September 18, 2012

By Bob Rotruck

A couple of the veteran players on the Adirondack Phantoms this year will be 27 year old Danny Syvret on defense and 28 year old Matthew Ford on right wing. Syvret enters his eighth season in the pros as he begins his third stint with the Phantoms. Ford is in his fifth season as a professional and his second year with the Phantoms.

Here's more about a couple of the experienced leaders of this year's Phantoms team:

5 Danny Syvret

Defense -- Born Jun 13, 1985 (27) -- Millgrove, Ontario
Height 5’11” -- Weight 203 –- Shoots L
Years Pro: 8th Season
Drafted: Edmonton Oilers (2005), Round 3, #81 Overall

2011-12 Stats: Peoria Rivermen (AHL) 75 games, 7g, 35a, 42pts, 24pim

Background: Welcome back yet again, Danny Syvret! It’s the third tour of duty with the Phantoms and Flyers for the veteran of 407 AHL games and 59 NHL games.

Last year, Syvret played for Peoria, Ill., the top farm-club for the St. Louis Blues. He scored 7 goals and 35 assists in a durable 75 game season there. The year before with Adirondack he lit it up for 10 goals in only 51 games as well as 26 assists. He’s no stranger to finding open shots and creative passes with his tremendous vision. With the Philadelphia Phantoms in 2008-09 he scored a career-high 12 goals and 45 assists rating him second among AHL blue-liners in assists and points.

Trivia: What do Danny Syvret and Brayden Schenn have in common? Both scored their first NHL goal in the NHL Winter Classic! Syvret scored the Flyers’ lone goal on 1/1/10 at Fenway Park in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Bruins.

25 Matthew Ford

Right Wing -- Born Oct 9 1984 (28) -- West Hills, California
Height 6’1” – Weight 207 –- Shoots Right
Years Pro: 5th Season
Drafted: Chicago Blackhawks (2004), Round 8, #256 Overall

2011-12 Stats: Adirondack Phantoms (AHL) 31 games, 19g, 12a, 31pts, 31pim
Hershey Bears (AHL) 39 games, 10g, 18a, 28pts, 47pim

Background: Matthew Ford came over to the Phantoms from the Hershey Bears in a trade in February, 2012 and quickly showed Phantoms fans why he is indeed “Built Ford Tough.”

Ford lit it up for 19 goals and 12 assists in just 31 games with Adirondack. He also had scored 10 goals for Hershey before the trade giving him a personal best 29 goals total to finish 11th in the AHL. And he was clutch with 8 game-winning goals with the Phantoms including an overtime winner at Albany on 3/12. He added a hat trick against Albany on 4/7/12.

Ford played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin from 2004-08 winning a national title as a sophomore in 2005-06. He has also played with the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL), Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) and Charlotte Checkers (ECHL).

Danny Syvret Career Stats

Matthew Ford Career Stats

Opening Night presented by Nemer Ford is coming! The Adirondack Phantoms season opener will be Saturday, October 13 at the Glens Falls Civic Center featuring great retro-style red jerseys that will be auctioned to the fans following the game plus a Phantoms magnet schedule giveaway presented by Great Meadow Federal Credit Union.

Get great savings with the Phantoms when you purchase a season ticket PLUS never waste a ticket. Your unused game tickets can be redeemed for future Phantoms games. 22-game and 12-game packages available as well.

I'm In! We need 1,756 season ticket holders for next season to conclusively prove the viability of Glens Falls as a great hockey market. The league and other teams are watching! We're already off to a great start. Keep it up, fans! To join the "I'm In" campaign, contribute your $50 down-payment to a season ticket for 2012-13 or ask about a 22-pack or 12-pack ticket plan. Together we can do this. Call the Adirondack Phantoms at (518) 480-3355.