Phantoms Resume On-Ice Activity For First Time Following Multiple COVID-19 Cases

EDITOR'S NOTE: All quoted material from defenseman Chris Bigras and  forward Ryan Fitzgerald are courtesy of WFMZ-TV 69 News, who attended Monday's vaccination event & subsequent media availability with the aforementioned players.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The dust has settled on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' mini COVID-19 outbreak, and on Monday afternoon the team took to the ice for practice at PPL Center for the first time since April 9.

"It's nice to be back in the rink for sure. A week and a half off feels like a month," Phantoms forward Ryan Fitzgerald said Monday afternoon. "It was good to be back on the ice."

Inside AHL Hockey previously reported the initial cause of the Phantoms' games being postponed was due to a positive case.

We were also first to report that multiple additional positive cases caused the Phantoms' hiatus to be extended. (READ: Additional Positive Cases Extends Phantoms' Hiatus)

The Phantoms were off the ice and in quarantine for nine days after an initial positive COVID-19 test result over the second weekend of April later turned into what one source close to the situation told Inside AHL Hockey ended up being a total of five positive cases amongst the team's players and staff as subsequent testing revealed additional positive cases of the virus.

Those affected, the source said, were expected to miss two weeks corresponding to the date of their positive test result, which likely is in line with the AHL's COVID Protocols.

"Yeah, quarantine is not too fun," defenseman Chris Bigras said of the Phantoms' situation the past week and a half. "Definitely good to be back on the ice today."

In all, the Phantoms had a total of five games postponed due the American Hockey League's (AHL) COVID-19 protocols in the time they were in quarantine following the multiple positive cases that testing revealed last week.

After the Phantoms' practiced Monday afternoon, the team - in conjunction with the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) - hosted a vaccination event at the PPL Center where several players and staff received their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"It was quick, it was easy. I've had this marked on my calendar for a little bit now," Fitzgerald said of getting his first vaccine shot Monday. "It's good to get it done, and come back in three weeks for the second one."

For Fitzgerald, he sees the vaccine as a chance to get things back closer to how they were pre-pandemic.

"I think it's one of those things that a lot of people, myself included, probably want to get back to normal and the way things were," Fitzgerald said, adding, "I just think this is one thing that is a step in the right direction, it doesn't hurt to get it and it's quick, like I said. I recommend it."

Bigras echoed Fitzgerald's sentiments on getting the 1st dose of the vaccine, saying, "It's something that I wanted to get done. I think it's an important step to get things back to normal - [to be able] to see people, have fans in buildings and be able to do the normal stuff that we used to do."

Bigras also explained that getting fully vaccinated could help prevent another COVID-19 exposure/outbreak from happening to the team down the road.

"I think this is kind of the next step to not having the same kind of protocols [happen again]," the veteran defender stated. "If we get enough of our guys here fully vaccinated then I think we'll be able to minimize the amount of down time."

All signs point to the Phantoms resuming game action Wednesday night at home against the Hershey Bears - their first game since April 5.

"It was good to get moving again and be with the guys," Fitzgerald said of today's resumption of on-ice practice. "We're excited for Wednesday."

Wednesday's game would also mark the first time that the Phantoms' home rink PPL Center will be able to have 25% capacity, an increase from previous 15% capacity restrictions that were loosened in the state of Pennsylvania after Easter Sunday.

"Definitely excited to get back out there and have even more people come in and cheer us on," Bigras said. "It's a way better atmosphere for us when there are people in the stands."

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