The Lehigh Valley Phantoms, American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, have advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs with a two games to zero sweep of in-state arch nemesis, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Phantoms piled on an impressive seven goals in the two games defeating the Penguins 2-1 in Game 1 on April 24, and 5-4 in a thrilling overtime victory on April 26.
This edition of the Flyers Farm Report will focus on the Phantoms’ top performers from last week’s series win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Adam Brooks
The 2023-24 campaign marked Adam Brooks’ seventh season of professional hockey. A Calder Cup champion with the 2017-18 Toronto Marlies, the 27-year-old is now in his second season with the Phantoms. In 47 regular season games, the Winnipeg native had 25 points (13 goals and 12 assists). He got the scoring started for the Phantoms in this season’s Calder Cup Playoffs, recording a goal on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender Joel Blomqvist in the first period of Game 1 action on April 24.
Adam Ginning
Adam Ginning was sent down by the Flyers at the conclusion of the regular season, to provide additional firepower for the Phantoms in their pursuit of a Calder Cup Playoff berth. Ginning’s 15 points in 58 AHL games this season, coupled with his nine games in the NHL, ensured that the Phantoms would have an NHL-caliber player on the blue line down the stretch and into the playoffs. The Swedish defenseman recorded an assist on Brooks’ Game 1 goal against the Penguins.
Louie Belpedio
Defenseman Louie Belpedio is in his seventh season of professional hockey. A two-season alternate captain with Lehigh Valley, the 27-year-old spent time with Philadelphia and the Phantoms during the 2023-24 campaign. In 12 appearances with the Flyers, he had two goals and two assists. In 38 games with Lehigh Valley during the regular season, the Illinois native recorded 10 points (four goals and six assists). In both Games 1 and 2, Belpedio tallied two assists, for a total of four points in this young postseason. His second Game 2 assist came in overtime to set up Jacob Gaucher’s series-winning goal.
Rhett Gardner
Rhett Gardner recorded a goal and an assist in the first round playoff series against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The veteran forward appeared in one game for the Flyers this season, an April 1 showdown with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The bulk of his time on the ice this season was spent in the AHL with…
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