Philadelphia Phantoms captain John Slaney became the first defenseman — and 72nd player overall — in the 71-year history of the American Hockey League to reach 500 points in his AHL career when he picked up an assist in Sunday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Norfolk Admirals at the Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia.
The historic point came on a power play with 7:47 remaining in the second period when Slaney helped set up a goal by Stefan Ruzicka. Slaney played the puck behind the net for Mark Cullen, who found Ruzicka in the high slot. Ruzicka snapped home his second of the night past goaltender Patrick Lalime to give the Phantoms a 3-2 lead.
Slaney is in his 15th professional season and seventh with the Phantoms. He has spent at least part of 12 of those seasons in the AHL. Slaney now has 160 goals and 340 assists for 500 points in 597 career AHL games.
On Dec. 30, 2005, Slaney broke the AHL record for career points by a defenseman with an assist on a Tony Voce goal vs. Bridgeport. The point was his 454th, breaking Steve Kraftcheck’s 41-year-old record.
