Phantoms History in the Winter Olympics
A By-the-Numbers Breakdown of the Phantoms on Hockey’s Biggest International Stage
February 13, 2026
As hockey’s brightest stars take center stage at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, the connection between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the world’s premier international hockey tournament continues to shine on a global scale.
Olympic ties run deep throughout the history of the Phantoms franchise, first established as the Philadelphia Phantoms in 1996. Since then, the organization has become a launching point for elite talent from across the globe, with numerous players going on to represent their countries internationally. For others, reaching the Olympic Games marked a milestone achievement along the journey that later included time with the Phantoms organization.
From gold medalists to first-time Olympians, the Phantoms’ influence on the quadrennial event has spanned decades and continents, highlighting the franchise’s role in developing and serving as a home to world-class talent at various stages of their individual careers.
Phantoms in the Winter Olympics: By the Numbers
- Pat Nagle became the only player selected to the Winter Olympic Games while actively on the Phantoms’ roster in 2022. Representing Team USA, Nagle served as a veteran presence and helped anchor the American goaltending group in Beijing.
- Two former Phantoms have went on to serve as assistant coaches in the Olympics following their playing careers: Vinny Prospal (Czech Republic, 2018) and Richard Park (South Korea, 2018). Prospal also competed in the 2006 Olympics as a player, winning bronze.
- Four former Phantoms earned Olympic selections for the 2026 Winter Games. Lehigh Valley alumni Travis Sanheim (Canada), Oliver Lauridsen (Denmark), and Christian Marti (Switzerland) will now take part in the tournament, while Rodrigo Ābols was also named to Latvia’s roster before being forced to withdraw due to injury.
- Four players in franchise history have captured both an Olympic gold medal and a Calder Cup title with the Phantoms: Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Antero Niittymäki, and Patrick Sharp.
- Five wins are the most recorded by a Phantoms goaltender at the Winter Olympics, with Antero Niittymäki (Finland, 2006) and Corey Hirsch (Canada, 1994) both doing so during a silver medal-winning season for their countries
- Six players have won Olympic gold medals while being part of the Phantoms organization at some point during their professional careers.
- Eight points (7G, 1A) were recorded by Patrick Juhlin during Sweden’s gold medal run in 1994, which still stands as the most career points recorded by a Phantoms player at the Olympic Games
- Phantoms alumni have appeared in each of the last 10 Winter Olympic Games, dating back to the 1992 competition in Albertville, France. Even before the franchise’s inception, several future Phantoms players—and a coach—competed on the Olympic stage before later making their mark with the organization.
- Fourteen countries have been represented in the Olympics by Phantoms players: the United States, Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Latvia, Austria, Ukraine, and South Korea.
- While forward Lasse Kukkonen’s time with the Phantoms organization was brief, Olympic career included 19 games for Finland across four editions of the event between 2006-2018—both Phantoms records. Kukkonen also sits atop the Phantoms all-time medal count with three total medals (one silver, two bronze) and has participated in the most Olympic Games (four).
- 42 Olympians have called the Phantoms organization home at some point during their careers, 31 of which donned a Phantoms jersey before embarking on their Olympic journeys.
Celebrate the international games this weekend at PPL Center as part of Winter Games Weekend when the Phantoms host the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday, February 14, featuring an Adult Knit Hat Giveaway courtesy of Gatorade. The festivities continue on Sunday, February 15 against the Syracuse Crunch with Post Game Photos presented by NJM Insurance!
For tickets, click here.
Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
