PREVIEW: Phantoms vs. Hamilton, Game 14
Back at Home in Rematch vs. Hammers
TONIGHT – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (5-7-1) return to PPL Center in a rematch with the new Hamilton Hammers (5-9-2), AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders. This is the first-ever appearance to PPL Center for the AHL’s newest team.
The Phantoms are seeking to avenge last Saturday’s 6-3 setback in Hamilton, Ontario. This is the opener of a two-game homestand and also starts a packed Novenmber home schedule in which the Phantoms will play six of their next seven games at PPL Center right through the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Hamilton is clawing its way out of the cellar of the North Division and Jay McKee’s crew has put together a two-game winning streak including a 4-1 victory at the Hershey Bears to begin its road trip. The Hamilton Hammers were formerly the Bridgeport Islanders before moving for the 2026-27 season and bringing the AHL back to the Steel City for the first time since the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2015.
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 – Lehigh Valley blasted away for 36 shots on goal, a new season high, but Josh Kotai was ready and the Hamilton Hammers took advantage of their opportunities in a 6-3 victory last Saturday at TD Coliseum. Danila Klimovich (1st), Alex Bump (9th) and Alex Ciernik (2nd) all scored for the Orange and Black who finished their three-game Canadian road trip with a 1-2-0 record. Hamilton scored a pair of shorthanded goals in the first period from veterans Liam Foudy (5th) and Pierre Engvall (4th) and then distanced themselves late in the second with back-to-back markers in transition by Antonio Stranges (1st) and MattLuff (3rd). Lehigh Valley had surrendered just one shorthanded goal all season before the Hammers zipped up ice for a pair of shorties in a single period.
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)
Nov 13, 2025 – Del Own McLaughlin (F) – 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
John Snowden – 98 Pro Coaching Wins
Lehigh Valley Records Book – Career Assists
1. Chris Conner 128
2. T.J. Brennan 112
3. Greg Carey 92
4. Cal O’Reilly 87
4. GARRETT WILSON 87
FIRST TIME, LONG TIME – Last week’s game was the first-ever visit for Lehigh Valley to Hamilton, Ontario. The last time the Phantoms had played there 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 IT UP – Alex Bump tied the all-time Lehigh Valley record with his six-game goal streak which came to an end on Friday at Belleville. Bump picked up another goal again on Saturday at the Hamilton Hammers and now has nine goals in just seven games across his two stints with the Phantoms this season. Bump was named AHL Player of the Week for his five-goal road trip in three games at Hartford and Springfield in mid-October.
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, 2015 – 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)
KLIMOVICH RETURNS – Forward Danila Klimovich was back in the lineup following a nearly month-long absence after an injury in Lehigh Valley’s game on October 11. The hard-shooting winger was immediately noticeable in his return last Wednesday at Laval and his hard work paid off in the form of his first goal of the season on Saturday at Hamilton. The 23-year-old played five seasons for the Abbotsford Canucks where he showed off his elite-level shot racking up 70 goals including a team-leading 25 goals in the 2024-25 season helping propel the team to the Calder Cup. Originally a second-rounder of Vancouver in 2021, Klimovich came to the AHL at only 18 years old and was the youngest player in the league at the time. Klimovich is still a fairly young prospect at just 23 years old even though he is an experienced forward in his sixth season of professional hockey.
HAMMER TIME!
Hamilton (5-9-2) ended a four-game losing slide on Saturday against the Phantoms and then made it back-to-back wins on Wednesday witha 4-1 triumph at Hershey led by Robby Fabbri who sealed the deal with a late goal. Augsutana University product Josh Kotai had 33 saves on 36 shots in dispatching the Phantoms 6-3 last Saturday in Hamilton. Hamilton captain Matthew Highmore (4-2-6) scored the overtime winner in a 5-4 victory over Hartford on October 29. NHL veteran Robby Fabbri (1-5-6) has been lighiting it up in three games with the Hammers after signing a PTO with the Hammers last week. The long-time member of the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings has played in 463 career NHL games scoring 108 goals. The Hammers are coached by former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jay McKee, who played 802 NHL games and guided the Brantford Bulldogs to the best record in the OHL last season. Former Columbus first-rounder Liam Foudy (5-10-15) leads Hamilton in scoring after collecting 26 goals with Bridgeport last season. 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, missed last week’s matchup due to injury. Rookie defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, selected 17th overall in 2025, scored 28 goals last season with the Barrie Colts. Veteran Pierre Engvall (5-8-13) scored one of two shorthanded goals against the Phantoms on Saturday as he returns after missing all of last season due to injury while former NHL defenseman Ethan Bear (2-6-8) adds experience on the blue line. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek has more than 300 games of NHL experience with Washington, New Jersey, San Jose, Florida and Utah.
SCORING LEADERS
Lehigh Valley
20 Alex Bump 9-1-10
56 Jacob Gaucher 5-5-10
23 Jack Studnicka 3-5-8
42 Spencer Gill 1-6-7
44 Cam Dineen 2-4-6
77 Jett Luchanko 1-5-6
Hamilton
8 Liam Foudy 5-10-15
18 Pierre Engvall 5-8-13
39 Matt Luff 4-6-10
12 Quinn Finley 4-5-9
49 Ethan Bear 2-6-8
SPECIAL TEAMS
LV PP 17.4% (19th) / 77.8% (25th)
HAM PP 17.6% (17th) / 73.8% (31st)
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 are back on Saturday, November 14th against the Charlotte Checkers on Hockey is for Everyone Night.
Sunday at 6:05 is a trek up the northeast extension to face the rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the first time this year.
Friday, November 20 through Saturday, November 28 is an action-packed stretch at PPL Center with four big home games against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Hershey Bears and Providence Bruins.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
