Today, the Flyers announced that goaltender Felix Sandstrom would be sent down from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to the Reading Royals, the Flyers’ ECHL affiliate.
The @NHLFlyers have reassigned goaltender Felix Sandstrom from the #LVPhantoms to the @ReadingRoyals of the ECHL. https://t.co/5gp8UY726b
— LehighValleyPhantoms (@LVPhantoms) October 7, 2019
Sandstrom, who was drafted in the 3rd round of the NHL draft in 2015, will look to see more playing time during his first professional season playing hockey in North America. He will join fellow first-year pro Kirill Ustimenko as he reports to Reading. Sandstrom so far had only played one game for the Phantoms back in 2018-19 and hadn’t appeared for the Phantoms yet, as they have only played one game to date.
Moving a goaltender was a likely move for the Phantoms since Head Coach Scott Gordon said they wouldn’t be carrying three goaltenders, though the fact that it is Sandstrom getting moved was slightly disappointing. In the end, the organization decided to go with two proven AHL goalies in Alex Lyon and Jean-François Berube. Though Sandstrom will likely see AHL minutes this season regardless, I would’ve liked to see Sandstrom play in the AHL from the beginning where the competition is at a higher standard, especially since it is doubtful that Jean-François Berube will be the future backup for the Flyers.
Sandstrom won World Juniors Goaltender of the Tournament in 2017, beating Carter Hart for that title, we’ll hope to see him with the Phantoms sooner rather than later.
