PREVIEW: Phantoms at Hamilton, Game 13
Goals by Period
Shots by Period
Goal Scorers
Goaltenders
Three Stars
Concluding Canadian Road Trip vs. New Hamilton Hammers
TONIGHT – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (5-6-1) conclude their three-game Canadian road trip as they arrive to TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario to take on the new Hamilton Hammers (3-9-2), AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders.
The Phantoms are 1-1-0 on the roadie entering the rubber match of the three-game set. Lehigh Valley emerged victorious in a 5-4 overtime thriller at the Laval Rocket on Wednesday before dropping a Friday decision at the Belleville Senators 3-1.
The Hamilton Hammers were formerly the Bridgeport Islanders before moving this season. The last-place Hammers dropped a 5-4 heartbreak to the Providence Bruins blowing a three-goal lead, surrendering five goals in the third, and allowing a natural hat trick to Mike Eyssimont in the last 2:06 of the game who stunningly rallied from behind.
This is also the opener of a two-game home-and-home series between the two teams who will wrap up the season set with a rematch next Friday at PPL Center.
Fans can browse rosters and Media Materials for tonight’s game at www.phantomshockey.com/media/media-materials/
LAST TIME – Jacob Gaucher (5th) reached 100 career points with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms while moving into sole possession of seventh place on the team’s all-time goals list, but the Phantoms fell 3-1 to the Belleville Senators on Friday night at CIBC Place despite equaling a season-high with 35 shots on goal. But Belleville’s Jackson Parsons was up to the task in a sensational performance including five denials of Alex Bump among his 34 total saves. Gaucher scored to even the score at 1-1 just 18 seconds into the third period, recording the 100th point of his Lehigh Valley career. The milestone moment came in Gaucher’s first game as a new Daddy following the birth of his son earlier in the week! Bump’s goal streak came to an end at six games. It was the first game with Lehigh Valley this season in which Bump did not score a goal. He tied the longest goal streak in Lehigh Valley history also achieved by Petr Straka in 2015 and Danick Martel in 2017. Belleville turned the tables in the third period with consecutive goals just 53 seconds apart to build a 3-1 margin.
CONGRATS GAUCH! – We are pleased to welcome the newest member of Phan Nation, the super-adorable Beckam Gaucher. And congratulations to the Gaucher Family!
TRANSACTIONS –
Oct 29, 2026 – Add Jacob Gaucher (F) – Loaned to Phantoms by PHI
Oct 31, 2026 – Add Hunter McDonald (D) – Loaned to Phantoms by PHI
Nov 2, 2026 – Add Alex Bump (F) – Loaned to Phantoms by PHI
Nov 2, 2026 – Del Cooper Wylie (D) – Loaned to Reading Royals (ECHL)
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Jacob Gaucher – 100 Points with Phantoms! (Nov 6, 2026 at Belleville)
Zack Aston-Reese – 198 Pro Points
Zayde Wisdom – 98 Pro Points
Cam Dineen – 395 AHL Games
John Snowden – 98 Pro Coaching Wins
FIRST TIME, LONG TIME – Tonight’s game represents the first-ever visit for Lehigh Valley to Hamilton, Ontario. The last time the Phantoms played here was 15 years ago as the Adirondack Phantoms on December 6, 2011 in a 1-0 overtime loss to the former Hamilton Bulldogs. Nathan Lawson outdueled Michael Leighton in that classic goaltenders duel.
BUMP IN THE NIGHT – All good things must come to an end. Friday night in Belleville was Alex Bump’s first game with the Phantoms in whichhe did NOT score a goal as his goal streak came to an end at six. Bump, 22 has played in eight games with the Flyers this season and also played in 17 games with Philadelphia last year scoring 5-4-9 while also registering two goals in six postseason games. He had a massive eight-day stretch with the Phantoms in October in which he racked up a five-game goal streak with seven goals on his way to earning AHL Player of the Week Honors on October 19.
Lehigh Valley Record Book
Goal Streak
Alex Bump – 6 (Oct 14 2026 – Nov 4 2026)
Danick Martel – 6 (Oct 27, 2017 – Nov 8, 2017)
Petr Straka – 6 (Nov 11, 2025 – Nov 22, 2015)
Phantoms Franchise Record Book
Goal Streak
Mike Maneluk – 7 (Feb 21, 2000 – Mar 4, 2000)
Shawn McCosh – 7 (Nov 24, 1996 – Dec 11, 1996)
MAC ATTACK – The Philadelphia Flyers have returned defenseman Hunter McDonald to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. McDonald played in five games with the Flyers since his recall two weeks ago, getting in two fights, laying out several big hits, and generally playing hard-nosed defense in the longest NHL stint of his career. The Fairport, NY native had only played in one career NHL game at the end of last season prior to his most recent opportunity. McDonald, 24, is in his third full season of professional hockey. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound defenseman has played in nine games with the Phantoms this season scoring 1-2-3. The Flyers’ sixth-round selection in 2022 out of Northeastern University has played 154 career AHL games recording 5-25-30.
