Phantoms' Pre-Game Warmup Music Chosen Carefully
ALLENTOWN, PA -- Have you ever wondered who picks the music played during the pre-game warmup skate at the PPL Center prior to every Lehigh Valley Phantoms game?
The man in charge, or "The Iron Ruler" as he refers to himself, has had the duties of picking the warmup music set list for three years now.
But who is he? The answer might surprise you.
It's none other than Phantoms forward Greg Carey, who is not only the locker room DJ but also the pre-game warmup music engineer as well.
It certainly surprised me when I had found out, scrolling through my notifications on Twitter last Sunday to see that I had 'offended' him with a recent tweet of mine complimenting the pre-game music in Springfield and complaining about the music played back in Allentown.
"I definitely wasn't expecting that flipping through Twitter the next day, I was like OH MY GOD," Carey said with a laugh, adding, "I bet he doesn't know that I do the music so I felt like I should tweet [at Tony]. It was pretty funny."
Sometimes during the season it's nice to break things up with a not-so-serious interview about a non-hockey topic, and Carey took full advantage with this one with Inside AHL Hockey.
Learning more about putting together the warmup music, it became quickly evident that with 20 guys dressing for each game that it's impossible to have a perfect track list for everyone.
"You can't please everyone and you're always going to step on some toes," Carey said. "Everyone has a different taste [in music]. I try to keep it upbeat and different themes in the locker room before the games and stuff," he added, noting that he gets some help from teammates Tyrell Goulbourne, Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Taylor Leier.
How had Carey assumed this role? Couldn't make up the reason.
"I have apple music. Guys are cheap and won't pay the $10.99 or whatever it is a month," Carey explained. "Everyone looks around the room and no one wants to go in and plug their phone in and I was like I'll play some music and it kind of just went from there."
There are a set of ground rules, according to Carey, who said a couple of the older guys have grown to become indifferent to the music selection.
"Rookies have no imput, whatsoever."
"There's usually a board up [for suggestions]."
"I am the iron ruler in there so what I say goes."
Why the hate against the rookies?
"I had a suggestion from a rookie this year - I forget who it was - I played it in the locker room and it was absolute trash so they're done for the year now," Carey joked.
Carey said that while its a tough job, he gets help from his brother Matt - a professional hockey player playing in Sweden this year with Karlskrona HK - where "they are more forward with their dance stuff."
Pre-Game Warmup Music Around the AHL?
Being a hockey warmup music aficionado, Carey said he does take notice of the music selection around the league and offered his thoughts on some of the recent and common opponents in regard to their music selection.
"Springfield's not bad. Bingo is kind of pathetic when you warm up and there's no sound going on there for a little bit. Bridgeport has always had great music. Hershey has had some horrendous stuff - just like some German underground deep house for 15 minutes. And we're like what is this, and they're like I don't know we don't pick the music."
Carey went on to explain that while he didn't want to say it's a friendly competition around the league for the best warmup music, he thought the PPL Center has some of the best music in the league - an unbiased opinion, of course.
"I think we usually have some of the best music in the league and I think the guys in the room will back me up on that."
The Players Grade Greg's Music Selection
Editor's Note: In an attempt to get a more honest answer from the players, I said their answers would be kept anonymous.
Player 1
"Some iffy songs.. 7.4/10"
Player 2
"Not as good as last year, but still pretty good 9/10"
Player 3
"10/10 love it"
Player 4
"10/10. I really like it."
Player 5
"9/10, and not because he just walked by"
Player 6
"I love it. I really do. He showed me the tweet!"
