Phantoms on a quest for best cheesesteak

Two members of the Phantoms' public relations department have shown enthusiasm this summer for cheesesteaks that may be exceeded only by their cholesterol levels.

Mike Thornton and Brian Smith are staking their reputations as food critics while sampling one of Philadelphia's favorite sandwiches.

The idea came to Thornton and Smith, not so surprisingly, when they were out eating a cheesesteak for lunch in June. They decided to rate the best cheesesteaks in the area, mostly in Philadelphia.

It was an assignment that had plenty of sizzle, but both acknowledged it was more difficult than they had anticipated.

Last Thursday's session was their 20th, with a few more remaining.

"I think I hit the wall after about 12," the 29-year-old Smith said. "But then after that, we had about three weeks when we didn't go out. And after that, we got our second wind."

Or second appetite.

At the conclusion of this tour, they will post a "Best of Cheesesteaks" on the Phantoms' Web site. You can visit it at www.phantomshockey.com.

As part of the project, Smith and Thornton have taken guest critics along.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and head coach John Stevens accompanied them. Last Thursday, Thornton, 38, and Smith were joined by two players from the Phantoms, 20-year-old defenseman Oskars Bartulis of Latvia and 22-year-old center Denis Tolpeko of Russia.

Bartulis is in his first year with the Phantoms after playing junior hockey in Canada the last three years. This is Tolpeko's second season with the Phantoms.

The two were treated at one of Philadelphia's landmark cheesesteak eateries - Geno's Steaks in South Philadelphia.

They had eaten cheesesteaks before, but never in Philadelphia, where arguably the best in the world are made.

"Other cheesesteaks I have had were dry, but this was very good," Bartulis said. Tolpeko nodded in agreement.

The two Phantoms and their public relations cohorts were treated as celebrities in a place that has had its share of them. The walls at Geno's are full of photos of celebrities, many posing with owner Joey Vento. The Phantoms were given a private booth and asked to autograph the guest book.

Despite their interest in cheesesteaks, neither Smith nor Thornton was born or raised in Philadelphia.

"It's interesting that you have a guy from Maine and another from Delaware grading cheesesteaks in Philadelphia," said Smith, the Delaware native.

Thornton and Smith also have done their best to avoid Jim McCrossin, the athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach of both the Flyers and the Phantoms.

"I don't think steady cheesesteaks are part of Jim McCrossin's training regimen," Smith said. "After this, just like the players, I think we will have to go into training."