WORDS OF WISDOM – Forward Zayde Wisdom has gone from the youngest player in Phantoms franchise history in 2021 to a veteran leader and frequent alternate captain while scoring 42-51-93 in his career with the Orange and Black. Wisdom scored his first career overtime goal on Wednesday at the Laval Rocket to finish an exciting road victory.
Now in his sixth season with the team, Wisdom moved into third all-time in games played with the Phantoms passing Chris Conner on Sunday when we suited up for his 268th career game with Lehigh Valley. Wisdom now trails only Greg Carey (277) and Garrett Wilson (345). Not only can Wisdom catch Greg Carey for second all-time in Lehigh Valley history but he also has an opportunity this season to become just the seventh player in franchise history to reach 300 games with the Phantoms.
GAMES – Lehigh Valley
1. GARRETT WILSON 345
2. Greg Carey 277
3. ZAYDE WISDOM 268
4. Chris Conner 265
5. Colin McDonald 248
HAMMER TIME!
The Hamilton Hammers (3-9-2) are finding the going tough in their inaugural season as the new AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders. The Hammers have dropped four straight and have the worst record in the AHL. Theysquandered a 3-0 lead and allowed five goals in the third, including a game-winning natural hat trick for Mikey Eyssimont, as the Providence Bruins stunned the home team last night 5-4. On Wednesday, it was a 5-1 shellacking at the hands of the rival Toronto Marlies. Last week, the Hammers were hammered 7-0 at Syracuse on Friday before earning a point in a 3-2 shootout loss at Utica on Sunday behind 35 saves from rookie Josh Kotai. The former Augustana University standout was the CCHA Player of the Year last season. Hamilton captain Matthew Highmore (4-2-6) scored the overtime winner in a 5-4 victory over Hartford on October 29. The Hammers are coached by former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jay McKee, who played 802 NHL games with Buffalo, St. Louis and Pittsburgh, and last year guided the Brantford Bulldogs, and Jett Luchanko, to the best record in the OHL. Former Columbus first-rounder Liam Foudy (4-8-12) leads Hamilton in scoring after collecting 26 goals with Bridgeport last season. The Hammers feature several highly regarded Islanders prospects including 2024 first-rounder Cole Eiserman (2-4-6), a Boston University product who scored a record 127 goals in 119 games with the U.S. National Team Development Program. Rookie defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, selected 17th overall in 2025, scored 28 goals last season with the Barrie Colts. Veteran Pierre Engvall (3-5-8) returns after missing all of last season due to injury while former NHL defenseman Ethan Bear (2-5-7) adds experience on the blue line including 275 career NHL games with Edmonton, Carolina, Vancouver and Washington . Goaltender Vitek Vanecek has more than 300 games of NHL experience with Washington, New Jersey, San Jose, Florida and Utah.
SCORING LEADERS
Lehigh Valley
56 Jacob Gaucher 5-5-10
20 Alex Bump 8-1-9
77 Jett Luchanko 1-5-6
44 Cam Dineen 2-4-6
23 Jack Studnicka 3-3-6
42 Spencer Gill 1-5-6
Hamilton
8 Liam Foudy 4-8-12
18 Pierre Engvall 3-5-8
39 Matt Luff 2-5-7
49 Ethan Bear 2-5-7
Cole Eiserman 2-4-6
SPECIAL TEAMS
LV PP 15.0% (25th) / 78.4% (21st)
HAM PP 15.9% (21st) / 74.1% (28th)
ON THE AIR – Catch the Phantoms, home and away, on the Phantoms 365 app and on Real Oldies 1470-AM, WSAN and also on FloHockey.TV.
Also available via the Listen Live link at the Phantoms website and on your Smart Speaker system at “Play Phantoms Radio 24-7.”
Bob Rotruck has the play-by-play action all season long.
Service Electric Network is the exclusive home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, providing extensive coverage of all home games. Steve Degler and Steven Swavely call the action from the booth, while Kristi Fulkerson and Dan Fremuth host pregame, intermissions, and postgame coverage, beginning with “Front and Center” live from Chickie’s and Pete’s at PPL Center.
NEXT UP –
The Phantoms return to PPL Center for their special Friday the 13th promotion against the Hamilton Hammers and are also at home on Saturday, November 14th against the Charlotte Checkers on Hockey is for Everyone Night.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
