Most are aware that Southern Lehigh has an ice hockey team, but you may not know that several Solehi players also play for the local Phantoms Youth hockey team, a travel program that is supported and helped run by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

“It is close and I thought it would be sweet to get help from the professional players,” freshman Jimmy Gold said.

The goal for this youth team is to create a travel team mostly in the Lehigh Valley.  That way it is close for the players in the area, and the players can learn from the pros. It is a learning experience for all the boys who join the league.

“This year I am assistant captain. I have to show a lot of leadership with the team,”  junior Ryan Luybli said. “With travel hockey you train a lot and practice more. [The team includes] boys from all over so you don’t know everyone, while with scholastic it is pretty much everyone from your school.”

Junior Justin Taylor and sophomore Alex How are also members of the team.

This year the team is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Health Network. Last year, the team was sponsored by a gym which meant the Phantoms did a lot of off ice training. The team hopes, despite the sponsor change, they will be just as competitive this year.