According to multiple sources, the Flyers are about to name John Snowden as the next head coach of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He will succeed Ian Laperriere behind their American Hockey League farm team’s bench. Snowden, 43, served as a Phantoms assistant coach under Laperriere the last two seasons.
Prior to joining the Flyers’ organization, Snowden won the Kelly Cup as the head coach of the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers. Later, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
As a player, the USNTDP-trained native of Everett, Washington, played primarily in the ECHL and Central. He spent the 2006-07 season with the Reading Royals (then an LA Kings affiliate). Snowden began his coaching career at age 33 as an ECHL assistant coach for the Orlando Solar Bears.
The Flyers will name Bucks County (Yardley) native Terrance Wallin as Snowden’s Lehigh Valley assistant. Wallin, 43, has been with the ECHL’s Maine Mariners since 2018-19. Initially a player for two seasons, the UMass-Amherst grad began coaching in 2021-22. Hired by Daniel Briere during Briere’s tenure running the Mariners, Wallin rose from being the Mariners assistant coach to becoming the team’s head coach and general manager. Wallin replaced Riley Armstrong (now the Flyers’ director of player development) as head coach.
Wisdom to stay on an AHL contract
Tony Androckitis reported this item first: Although Zayde Wisdom did not receive a qualifying offer from the Flyers, the now-unrestricted free agent elected to stay in the organization. Wisdom, 23, agreed to an AHL contract with the Phantoms. He remained an unrestricted free agent for NHL purposes.
Wisdom had a difficult learning curve at the professional level while he was on his entry-level NHL contract with the Flyers. He spent more time in the ECHL with Reading than he did in the American League with the Phantoms. However, he had a breakthrough this past season. Wisdom became a regular in Laperriere’s lineup and worked his way up from the fourth line into the top-nine rotation.
In particular, Wisdom had a stellar playoff series against the Hershey Bears. He scored two shorthanded goals in Game Two and struck again when the series shifted to Allentown. Overall, he had four points in the best-of-five series.
Flyers Daily: Alex Bump
During Development Camp, Flyers wing prospect Alex Bump sat down with Flyers Daily host Jason Myrtetus to discuss his quest for an NHL roster spot in 2025-26. Most notably, Bump explains why he preferred to join the Phantoms at the end of last season rather than making a one-game NHL appearance and immediately burning the first year of his entry -level contract. In another segment, Jason discusses Cam York’s new contract and Zoom press conference.
Two new Flyers arrivals, Christian Dvorak and Dan Vladar, will speak to the media this week about their respective decisions to join the Flyers. Dvorak will speak today (Thursday) at 2:30 p.m. EDT via Zoom. Vladar will speak on Friday.
Cancer Warriors Tournament: Myrtetus
On Wednesday evening, Myrtetus was the guest on the Chirping Pucks podcast. Jason discussed his battle with cancer and the upcoming Cancer Warriors 3-on-3 tournament at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees. All proceeds from the tournament go to Jason and his family to help offset some of the out-of-pocket medical costs associated with his cancer treatments.
Summer Showcase: Flyers Prospects
Philadelphia 2025 second-round draftees Jack Murtagh and Shane Vansaghi received invitations from USA Hockey to participate in the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase tournament. However, 2025 second rounder Carter Amico will not play. The USNTDP defenseman had two surgical procedures last season after suffering a broken kneecap and has not played since November. Nevertheless, Amico is now fully recovered and will make his freshman debut at Boston University in the upcoming season.
Another great blog. Keep up the great work. Where will Martone play next season?
Two site comments/suggestions. 1) The Forums are very buggy and I get logged out all the time on my Samsung. Laptop access works fine. 2) The ads and handicap accessibility symbol covering up your articles on my cell. I know ads are needed and the accessibility is a great touch but it gets in the way sometimes. Thanks!
Just looking at the roster and thinking about a couple of “surprises” making the team out of camp, there has to be more moves coming. Phantoms could be stacked next season.