Staff Promotions and Additions

Gratton and Rogers Get the Call!

September 2, 2026

Allentown, PA – The Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms have announced several changes to their hockey operations staff, according to General Manager Daniel Briere. Congratulations to two Lehigh Valley Phantoms who have joined the Philadelphia Flyers staff.

Chris Gratton: Performance Coach

Gratton joins Philadelphia after spending the past three seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He served as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach during the 2025-26 season after two years as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach (2023-25). Gratton also previously interned under newly announced Head of Athlete Performance, Abe Edson, with the Springfield Thunderbirds during the 2022-23 season.

Gratton is a graduate of SUNY Potsdam, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, and holds a Master’s Degree in Strength and Conditioning from Springfield College. In this role, he will work closely with players to support their training, conditioning, and recovery throughout the season alongside Edson.

Jake Rogers: Equipment Manager

Rogers joins the Flyers equipment staff after spending the past five seasons (2021-26) with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He began as Assistant Equipment Manager before being promoted to Head Equipment Manager and Director of Team Services prior to the 2023-24 season. Before joining the Phantoms, Rogers served as Equipment Manager for the Maine Mariners (ECHL) from 2018-21 and spent two seasons with the Portland Pirates (AHL) from 2010-12.

The following personnel have been added to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms staff:

Joe Hurley: Head Athletic Trainer, Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Hurley has been promoted to Head Athletic Trainer for the Phantoms after previously serving as Assistant Athletic Trainer for the past five seasons. In his previous role, Hurley assisted athletes in RTP plan of care and coordinated recovery and care with physicians and trainers during games. Hurley has over 11 years of experience in hockey with the Spokane Chiefs (2017-21) of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Amarillo Bulls (2016-17) in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), and Philadelphia Flyers (2015-16). He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science as well as Master of Science in Athletic Training from Seton Hall University.

Evan Hanberry: Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Hanberry joins the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach after spending the past two years at Penn State University, where he served as Athletic Performance Coach for the men’s lacrosse and women’s tennis programs. Prior to Penn State, he spent six seasons with the United States Air Force Academy football program as Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach and Return-to-Play Coordinator.

Hanberry earned a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from Duquesne University in 2017 and later received a Master of Science in Exercise Science with a clinical focus in Fitness and Health from the University of Pittsburgh.

Gavin Bastarche: Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach, Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Bastarche enters his first year of professional hockey after spending the last two years within Boston College’s athletic department where he assisted with the implementation of strength and conditioning Olympic Sports programs for 21 Division I teams, including the hockey program. Prior to that, he interned for three years at the University of New Hampshire in the Strength and Conditioning department. He received his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching from the University of New Hampshire and earned a Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Science at Merrimack College.

Jon Evans: Head Equipment Manager, Lehigh Valley Phantoms

After serving as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ Assistant Equipment Manager for the last three seasons, Jon Evans has been promoted to Head Equipment Manager. Evans brings four years of American Hockey League experience, having served as the Assistant Equipment Manager for the Utica Comets during the 2022-23 season before joining the Phantoms in 2023.

Liam Singer: Assistant Equipment Manager – Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Singer joins the Flyers after spending the last two years at Dartmouth College as an Assistant Equipment Manager, providing support for both the men’s and women’s Division I hockey programs. In addition, he assisted the Flyers equipment staff during the team’s summer Development Camp in July 2025. Singer graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia in 2018.

Hockey returns to PPL Center in September with the fifth annual Flyers vs. Rangers Rookie Series. The two-game series takes place on Saturday, September 12 at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday, September 13 at 5:05 p.m. Tickets are available now at PPLCenter.com.

Opening Night for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms is Saturday, October 3 against the Hartford Wolf Pack.