Flyers’ Affiliate Will Ring in 2023 with World’s Largest Puck

It weighs way more than your fat uncle, and in all likelihood, his entire family.

It is so big it will be transported in two pieces.

Oh, and it will ring in the new year a few hours after Saturday’s game between the Philadelphia Flyers’ top affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

We are talking about a puck.

A puck that weighs nearly 1,000 pounds. (We are fairly certain, but not positive, that even Alex Ovechkin couldn’t shoot it into a net.)

A puck that, according to the Phantoms, is believed to be the biggest in the world.

The puck, which is 20 feet in diameter, has been in construction for almost a month, and will make its way to Allentown, just outside the Phantoms’ home at the PPL Center. On New Year’s Eve, the Phantoms will host the Pittsburgh Penguins’ top affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, at 7 p.m.

The Phantoms said the puck will come in two pieces and will be assembled using industrial bolts before being placed on a crane. It will drop at midnight just outside the arena in downtown Allentown.

Before the puck is raised for the drop, fans can get photos with it outside the PPL Center.

“Hopefully, our die-hard fans stick around after the game and bring in the New Year with our team,” said Gerald Grube, the Phantoms’ corporate-sponsorship manager. “There’s so much to do in center city Allentown.”

Maybe your fat uncle will even be there.

Sam Carchidi covers the Philadelphia Flyers, and oddball stories like this, for Philly Hockey Now.