Phantoms invade Philly’s Spectrum

Just call the Philadelphia Phantoms the Broad Street Baby Bullies. Call them good, too. While the parent Philadelphia Flyers shift operations to the new CoreStates Center, hockey will be alive and well in the Spectrum and the American League affiliate may exhibit a little of the old Philadelphia style. The Flyers purchased an AHL expansion franchise last season, ending their 14-year affiliation with the Hershey Bears, to operate their own development team in the Spectrum. GM Bob Clarke knows if he’s going to sell a new, minor league team in a major league city, the product had better be good and entertaining. Which was part of the two-fold purpose behind the off-season free agent signings of center Peter White, right winger Steven King, goalie Dominic Roussel, and defensemen John Stevens and Brian Curran, plus the…

Gilmour will prove he’s not done yet

With his front teeth in, Doug Gilmour looks as good-make that better-than he has in ages. And that’s a good thing because the Toronto Maple Leafs’ captain is out this season to prove his game still has bite. Here’s an idea how far Gilmour has fallen. After taking the Leafs to the semifinals for two straight years, Gilmour was rated the second best player in the NHL in The Hockey News 1994-95 Yearbook. This year, Gilmour failed to crack the NHL’s top 40 players list and wasn’t included among the league’s top 20 centers. “I don’t know if it’s fair, but I can’t blame people for rating me low,” Gilmour said. “I didn’t put up the points the way I can the past two years.” Reports of Gilmour’s demise are greatly exaggerated. His game…

THE BIG LEAGUE HOCKEY MANAGER CHALLENGE

Ryan hopes to stick with Canadiens

Terry Ryan is only 19. He should have a long and successful NHL career. But when should that career begin? That was only one of several decisions facing the Montreal Canadiens as they prepared for their final week of training camp. Ryan, a left winger who was the Canadiens’ first pick (eighth overall) in the 1995 entry draft, has junior eligibility remaining with the Western League’s Tri-City Americans. But is there anything left for Ryan, who scored 32 goals and 69 points in 59 games for Tri-City last season, to prove at that level? “We don’t want him fighting every night in junior,” said Canadiens’ coach Mario Tremblay. With Montreal, however, Ryan may prove to be nothing more than an extra player on the 24-man roster, practising more than he plays. He can play…