Dave Isaac

@davegisaac

The college season is over for some teams and the Flyers have already dipped into the free-agent market.

Steven Swavely, the captain of the University of Maine Black Bears, signed an amateur tryout with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League. He will soon join the team for the rest of the regular season.

Swavely, 24, had nine goals and 10 assists in 39 games this season. The center won the most faceoffs in Hockey East this season and averaged 3.82 shots per game. He played both sides of special teams, with four power-play assists and two of his goals coming shorthanded.

“I’ve been a Flyers fan my whole life,” said Swavely, a business major, “so when they gave me the opportunity to get an ATO in the Flyers organization it was unbelievable and I couldn’t be happier.”

The Black Bears were eliminated in a two-game sweep by Northeastern Saturday. In addition to being captain of the Black Bears this season, Swavely was also captain of his junior team, the New Jersey Hitmen, which play out of Passaic County.

“We had a good team, but it just didn’t all come together,” said Swavely, who was a teammate of Flyers scout Nick Pryor as a freshman. “I guess that’s what led to our first-round out in the playoffs.”

The Flyers have not yet signed Swavely to a contract for next season. He will be eligible to play in the Phantoms’ final 16 regular-season games.

Dave Isaac; (856) 486-2479; disaac@gannettnj.com.