Photo Credit: Steve Babineau
This is certainly one of those things that goes into the cool story-to-follow category that’s for certain. Nick Master, a native of Broomall, PA played in his first game with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Saturday evening in the 4-1 loss to the Islanders. Master actually went to the same high school, Lasalle College High School, as… you guess it yours truly. In high school, Master was a star winning three Flyers Cups. He also captured the AAA State Championship in 2012. If his name sounds familiar to fans, that is because he participated in camp as a non-roster invitee.
After lighting it up with the U16 and U18 Junior Flyers in high school, Master then took his talents to the USHL. He played there for two seasons in 14-15 and 15-16. The first year he played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders getting 13 points in 27 games. In his second USHL season Master exploded to 42 points in 56 games with the Tri_City Storm. So safe to say he was progressing nicely. After the 15-16 season with the Storm, Master turned his talents to the NCAA ranks attending UMass-Lowell from 15-16 through 18-19. In 150 games even at UMass Lowell Master had 68 points with his assist numbers always outdoing his goal numbers. Master continued to show his skill after his four years in college, as he took his talent to the pros.
After his final season at UMass-Lowell in 18-19, Nick Master played 8 games for The ECHL’S Main Mariners. A very productive eight games where he produced seven points with three goals and four assists. The Following season Master only got six games with the Mariners producing one point. However, he was an SPHL star in his lone season there with the Knoxville Ice Bears. In Knoxville Master showed off his passing skills getting 18 assists along with his eight goals for his 26 points in 36 tilts. He then went back to the Main Mariners this season where he was lighting it up in his 10 games there producing nine points. Again showcasing his great vision with seven assists.
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Master now, due to injuries for the Phantoms and Flyers has gotten an opportunity to play for his local area Phantoms after signing his PTO on Friday. In his first game even being a minus one, he looked solid in limited minutes. Plus, not overwhelmed at all for his first AHL tilt. He laid a nice hit behind the goal right along the boards where I was sitting as a fan only two rows back today. That was awesome. Even going to the same HS I did not know Nick Master personally, but once a La Salle brother always a La Salle brother, and I for one certainly hope he makes the best of the PTO and earns a contract. If he keeps laying big hits like tonight that will go a long way. Plus look for Master if he is active next Friday in his second tilt to showcase his passing more as well. Reminder both games against Hershey are canceled due to Covid protocol involving the Bears. All in all, Master is a very fun story to follow. A local guy now getting a chance with the Phantoms. That has got to be a dream come true.
