Opener in new arena signals a new era for Phantoms

ALLENTOWN - Anyone who has spent any length of time in downtown Allentown in their lifetime probably would not have believed the scene on Hamilton Street last night if not for witnessing it firsthand.

As the sun slid past the horizon on an unseasonably warm October night, hundreds of orange-clad fans in Flyers jerseys mingled outside bars on patios, sipping beers.

Steps away, the buzz of Opening Night beckoned inside PPL Center - a hockey palace regal enough for the NHL, but small enough to not look out of place in the Lehigh Valley.

Smoke billowed from Phantoms' player introductions with pomp and circumstance that outdid the Flyers' home opener. All 8,500 seats were filled by people in orange T-shirts, like a Flyers playoff game. Suites were packed. On the bustling open concourse, right at street level, fans were able to sit at a table to enjoy a meal and not miss a minute of the action.

Less than a year ago, shuttered storefronts and broken-down bodegas blighted the same block that required constant police presence.

Now, the Flyers hope a beaming, new home for the Phantoms will jump-start their farm system, much in the same way PPL Center has revitalized a downtown.

For the first time since the Spectrum closed in 2009, the Phantoms finally have a place they are proud to call home again.

The Phantoms aren't across the parking lot from the Flyers anymore - but they're a far cry from where they were the last five seasons. The 68-mile, door-to-door ride from Wells Fargo Center certainly provides convenience to the big club.

When Chris VandeVelde was recalled by the Flyers this week, he was able to drive himself, rather than hailing car service for a 5-hour ride from Glens Falls, N.Y.

With the Flyers' ECHL ("AA") affiliate now also only 30 miles away in Reading, the Flyers' development staff can take a more hands-on approach. Flyers president Paul Holmgren and player-development coaches Kjell Samuelsson and John Riley were able to take in the Phantoms' 4-3 overtime win.

They were able to watch Shayne Gostisbehere set up first-round pick Scott Laughton for two power-play goals.

Proximity is nice, Holmgren said. But he hopes the Phantoms' move means a lot more than that. The Flyers' farm system was in desperate need of a culture change.

"To have a first-class facility, from the locker room, to the training room, to the players' lounge, it's just an awesome place for the young kids," Holmgren said. "It's a place they're going to want to come to spend time with their teammates and work on their game."

Nothing about life inside PPL Center feels like "minor league," something that definitely could not be said about Adirondack's Glens Falls Civic Center.

A toxic component surrounded the Phantoms in Glens Falls, N.Y., for the past five seasons. The Civic Center woefully lacked modern amenities. There was a small weight room and barely enough space for players to complete postgame workouts. Visiting Glens Falls actually felt like a trip back in time to "Bull Durham."

Without a reason to spend much time at the Civic Center, most players lived 35 miles away from the rink in Saratoga Springs, a college town where nightlife percolated.

Holmgren acknowledged the team had a tough time recruiting veterans to play and live in Adirondack. The Flyers had few promising prospects to keep the team competitive. With the team so isolated from the NHL, a sour attitude spilled out onto the ice, and the Phantoms went through four coaches and never sniffed the playoffs.

"The biggest difference is when you come to the rink in the morning, guys are happy to be here," said defenseman Brandon Manning, who scored last night's overtime winner. "We brought in guys from different organizations, we've got 20- and 21-year-old rookies who give our team a fresh look. The building definitely helps, but I think [change] starts with the people we brought in."

With the Flyers hoping to use this season as a bridge to the future, the Phantoms finally have talent worth paying to see. The sparkling building only adds to it.

"We made due in Glens Falls with what we had. I'm not complaining about it," Holmgren said. "But this is going to be helpful. It's good timing."

Flyers coach Craig Berube said Braydon Coburn would return to the lineup tonight in Dallas if he "feels better and more confident." Berube said he'd err on the side of caution, especially this early in the season, if Coburn didn't feel as if he is "100 percent" . . . Before flying to north Texas, the Flyers spent a significant chunk of their practice yesterday working on the shootout . . . Call-up Chris VandeVelde could crack the lineup on this road trip. VandeVelde, who would play center, could bump out Jason Akeson or Blair Jones.

Blog: ph.ly/FrequentFlyers