“There’s a new sheriff in Allentown The Philadelphia Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, promoted John Snowden from assistant to head back back on July 14, 2025. This marks Snowden’s first head coaching role at the AHL level, positioning him as the fifth head coach in the franchise’s Lehigh Valley era and the 12th overall in Phantoms history, including their time in Glens Falls.
The announcement, made by Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere, comes at a pivotal time for the organization. The Flyers have placed a top priority on developing a deep pool of young talent. Snowden, 43, born on January 12, 1982, in Snohomish, Washington, brings a wealth of experience both as a player and coach to his new position. His journey in hockey spans over two decades, blending gritty on-ice performances with proven leadership behind the bench.
Snowden paid his dues
Snowden’s professional playing career was marked by durability and productivity across minor leagues in North America and Europe. Over 986 games from 2003 to 2014, he amassed 236 goals, 271 assists, and 507 points, primarily in the ECHL and the now-defunct Central Hockey League (CHL). In the ECHL alone, Snowden suited up for 305 games, tallying 106 goals and 104 assists for 210 points with teams including the Texas Wildcatters, Greenville Grrrowl, Reading Royals, and Idaho Steelheads. He also saw action in the AHL with the Norfolk Admirals, as well as stints in the International Hockey League (IHL), CHL, and Germany’s Oberliga.
Before turning pro, Snowden honed his skills in junior hockey, playing for the U.S. National U18 Team in the NAHL and representing the United States at the 2000 World Junior Championship U18, where he contributed a goal in six games. Known for his right-handed shot and versatile forward play, Snowden’s career exemplified the perseverance required in the minors, setting the stage for his transition to coaching.
Snowden’s coaching career began shortly after hanging up his skates in 2014. He started as an assistant coach with the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL from 2015 to 2018, where the team reached the playoffs in two of three seasons.95d104 His breakthrough came in 2018 when he was named head coach of the Newfoundland Growlers, also in the ECHL. In his debut season (2018-19), Snowden led the expansion team to a remarkable Kelly Cup championship, defeating the Toledo Walleye in the finals. The following year, despite the season being shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Growlers posted a strong 42-17-1 record. Overall, Snowden’s head coaching record with Newfoundland stood at 62-27-7, showcasing his ability to build winning teams from the ground up.
The ECHL to AHL adjustment
Transitioning to the AHL, Snowden served as an assistant coach for the Toronto Marlies from 2021 to 2023, followed by two seasons in the same role with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms from 2023 to 2025. During these four AHL campaigns, his teams advanced to the playoffs three times, highlighting his expertise in player development and game strategy.
Snowden’s promotion feels like a natural progression, given his recent tenure with the Phantoms. He’ll be joined by assistants Nick Schultz and Terrence Wallin, forming a coaching staff praised for its mix of experience and teaching prowess.
In his introductory press conference on July 16, 2025, Snowden expressed enthusiasm about the role: “I’m honored to be named the next head coach of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. I’d like to thank Keith, Danny, Alyn and Rob and Jim Brooks for this opportunity. It’s an exciting time to lead this group with the talent the Flyers have in their prospect pool. I look forward to building on the foundation that’s been laid and continuing to help our young players grow and succeed.”
Flyers GM Daniel Briere echoed this sentiment, noting, “We’re excited to have John along with Nick and Terrence lead the Phantoms. This is an important time for our organization with the young talent we have coming through the pipeline, and we believe this group has the right mix of experience, teaching ability, and leadership to guide our prospects. Their impact in Lehigh Valley will be a big part of our long-term success.”
Looking ahead: Next steps for the new era
As the Phantoms aim to shake off recent playoff disappointments and capitalize on the Flyers’ promising prospects, Snowden’s track record of success in development leagues positions him well for the challenge. With a championship pedigree and deep roots in minor-league hockey, Snowden’s leadership could be the catalyst for a new chapter of success in Allentown. Fans and players alike will be watching closely as training camp approaches, eager to see how this Washington native translates his passion into wins on the ice.
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It always baffled me that Lapperiere and Tortorella weren’t at least in contact about systems and having some continuity between the AHL and NHL.
I hope that Snowden and Tocchet are a bit more on the same page when it comes to systems and style of play. I don’t expect them to play identical systems, but they should at least have a similar philosophy on the basics, like coverages and breakouts.
Tortorella said that he believes a head coach should have total freedom to run wnatever systems he and his staff want to run. As Rochester Amerks head coach, he didn’t want to have to just replicate everything the Sabres were doing. When he became he an NHL head coach himself and started to have pull, he wanted the farm team head coach to do his own thing, too. Agree with it or disagree with it, Tortorella explicitly told Laperrere he was 100 percent fine with the Phantoms doing things differently if they had different ideas.
I get that, its just one of many things that Torts did/believed in that I didn’t really agree with. I never feel like the AHL coach should be neutered and have to coach in the exact style that the NHL coach was using. I just feel like that it would probably be beneficial for everyone to at least be on the same page so that callups can be as seamless as possible. Every advantage counts.