USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week 15

Published on January 10, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After 27 days away from the Covelli Centre, the Youngstown Phantoms returned to their home ice last week to ring in the new year with a pair of wins over the rival Muskegon Lumberjacks last Thursday and Friday. But there was little time to soak the victories in because the Phantoms (18-9-2, T-third East) were right back on the road on Saturday and the rigors of travel - along with a loaded schedule that saw them play six games in 11 days - finally caught up with them at Pepsi Coliseum, where they fell to the Indiana Ice. They will have the chance to get settled here in the Mahoning Valley this week and settle a score this weekend as they take on Team USA at the Covelli Centre on Friday and Saturday at 7:15 p.m. EST.

The Week In Review

Game 27: Cangelosi's Clutch Shorty Gives New Life, Phantoms Win 4-3 In Shootout

Austin Cangelosi scored less than two minutes into the game, but the Lumberjacks (9-14-2, seventh East) responded with a pair of goals later in the first period to take a 2-1 lead and that held for more than 40 minutes. Richard Zehnal knotted things up with 5:50 left in the third, only to see the 'Jacks retake the lead less than three afterwards on a 5-on-3 man-advantage. But Cangelosi scored a short-handed goal just 19 seconds later to tie the game again and force overtime. Neither team scored in the extra frame, forcing a shootout, and Sam Anas scored for the Phantoms while Matthew O'Connor turned away all three Muskegon shooters to secure the come-from-behind win.

Game 28: Power Play Awakes, Phantoms Bury Rival Lumberjacks 7-3

The Phantoms scored early and kept it up Friday night, burying their bitter rivals with a 4-0 deficit before the game was 16 minutes old. The Phantoms got a pair of goals from Stephen Collins and five other players - Zehnal, Dylan Margonari, Anas, JT Stenglein and Mike Ambrosia - also scored as they beat the Lumberjacks 7-3 to earn their league-leading 11th win on home ice. The win was their third straight over the Lumberjacks and tied the season series with conference rivals.

Game 29: Phantoms Run Out Of Gas In Third, Fall To Ice 4-1

The Phantoms put together a dominant two periods Saturday night at Pepsi Coliseum, but Ice goaltender Jon Gillies single-handedly kept his team in the game. When the third rolled around, the effects of games in three straight days began to wear on the Phantoms, and the Ice (19-7-4, second East) pounced, netting three goals, including an empty-netter, to come away with a 4-1 win. Alex Gacek scored the lone goal for the Phantoms while Sean Romeo turned away 24 of 27 shots he faced in the losing effort.

Loose Pucks

-- Center Austin Cangelosi saw his seven-game point-scoring streak come to an end on Saturday in Indianapolis. He notched three goals and 10 assists for 13 points over that span.

-- On Thursday, however, the 17-year-old also notched his league-leading sixth short-handed goal of the season. He now has four more short-handed goals than anyone else in the USHL. The single-season record for short-handed goals is nine and the Phantoms still have 31 games remaining this season.

-- Left wing Stephen Collins had two goals and an assist Saturday in the win over the Lumberjacks. It was the first multi-point game for Collins this season and the first multi-goal game of his three-year USHL career.

-- After an 0-for-23 span, the Phantoms erupted for three power-play goals in the first period on Friday night against Muskegon. It is the second time this season the Phantoms have notched three goals on the man-advantage in one period. They tallied three in the second period of a 5-1 win over Tri-City on Oct. 28.

-- Mike Gunn, normally a "stay-at-home" defenseman, was anything but this weekend. In three games the Northeastern commit registered a pair of assists and a plus-4 rating, while joining - often leading - the rush with regularity. He was instrumental in the build-up to Cangelosi's game-tying short-handed goal on Thursday.

The Week Ahead

Games 30 & 31: Friday, Jan. 13 & Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Team USA

Team USA is the only team the Phantoms have faced more than once this season without recording a win, and they will hope to change that this weekend at the Covelli Centre. The Phantoms fell 10-3 to Team USA in their season opener on Sept. 30, then simply ran out of time, falling 5-4, in their second meeting back on Oct. 22. Ambrosia and Cangelosi combined for two goals and two assists in the losses, both coming on the road in Ann Arbor, Mich.

They Said It

"I've never played with someone who has such a killer instinct on the penalty kill, but I love it. It's pretty entertaining to watch."

-- Phantoms winger Sam Anas on center Austin Cangelosi, who scored his league-leading sixth short-handed goal of the season in Thursdays 4-3 win over Muskegon.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Mike Ambrosia (9G-20A-29PTS)

Goals: JT Stenglein (15)

Assists: Ambrosia (20)

Power-Play Goals: Stenglein (5)

Short-Handed Goals: Austin Cangelosi (6, first in USHL)

Points by a Defenseman: Jordan Young (2G-8A-10PTS)

Plus/Minus: Cangelosi (plus-16)

Wins: Matthew O'Connor (15, second in USHL)

Goals Against Average: (2.51, fourth in USHL)

Save Percentage: (.914, T-fourth in USHL)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Defenseman Scott Mayfield (2009-2011), a second-round pick of the NHL's New York Islanders, recorded a goal and an assist in a pair of games as Denver split a two-game series with University of Alabama-Huntsville, losing 3-2 Friday night before bouncing back with a 5-2 win on Saturday.

-- Forward Ty Loney (2009-2011) had a goal and two assists for Denver in the series split with UAH.

-- Forward Brent Gensler (2009-2010) also added a goal and a pair of assists over two games this weekend as Bentley defeated Robert Morris 2-1 Friday and tied them 2-2 on Saturday.

-- Forward Jefferson Dahl (2009-2010) had a goal and an assist on Friday as Wisconsin routed Rochester Institute of Technology 6-3.

-- Forward Adam Berkle (2009-2011) had an assist on the game-tying goal as Bowling Green defeated No. 2 Ohio State 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday.

Events and Promotions

Friday, Jan. 13: College I.D. Night: All college students can get a 50 percent discount on purple level tickets when they show their valid student I.D. at the box office.

Saturday, Jan, 14 "Island Escape Night": Throw on a Hawaiian shirt or grass skirt as the first 1,000 fans will get free leis and the Greenville High School Steel Drum Band will bang out some tropical tunes. In addition to the island festivities the state champion Cardinal Mooney High School football team will be honored between periods.

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 10, 2012


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