFCC. $2 draft beers (through first intermission)
Saturday, October 29, 7:00 - Phantoms vs. Hershey
at the GFCC. Kids Halloween Costume Parade. Postgame
open-skate with the Phantoms players, presented
by Glens Falls Hospital.
Sunday, October 30, 1:30-4:00 - Cruise with the
Phantoms presented by the Glens Falls Civic Center
Foundation. All Phantoms players appearing! Hor
d'oeuvres and cash bar. Tickets $25 for adults,
$15 for
kids: Available at GFCC Box Office and Achenbach
Jewelers
Monday, October 31, 7:00 pm - "Phantoms Power
Hour" LIVE from McGinny's Tavern, 193 Glen
Street. Player guests are #13 Garrett Roe and #24
Harry Zolnierczyk
Get great savings and have fun with your friends,
family or co-workers by bringing your group of 15
or more fans to enjoy fast-paced, hard-hitting Phantoms
hockey.
Call the Phantoms to find out more at 518-480-3355
and check the team's website at phantomshockey.com.
Catch all the action of Phantoms hockey all season
long on the team's flagship station, Classic Hits
Q101.7 and on phantomshockey.com. Bob Rotruck has
the broadcast coverage 30 minutes prior to game-time
with Countdown to Faceoff.
The Adirondack Phantoms are now over 10,000 members
strong on their social media networks. Be sure to
follow us on twitter @phantomshockey and on facebook.com/adkhockey
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