USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Countdown To Puck Drop : Phantoms Vs. Omaha

Published on February 18, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


GAME PREVIEW

Clashing for the second time in five days, the Youngstown Phantoms and the West Division-leading Omaha Lancers will square off twice this weekend as new Phantoms Head Coach Curt Carr makes his home debut. Last Sunday at the Omaha Civic Auditorium, the Lancers claimed the first meeting of the season series 6-1, getting two goals and an assist from Seth Ambroz to counteract Jefferson Dahl's team-leading 14th goal of the season on a first-period deflection.

Returning from a four-game road trip, the Phantoms (15-27-2, 32 points / T-6th in East) are searching for their first home win since Jan. 18, a span of five contests. Youngstown most recently took the ice Wednesday in Indianapolis, when an early goal from defenseman Scott Mayfield was the lone bright spot in an 11-1 loss to the defending champion Indiana Ice at Pan Am Plaza.

The Lancers (30-12-3, 63 points / 1st in West) hit a bit of a lull earlier this month, going 2-4-1 after improving to a season-best 19 games over.500 with a win in Waterloo Jan. 23. The lackluster stretch included an 0-3-1 mark against elite teams Green Bay and Fargo, the latter of which stole the West lead away for a few days before Omaha reclaimed it with its win over Youngstown Sunday evening.

PHANTOM PHACTS

- Carr hopes to continue his impressive record of success while coaching the local club. In three North American Hockey League seasons with the Ontario native on the bench, the Phantoms rung up a 142-61-1 record (including playoffs). In a way, he already has his first USHL victory: with Carr filling in for a suspended Bob Mainhardt Dec. 29, Youngstown pulled out a 4-3 triumph over Waterloo.

- Even though the Phantoms have scored just one goal in seven of their last nine games, two players are showing up on the scoresheet with regularity. On the just-completed four-game trip, Dahl (2 G, A) and Adam Berkle (G, 2 A) recorded three points apiece, with Dahl becoming Youngstown's leading scorer for the first time. The future University of Wisconsin Badger has 31 points, 14 of which are goals.

- Youngstown snapped a season-long eight-game losing streak last Saturday in Lincoln, topping the Stars 2-1 in a shootout. Cody Strang, Jiri Sekac, Andrew Lamont and Dave Donnellan scored in the tiebreaker against Lincoln goalie Matt Green, making a winner of Phantoms netminder Matt Mahalak. The Purple and Orange are now 5-for-9 in shootout attempts, a.556 conversion percentage that's second only to Waterloo's.750 mark.

NEBRASKA NEMESIS

- Although Tri-City's Jaden Schwartz has surpassed them for the USHL's points lead with 70, the Lancers' dynamic duo of Matt White (68 points) and Eric Haula (61) has terrorized the circuit all season long. White, in his third year of Tier I play, leads the league in goals with 26, including five while shorthanded, and is also atop the leaderboard in shots (185) and plus-minus rating (+34). The Finnish-born Haula has 24 tallies himself, tied for third in the USHL.

- Not only are the Lancers tops in the USHL in scoring with 4.07 goals per game, they have also limited opponents to 2.53 goals - only Green Bay (2.28 against) has been stingier. No. 1 goaltender Jeff Teglia has a lot to do with Omaha's defensive success, with his 2.41 goals-against average (4th),.916 save percentage (2nd), 23 wins (2nd), 914 saves (1st) and three shutouts (2nd), all of which rank among the top qualifying netminders in the league.

- Omaha has scored a USHL-best 59 power-play goals, but it did all of its damage against Youngstown last Sunday at even strength. Eleven different Lancers scored at least a point in the 6-1 win, highlighted by three-point nights for Ambroz and Dakota Eveland (G, 2 A) and two assists each from Haula and Greg Wolfe, the former Chicago forward whom Omaha acquired two weeks ago in a deadline-beating trade.

UPCOMING PHANTOMS GAMES (ALL TIMES EASTERN)

Friday at 7:15 p.m. vs. OMAHA - American Heart Association Night / February is American Heart Month, find out more about how to improve your cardiac health at www.americanheart.org. Also, our friends at Chick-Fil-A will be giving out a free chicken sandwich to all in attendance!

Saturday at 7:15 p.m. vs. OMAHA - Mario Lemieux Foundation Night / Support promising cancer research projects by donating $3 from each ticket you purchase to the MLF (printable flyer located on www.youngstownphantoms.com). Valuable NHL merchandise will be available for bid throughout the game, such as signed jerseys from Lemieux himself and Sidney Crosby - plus four Igloo Club tickets to a future Pittsburgh Penguins game at Mellon Arena!

Friday, February 26 at 8:05 p.m. @ CEDAR RAPIDS

Saturday, February 27 at 8:05 p.m. @ WATERLOO

Sunday, February 28 at 4:05 p.m. @ GREEN BAY

CATCH PHANTOMS PHEVER!

"Phantoms Phever" is an hour-long weekly talk show that brings you an inside look at your Youngstown Phantoms. Join Voice of the Phantoms Matt Gajtka at Jeremiah Bullfrog's Sports Bar & Grille on US Route 224 in Boardman as he chats with coaches, players and front office staff about northeast Ohio's most exciting team and the great sport of hockey. Catch Phantoms Phever Tuesdays at 6 p.m. on Youngstown's ESPN Radio 1240 AM and online at www.wbbw.com!

FOLLOW THE PHANTOMS ALL SEASON LONG

ESPN 1240 is also the exclusive radio home for the Youngstown Phantoms! Gajtka has the call from all 60 Phantoms regular season games as they roll through their first-ever campaign in the Tier I United States Hockey League. Hockey nuts outside the listening area can log onto www.wbbw.com to utilize the "Listen Live" feature! Fans may also purchase the Phantoms season pass at www.b2tv.com to watch and listen via the B2 Networks' multimedia game broadcasts.

Also, make "Youngstown Phantoms" your friend on Facebook and follow "ytownphantoms" on Twitter to stay plugged into the Phantoms 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

www.youngstownphantoms.com

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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