The Rebels will be honoring former Philadelphia Phantoms legend and enforcer Frank “The Animal” Bialowas on Saturday, February 6 when the team plays the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights.
The former Winnipeg, Manitoba native was an undrafted forward who had an eleven year professional career. He played in four National Hockey League games with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1993-94 season. Despite not scoring any goals during that time he did amass 12 penalty minutes.
The “Animal” began his professional career in 1991-92 with the Roanoke Valley Rebels of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). After playing in the Maple Leafs farm system for a few years, Bialowas found his home in Philadelphia beginning with the 1996-97 season. Bialowas played three years with the Phantoms, helping the team win its first Calder Cup Championship in 1997-98. He played 156 games during his tenure. He had a total of 28 points but amassed 555 penalty minutes. He finished his career with the Hershey Bears in 1999-00. He was inducted in the Phantoms Hall of Fame in 2005. His is one of only four Phantoms players in the team’s Hall of Fame (goalie Neil Little – 2006, defenseman John Stevens – 2007), and American League Hall of Famer Peter White in 2009).
Bialowas currently resides in South Jersey and can still be found playing hockey with the Flyers Alumni team.
Fans who wear any Phantoms apparel can purchase a ticket for only $5 regardless of age. Frank will be dropping the ceremonial first puck and will be signing autographs during the game.
