Laughton gets called up to Phantoms

Scott Laughton's days of junior hockey have come to a close.

On Thursday,  the organization pressed the “up” button on his elevator and announced he will spend the remainder of the season with the Phantoms on an amateur tryout contract.

A Flyers insider first reported the news this morning.

It’s a bit of a whirlwind for the youngster, who on Monday was given a five-game suspension by the Ontario Hockey League for an illegal hit while playing for the Oshawa Generals.

Laughton, who made the Flyers’ roster off an abbreviated training camp before being sent back to juniors, was given the ban for a check-from-behind resulting in injury to Barrie’s Zach Hall in Game 2 of their playoff series.

The Colts swept the series and as a result, Laughton was free to advance in his career.

The AHL later cleared Laughton to begin playing immediately.

The 18-year-old center, who only weeks prior was named the top player of the week in the OHL, finished the regular season with 23 goals and 56 points in 49 games along with a plus-22 rating.

He failed to record a point with Philadelphia, but added seven goals and 13 points in seven postseason games. Oshawa topped Mississauga in the first round of the OHL playoffs.

Laughton leaves Oshawa -- the junior home to one Eric Lindros -- having recorded 56 goals and 132 points in 176 regular-season games for the Generals since 2010.

Adirondack has six games remaining on its 2012-13 schedule.