The Pittsburgh Phantoms were a professional roller hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States that played in Roller Hockey International. The team got its name from the "Steel Phantom" rollercoaster, located at Kennywood Park, a theme park located in the suburb of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. At the time of the team's inception the Phantom was the tallest and fastest steel rollercoaster in the world. The logo was heavily inspired by the roller coaster's logo seen at the entrance to the ride.
History
The Phantoms played their first game on June 5, 1994. Their opponent was the New England Stingers whom they beat 10–5 in front of a crowd announced as 2,467 at the Cumberland County Civic Center; the first goal in franchise history was scored by Trevor Buchanan.[1] Later that season they would move to the Civic Arena (Pittsburgh) to play, beating the Atlanta Fire Ants 10–9 in their first game in the arena.
The team also was part of the first professional hockey game that included two professional women's players. In July 1994, Erin Whitten for the Phantoms faced off against goaltender Manon Rhéaume who played for the New Jersey Rockin' Rollers.[2] Whitten was also part of a game with the Toledo Storm when they beat Dayton, 6–5, on October 30, 1993, marking the first win by female professional player.
On August 25, 1994, the Civic Arena opened their roof when the Phantoms hosted the Minnesota Arctic Blast. It marked the first time the roof was opened for a professional hockey game. The team played the theme song from 2001: A Space Odyssey while the roof opened.
The white style jersey was originally intended to be the road jersey with "PITTSBURGH" above the Phantoms's logo. However, a last-minute decision by equipment manager Steve Latin made the white version as the home jersey, therefore the purple jersey was made the road jersey. Each jersey consisted of mesh material and was made by CCM. The logos on the shoulders and the front of the jersey were dyed into the material. The jersey numbers and player's names consisted of heat-sealed vinyl material. The CCM Roller Hockey International patch on rear hem and the KOHO patch on the front are fully embroidered patches. The jerseys did not have fightstraps and should have a hand-written number on the inside tag of the jersey. The captain and alternate captain designations were worn on the upper left front of the jersey.
^"Buchanan's soft touch leads Phantoms to win", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 6, 1994. Accessed January 29, 2017. "And he did just that last night, scoring three goals to lead 'the Pittsburgh Phantoms to a 10-5 win over the New England Stingers at the Cumberland County Civic Center in the RHI opener for both first-year teams. The attendance was announced as 2,467, but appeared to be about half that."
^Staff. "RHEAUME WINS BATTLE OF FEMALE GOALTENDERS", Deseret News, July 13, 1994. Accessed January 30, 2017. "Manon Rheaume won pro hockey's first all-female goaltending showdown as the New Jersey Rockin' Rollers beat Erin Whitten and the Pittsburgh Phantoms 10-7 in a Roller Hockey International game."
