Alderson, Goumas, Mathers Join Phantoms From Reading

Derek Mathers battles for position in front of the net during a game against Hershey last spring. Photo credit: Nina Weiss

Injuries have hit the Lehigh Valley Phantoms hard through the team's first three games of the 2015-16 season.

After Monday's practice at the PPL Center featured just nine forwards and six defensemen along with goaltenders Jason LaBarbera and Anthony Stolarz, the Phantoms called up forwards Brandon Alderson, Kevin Goumas and Derek Mathers from their ECHL affiliate Reading Royals, per the league's transactions.

The Royals opened their regular season over the weekend, splitting a two-game set with the South Carolina Stingrays. Alderson (0G-2A) and Goumas (1G-1A) each have two points through two ECHL games prior to their recall. Mathers registered 12 penalty minutes in two games with Reading this season.

The moves, combined with Andrew MacDonald's return to the ice at practice Tuesday, gives the Phantoms 12 healthy forwards and seven healthy defensemen with a three-game weekend looming. Phantoms head coach Scott Gordon said after Monday's practice that if everything goes as planned, that injured forward Danick Martel could return to action this weekend.

For a full list of the Phantoms' injuries with updates from Gordon, click here to see Monday's practice report.