USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Defenseman Eric Sweetman Commits to St. Lawrence

Published on January 3, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Youngstown Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen is proud to announce that defenseman Eric Sweetman has committed to play collegiate hockey at St. Lawrence University beginning in the fall of 2013. Sweetman, 17, becomes the 13th current Phantoms player, and fourth this season, to commit to play NCAA Division-I hockey.

A native of Woodbine, Md., Sweetman has accumulated a pair of goals and assists for four points along with a plus-5 rating while playing in all 26 of the Phantoms' games thus far this season. The 6-foot, 165-pound blue liner was selected by the Phantoms in the sixth round of last spring's USHL Entry Draft and been one of the most team's most reliable players since the onset of training camp.

"There's never been a time all year - from the very beginning - when we questioned whether or not Eric has deserved to be in our lineup," Noreen said. "He's physical, he's clean, he plays an in-your-face style, his transition game's good and he plays our system to a tee.

"He carries himself the way we want on and off the ice. He's the prototype of the kind of player we want here."

Noreen said that St. Lawrence - a part of the prestigious Eastern College Athletic Conference, which includes Brown, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton and Yale among other top-tier institutions - will provide Sweetman with an excellent opportunity to improve as a player without sacrificing academics.

"We don't just want to make our guys better hockey players, we want to make them better people and see them get a good education," Noreen said. "If you look at the schools in the ECAC, you're not sacrificing school for hockey or vice versa. They're they best of both worlds."

Noreen said that Sweetman will have the chance to learn under one of the top coaches in college hockey, Joe Marsh, who is in his 27th season behind the bench at St. Lawrence. The Saints have won five ECAC Championships and made eight NCAA tournament appearances under his guidance.

"When Eric talked to us about St. Lawrence, he said, 'Coach Marsh is really good at developing defenseman. I feel like I'm going to become better under him,'" Noreen said. "And if you're building a college program and looking for a defenseman out of our league to help you to the next level, Eric Sweetman is perfect for that role."

St. Lawrence is currently in sixth place in the ECAC with a 4-5-0 conference record and an overall record of 7-10-2.

Single game tickets for the 2011-12 season are on sale now. Season ticket and flex plans start at the low price of just $90. Call the Phantoms office today at 330.747.7825 for more information or to make a reservation today! For a complete Phantoms schedule, visit www.youngstownphantoms.com .

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2012


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