AHL: Lehigh Valley Phantoms Sign Two Defenseman

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms signed defensemen Xavier Bernard and Sam Sedley to AHL contracts for the upcoming 2024-25 season on Tuesday afternoon.

Bernard is a 24 year-old, six foot four, left-handed shooters from Mercier, Quebec. This will be his fourth season playing pro hockey, last year he spent a majority of his time with the ECHL Fort Wayne Komets where he held a 3-13-16 record over 64 games. He also played two games with the Bakersfield Condors.

Bernard has been described as a “big-bodied blueliner and is good at shutting down opponents with his size.” He was a fourth-round pick for the New Jersey Devils in 2018 but went unsigned until turning pro in 2021 and bouncing between the ECHL and AHL.

Sam Sedley is a 21 year-old, six foot, right-handed shot from Stratford, Ontario. He has played for the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL for the last four seasons, setting a team record as the highest-scoring defenseman in Owen sound history, 168 points (21 goals, 147 assists) over 236 games. Last year was another career high with nine goals and 54 assists. Sedley has been described as “dangerous with the puck on his stick in the OHL.”

Sedley has participated in the Flyers development camp the past two years and joined last seasons Rookie Camp and Training Camp, including an appearance at PPL Center for Philadelphia’s Rookie Series game against the New York Rangers.

Lehigh Valley is getting two players that could very well step into the lineup and prove to be beneficial for the Phantoms, though they will both likely spend some time with the Reading Royals when needed as well.