SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that the regular-season outdoor game between the Adirondack Phantoms and Hershey Bears, to be played Friday, January 6, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, will be televised to audiences across Canada and the United States.
The Phantoms, top development team of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, will take on the Bears, AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, in the third outdoor game in the American Hockey League’s 76-year history. The game, which is expected to break the league’s all-time attendance record, is being held on the same rink that will be used for the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 2.
This historic AHL game will be televised live on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. ET on The Comcast Network in Philadelphia and nationally across Canada on Sportsnet, and can also be seen via streaming from AHL Live (ahllive.com). The game will also be re-broadcast on NHL Network in the U.S. on Jan. 7 at 4 p.m. ET. Former Philadelphia Phantoms play-by-play voice Brian Smith and long-time NHL veteran Ian Laperriere will have the call.
The Phantoms and Bears were fierce rivals when the Phantoms called Philadelphia home from 1996-2009, meeting on the ice more than 150 times in the regular season and in four postseason series. The teams combined to capture five Calder Cup championships during those 13 seasons.
In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives and broadcasters of all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 85 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the 10th year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2010-11.
AHL Outdoor Game History
Feb. 20, 2010 – Syracuse vs. Binghamton, New York State Fairgrounds (Syracuse, N.Y.)
Feb. 19, 2011 – Connecticut vs. Providence, Rentschler Field (East Hartford, Conn.)
Jan. 6, 2012 – Adirondack vs. Hershey, Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Jan. 21, 2012 – Hamilton vs. Toronto, Ivor Wynne Stadium (Hamilton, Ont.)
