The Phantoms Return to Frontenac

Jeff Green | Sep 27, 2023

The Frontenac Phantoms have already played two home games at the Frontenac Arena in the Eastern Ontario Hockey League season this year.

Colton Distefano is the team owner, manager, and one of its players. He said that the team has made great strides already this year.

“We are one and one after two 6-4 games,” he said, “but the biggest thing I've seen is that our effort has been really, really good. In the past, if we got a goal behind, we may have been ready to give up the game, but it is not that way this year. Even in the game that we lost, to the Tweed Oil Kings, we came back to make it 5-4 in the third period. They scored with two minutes to go, but we were fighting to the end,” he said.

The team played out of Kingston last year but they are back at the Frontenac Arena for their home games this year. They recorded only three wins in each of their first two seasons, against 14 defeats in 2021, and 16 defeats in 2022.

With a win already in 2023, against the Madawaska Valley Wolves, to balance the loss to the rival Oil Kings, the Phantoms are already showing signs of major improvement.

And in that win against the Wolves, Phantoms forward Erik Koffman, showed that he is a player to watch. Koffman, #89, scored 4 goals in the game and added an assist. He did not play in the loss to Tweed, but hopefully he will be in the lineup this Friday night at the Frontenac Arena. The Phantoms will entertain the Smith Falls Rideaus, who are off to a strong start this year, having beat the Centre Hastings Ice Minors 7-0 in their opening game.

Another player to watch on the Phantoms is Jacob Pederson, who scored two goals in a losing cause against Tweed last week. And goalie Jake Kment is having a very strong start to the season, keeping the Phantoms in each of their first two games, when called upon to make some big saves.

The puck drops at 8pm on Friday Night, September 29. Tickets to Frontenac Phantoms home games are reasonably priced, $10 for adults, $5 for those who are 18 and under, and under 7 are free. Season tickets are still on sale, at $70 for the rest of the home games, and all playoff games.

The Phantoms have a road game two days later, on Sunday October 1st, in Tweed, and return to the Frontenac Arena on Friday, October 6, when they will host the Deseronto Bulldogs. There are 7 teams in the Western division of the EOSHL, and a 20 game season, followed by the playoffs.

After that, they have a home game against Centre Hastings on the 13th, but have only one home game scheduled in November, on the 3rd, against Smiths Falls. All of their home games are scheduled on Friday nights, at 8pm.

“We are hoping hockey fans will check us out,” said Colton Distefano, “we are playing some pretty good hockey and are so happy to be back in, at the Frontenac Arena, which is a great place to play, and watch. I remember when the Flyers had their great years, and we want to bring some of that energy back.”

The Phantoms are also holding a fundraising event this Saturday, September 30, starting at 2pm, at Harrowsmith Brewing Company. The family friendly event will include Bouncy Castles, hockey shooting competitions, live music with Thomas Mastin, as well as food and beverages. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for youth, free for kids under 7.

For further information about the Phantoms, go to frontenacphantoms.com