Lehigh Valley Phantoms forward Samu Tuomaala was named to the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic the team announced last week. Tuomaala is second on the team in scoring with 28 points, 10 goals, and 18 assists, through the first half of the season. Tuomaala was a second-round pick for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021 going 46th overall. Since that time, he has spent two seasons in SM-Liiga and Mestis each before making his North American debut this season with the Phantoms.
Following his birthday on Monday, Tuomaala was informed by Phantoms head coach, Ian Laperriere, that he had been selected for the All-Star Classic in a team meeting the next day.
“He tells me happy birthday then he asks me if I’ve ever been to California before,” said Tuomaala when recounting the moment he had heard the news of his first career All-Star selection.
The last time Lehigh Valley only sent a single player was in 2020 when Morgan Frost represented the club for the All-Star Classic in Ontario, California. Three of the last four all stars for the Phantoms have made their way up to full-time roster spots on the Flyers with Tyson Foerster and Cam York, two of last year’s Lehigh Valley reps earning big minutes at the next level. Tuomaala hopes to join that trend with a strong showing in San Jose and an even better second half of the season after the break.
Tuomaala finds himself in an interesting position if he can continue to keep pace throughout the season. With Philadelphia rotating out the last forward spot pretty consistently with guys like Rhett Gardner, Ryan Poehling, and even Tuomaala’s current teammate Olle Lycksell for a few games, new GM Danny Briere could look to give the Finnish youngster a shot in the near future.
The 2024 All-Star Classic Weekend Festivities begin on February 4th and 5th in San Jose at the Tech CU arena, home of the Barracuda.
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