The Lehigh Valley Phantoms announced several additions to the coaching staff ahead of the 2023-24 season. The Phantoms promoted Riley Armstrong to Director of Player Development.
Taking Armstrong’s place is John Snowden as the new assistant coach, Chris Gratton as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Jake Rogers as Head Equipment Manager, and Jon Evans as Assistant Equipment Manager.
John Snowden is a 41-year-old from Snohomish, Washington. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Toronto Marlies. In addition, he spent six seasons in the ECHL as an assistant coach for the Orlando Solar Bears and Newfoundland Growlers. In 2019, he was promoted to head coach of the Growlers and guided them to win the 2019 Kelly Cup championship.
As a player, Snowden played one season for the Reading Royals (2006-07) with 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists), and 49 penalty minutes in 63 games. In addition to the Royals, Snowden played for the Texas Wildcatters, Greenville Grrrowl, and Idaho Steelheads with 210 points (106 goals, 104 assists), and 288 penalty minutes in 305 career ECHL games. He also earned four points (2 goals, 2 assists), and six penalty minutes in ten career ECHL playoff games.
Snowden also played five seasons in the CHL with the Rocky Mountain Rage, Amarillo Gorillas, Bloomington PrairieThunder, Quad City Mallards, Rapid City Rush, Fort Worth Brahmas, Allen Americans, and St. Charles Chill earning 239 points (101 goals, 138 assists), and 251 penalty minutes in 304 games. He also collected three points (2 goals, 1 assist), and ten penalty minutes in 12 CHL playoff games.
Snowden also played the IHL for the Bloomington PrairieThunder and Dayton Gems with 58 points (29 goals, 29 assists), and 47 penalty minutes in 74 games. He also played three games in the AHL for the Utah Grizzlies and Norfolk Admirals. In the 2002-03 season, Snowden won the USHL Clark Cup Championship with the Lincoln Stars earning 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists), and 123 penalty minutes in 58 games. In addition, he collected 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists), and 17 penalty minutes in ten playoff games.
Chris Gratton joins the Phantoms as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. He was a Strength and Conditioning intern last year for the Springfield Thunderbirds. Gratton received his Bachelor of Science at SUNY Potsdam and his Master of Science at Springfield College.
Jake Rogers is entering his third season with the Phantoms and first as a Head Equipment Manager. The Portland, Maine, native previously worked as a Head Equipment Manager and Assistant Equipment Manager with the Maine Mariners of the ECHL for three seasons.
He got his start 15 years ago as a batboy and clubhouse attendant for the baseball’s Portland Sea Dogs and as Assistant Equipment Manager with the AHL Portland Pirates.
Jon Evans returns to the Phantoms as the Assistant Equipment Manager. He spent last season as the Assistant Equipment Manager with the Utica Comets. Before Utica, Evans was a visiting room attendant with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms two seasons ago while also working as a clubhouse attendant with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
