USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Fall Short in Fall Classic Finale

Published on September 24, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Youngstown Phantoms were unable to complete the sweep in Sioux City, falling 6-4 to the Lincoln Stars in their United States Hockey League Fall Classic finale on Saturday.

The loss marked a disappointing end to what was otherwise a very successful Fall Classic for the Phantoms, who beat Cedar Rapids and Sioux Falls before falling on the last day.

"We just weren't pedal-to-the-metal from the start tonight," Head Coach Anthony Noreen said. "For a period and a half we had a lull and it showed on the scoreboard."

The Phantoms and Stars started the first period off tentatively but it would not last long. The Phantoms took three straight penalties but goaltender Matt O'Connor stood on his head making save after save to keep it scoreless. Then with less than seven minutes remaining, Pat Conte tried to retake the momentum by dropping the gloves with Teemu Tiitinen. Conte connected on a number of hooks before taking him down

"Conte was the best player on the ice tonight," Noreen said. "It wasn't because he was more skilled, or faster, or stronger than everyone. He was the best player because of his effort. He refused to lose every time he was on the ice."

The fight energized the Phantoms' bench, but unfortunately the Stars would be first to strike, finally beating O'Connor on their 12th shot of the period off the stick of Jared Hanson. With just 16 seconds remaining in the period, Mike Gunn came to the defense of teammate Todd Koritzinsky. Gunn pummeled Brent Tate and won a bout, but the Stars would carry a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

"If there's a tougher guy in the league than Gunn, I'd like to see it," Noreen said. "That was on full display tonight."

With Koritzinsky starting the second in the box for boarding, the Stars went up 2-0 on a power play goal from Logan Smith 1:28 into the period. But the Phantoms wasted no time responding and just 47 seconds later Kevin Liss dished the puck to Alex Gacek, who scored his first career USHL goal to cut the lead down to one. The Stars stretched the lead back to two goals a little more than four minutes later off the stick of Matt Friese.

With 5:24 left in the period Ryan Belonger scored the highlight goal of the game off an assist from JT Stenglein. Belonger got the puck at the right circle and toe-dragged it around the Stars defender before putting on the breaks and roofing it on the glove side to make it a 3-2 game.

"I knew I only had one guy to beat," Belonger said. "I just kind of pulled it back behind him and shot up top."

The night of firsts continued with Nolan Culver tying it up with his first goal in a Phantoms uniform with 3:15 remaining. But the tie was short-lived as Zach Aston-Reese banked one off the post and behind O'Connor just 10 seconds later and the Stars led 4-3 after 40 minutes.

Both teams took the intensity up a notch in the third period, which played more like a playoff game than an exhibition. The Phantoms began to build some offensive momentum but weren't able to capitalize on a slew of chances. Then with 3:55 remaining Hanson was boxed for two minutes after a knee-to-knee hit on Gunn at center ice. On their fifth power play chance of the game, the Phantoms finally found the back of the net when Mike Ambrosia jammed it past Williams in the middle of traffic to tie the game with 2:21 remaining in regulation.

"We're a team that just battles all the time," Belonger said. "We're never going to quit. I'm sure you're going to see that all season."

But with less than a minute left Hanson beat O'Connor with a wrist shot from the right circle and Freise added an empty-netter with 10 seconds left to give the Stars a 6-4 win.

"The tournament as a whole was a great experience for us," Noreen said. "From game one to game two we got better and I think there was a lesson to be learned from the game today."

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 24, 2011


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