GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR PHANTOMS

GLENS FALLS -- If offspring emulate their parents, the Adirondack Phantoms should have a head start for the upcoming American Hockey League season.

The Philadelphia Flyers, who supply players for their Glens Falls-based affiliate, unexpectedly made it to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring. They needed to win a shootout against the New York Rangers just to get into the playoffs.

They also had to overcome a 3-0 series deficit and 3-0 Game 7 hole to eliminate the Boston in the quarterfinals.

"You learn a lot from those guys," said David Laliberte, a Phantoms right wing who practiced with the Flyers -- and even played one game -- during the playoff run. "Just the preparation of those guys is unbelievable, and what they've been through, too.

"They were losing 3-0 to Boston and came back to win 4-3. Those guys were pretty confident they would come back. They were focused for the game. I had a feeling they were going to win."

Laliberte, who played 66 games for Adirondack and 11 for Philadelphia last regular season, hopes to bring those experiences to a young Phantoms team, which begins its second season in Glens Falls on Friday night with a season-opening game at Binghamton.

The Flyers lost the Stanley Cup Finals in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks, but that was far better than the standing of their AHL affiliate, which failed to qualify for postseason play.

"It raises the demands and the expectations of the organization, from top to bottom," Phantoms coach Greg Gilbert said of the parent team's success. "Unfortunately, they didn't win the whole thing, but what they accomplished last year and the run they had definitely sends a message to the rest of the organization. We've always been there to win, and they've proven they can, and everybody's going to have to push themselves harder to be a bigger part of it."

Gilbert has eight rookies on his 23-man roster, but he is relying on veteran offseason acquisitions Greg Moore (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Dan Jancevski (Dallas Stars) to help guide them through the rough spots. "We're going to have our bumps in the road because we are pretty young," Gilbert said, "but they're all willing to work."

A player such as Laliberte, who ranked second on the team in scoring behind Jon Matsumoto (now with the Charlotte Checkers), also will be part of the equation.

"It's going to be my fourth year," Laliberte said. "I've been through a lot the last two years, especially with the playoff run with the Flyers. I'm sure I'll try to help those kids get better, and for my part I'll try to chip in a couple of goals and help those kids."

Adirondack Phantoms roster

No. Skater Pos Ht Wt Shot Birthplace Age

2 Joonas Lehtivouri D 5-11 180 R Tampere, Finland 22

3 M.A. Bourdon D 6-0 225 L St. Hyacinthe, Quebec 21

4 Kevin Marshall D 6-1 207 L Boucherville, Ontario 21

5 Dan Jancevski D 6-3 212 L Windsor, Ontario 29

6 Andrew Rowe F 6-2 180 L Muskegon, Mich. 22

7 Patrick Maroon LW 6-4 225 L St. Louis, Mo. 22

8 Mike Testwuide RW 6-3 210 R Vail, Colo. 23

9 Stefan Legein RW 5-10 185 R Oakville, Ontario 21

10 David Laliberte RW 6-1 198 L St. Liboire, Quebec 24

12 Garrett Klotz LW 6-5 235 L Regina, Saskatchewan 21

15 Matt Clackson LW 6-0 205 R Saskatoon, Sask. 25

17 Eric Wellwood LW 5-11 179 L Windsor, Ontario 20

18 J.P. Testwuide D 6-0 210 L Vail, Colo. 26

19 Luke Pither C 6-0 194 L Burketon, Ontario 21

20 Cullen Eddy D 6-0 195 R Hidden Valley, Pa. 21

23 Ben Holmstrom RW 6-1 180 R Colorado Springs, Colo. 23

26 Zac Rinaldo LW 5-11 180 L Hamilton, Ontario 20

27 Greg Moore RW 6-1 225 R Lisbon, Maine 26

28 Logan Stephenson D 6-3 210 L Outlook, Sask. 24

36 Erik Gustafsson D 5-10 180 L Kvissleby, Sweden 21

37 Jon Kalinski C 6-1 180 L Bonnyville, Alberta 23

No. Goaltender Ht Wt Catch Birthplace Age

31 Johan Backlund 6-2 198 R Skelleftea, Sweden 29

35 Brian Stewart 6-4 195 L Burnaby, British Columbia 25

Coach: Greg Gilbert Assistant coach: Riley Cote