Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth

The Phantoms Youth Ice Hockey organization was born more than forty years ago, but most recently we were known as the Lehigh Valley Flames. Here is a short history of the organization, written at the time of the formation of the Flames:

Although the Lehigh Valley Flames is a brand new identity for ice hockey in the Lehigh Valley, the history of the organization is very deep.

The Lehigh Valley Comets organization goes back to 1975 to the days of the Ice Palace on Hanover Avenue in Allentown, PA. When a new arena was built in Whitehall Township in the 1990s, the organization moved there.

The Bethlehem Blast formed in 2003 when the Bethlehem Flyers Skate Zone (now the Steel Ice Center) was built in South Bethlehem. The Blast quickly became a force in the DVHL competing along side the Comets for many years.

Merger talks between the two organizations were initiated 2009 by the organizations' Presidents at the time, Bill Carmody of the Comets, and John Kerr of the Blast. After a few attempts, the merger became official on February 9, 2011.

Separately, the achievements of the Blast and Comets - incredible talent, top level coaching, and countless tournament and league championships - have been impressive. Now, after nearly 20 years of separation, these two historic teams are united at last! Together, as the Lehigh Valley Flames, they are poised to become the premiere ice hockey organization in the DVHL.

• Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth (official)
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