The Philadelphia Flyers today reassigned defenseman Luca Sbisa to the Philadelphia Phantoms from the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League, according to club general manager Paul Holmgren. Sbisa will wear uniform #47 and will be available for the Phantoms’ final two regular season games this weekend against the Hershey Bears.
Sbisa, 19, was the Flyers’ first round pick (19th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He appeared in 39 games for the Flyers this season, recording seven assists and 36 penalty minutes, before returning to his junior team in Lethbridge, Alberta.
In 18 games with the Hurricanes this season, Sbisa recorded four goals and 11 assists for 15 points while collecting 19 penalty minutes. In 11 playoff games, Sbisa had two goals and an assist along with 12 penalty minutes, helping Lethbridge to a seven-game series victory over the Saskatoon Blades in the first round of the WHL playoffs. The Hurricanes were eliminated by the Calgary Hitmen in the second round after a 6-0 loss in Game 4 on Wednesday night.
The Phantoms will play their final regular season game at the Wachovia Spectrum on Friday night when they host the Hershey Bears at 7:05. The game is sold out.
The Phantoms enter Friday night’s contest tied with the Binghamton Senators for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division. Philadelphia closes its season with a home-and-home against the Bears, while the Senators host Norfolk tomorrow and visit Albany on Saturday. The Phantoms can clinch a playoff spot if they beat Hershey tomorrow night AND the Senators lose in regulation to Norfolk.
