All Signs Point To Phantoms Being A Part of AHL's Return To Play

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As hockey closes in on its return in North America, all signs point to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms being one of the teams involved in the American Hockey League's (AHL) return to play with their 2020-21 season, tentatively scheduled to begin on Friday, February 5.

"We want to play," Phantoms co-owner and member of the AHL's Return To Play Task Force Jim Brooks told InsideAHLHockey.com Saturday.

The Phantoms have been off the ice since the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to the AHL's 2019-20 season back in March, but a Board of Governors meeting on Monday - the deadline for AHL teams to opt in or opt out - will officially put some AHL teams back on the ice in short order, with some details still needing to be finalized.

"We'll wait until Monday to make our final decision, like I think most teams would," Brooks said, adding, "We know that our window... it's an important window that's opening for the Flyers and Phantoms organization. As we pursue, from a development perspective, the Stanley Cup, our organization is in such a great situation because we have so much young talent. And from a development perspective, you want them to play meaningful games."

Current COVID-19 restrictions in the state of Pennsylvania allow indoor venues with a max occupancy of over 10,000 to operate at 5% capacity. While Brooks doesn't envision fans being able to attend potential Phantoms games at the start of the season, he's both confident and optimistic that the Phantoms' home facility, the PPL Center in downtown Allentown, will be able to have fans in attendance at some point.

"Stepping back and looking at the league, I think , to me - our league going to get together here and play - means that we have an important part [to play] in hockey that we provide," Brooks said explaining, "I think [my brother] Rob and I always have believed that one of our missions is to grow the sport. I think this is one way we are able to do that. To play. But we have to do so in a safe manner. That has to be #1. From our organization's prospective, our communities perspective, everything HAS to be done in a safe manner."

"In talking with the AHL, and talking with the Phantoms and Flyers together, we believe we could do that. And we believe in the future we will be able to have fans. We're not sure exactly when, but we're optimistic and we hope to have fans and do so in a physically distant and safe manner."

READ ALSO: Inside The AHL's Return To Play Process