GLENS FALLS -- Three months ago Logan Stephenson was just a guy looking for a job in hockey. Three weeks ago he couldn't crack the Phantoms' deep defensive lineup. Today he's a regular in a rotation that suddenly looks much different than it did at the start of the season.
Three of the defenseman who dressed on opening night, who combined for more than 500 AHL games, are elsewhere. A team that dressed seven defensemen for its first four games and carried nine for the first month is down to seven, total.
"I think guys coming and going is kind of the story of this league," Stephenson said. "It happens."
No one knows that better than Stephenson. Now in his fourth season in pro hockey, the 23-year-old from the tiny town of Outlook, Saskatchewan was traded twice last season. The Phantoms are his fourth AHL team.
With Michael Ratchuk traded, Randy Jones in Los Angeles, Oskars Bartulis with the Flyers and the recent injury to Sean Curry, the time to make an impression is now. The Phantoms host Binghamtom and Bridgeport this weekend.
"It's a chance," Stephenson said. "Everything in hockey, everything in life is an opportunity. I have to make the best of it, I'm perfectly aware of that."
So far, he's made a favorable one. In four games he is a minus 2 with a whopping 28 penalty minutes. Twenty-four of those came during a brawl against Syracuse where he earned a one-game suspension for an instigator penalty.
That's the game Stephenson plays: on the edge, chippy and physical. It's why he was thrilled when the Flyers organization came knocking in late summer when he was hard-pressed to find a place to play.
"I was very, very excited about that because Philly is the kind of team that I'd like to associate myself with," Stephenson said. "It's physical, you get to chuck them every night."
That didn't translate to instant ice time. Stephenson sat out four of the first five games. But along with Joonas Lehtivuori, who was also scratched several times early in the season, they've adequately plugged the hole left by all the turnover.
"They're earning their ice time," Phantoms coach Greg Gilbert said. "It's not like it's been given to them. ... They understand how we play and what their roles and responsibilities are, and they're getting ice time for it."
A guy who understands what Stephenson is all about - and vice versa - will be on the other bench Friday night. Binghamton coach Don Nachbaur coached Stephenson for three years in juniors with the Tri-City Americans in Washington.
"I without question credit him for every ounce of the player I am today," Stephenson said. "He instilled absolutely every good habit I have."
In Nachbaur, who played against the Adirondack Red Wings as a member of the Hershey Bears in the memorable, seven-game series in 1989, Stephenson found a kindred spirit. Nachbaur has a reputation as an intense competitor and a guy not afraid of the rough stuff.
Surely then, he'll understand where Stephenson is coming from when he says this:
"I can't say enough about him, but at the same time, I'm ready to kick his (butt) Friday."
Loose Pucks: Both Krys Kolanos and Sean Curry practiced this week and could play this week. They each missed time with injuries. ... Binghamton goalie Mike Brodeur was the AHL Player of the Week last week. He stopped 94 of 96 shots in three games. ... The Phantoms play Bridgeport on Saturday. The Phantoms have beaten the Sound Tigers twice in Bridgeport this season, both by scores of 4-2.
Posted in Sports, Hockey on Friday, November 13, 2009 12:00 am Updated: 4:34 pm. | Tags: Phantoms, Ahl, Logan Stephenson
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