USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week 16

Published on January 18, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After their first winless home weekend of the season, coming courtesy of Team USA, the Youngstown Phantoms head back on the road this week for three games in three days against a two familiar opponents. The Phantoms (18-11-2, fourth East) will play a pair of games in Des Moines, Iowa, against the Buccaneers on Friday and Saturday night before traveling to Chicago to take on the Steel in a Sunday matinee.

The Week In Review

Game 30: Phantoms Can't Capitalize On Chances, Fall To Team USA In Third

The Phantoms saw their three-game home winning streak come to an end Friday night in the Covelli Centre. After nearly 40 minutes of gridlock, Team USA (14-11-3, sixth East) got a third-period goal from Tyler Kelleher to propel them to a 2-1 win. Zach Tatrn scored the lone goal - the first of his United States Hockey League career - for the Phantoms and Matthew O'Connor made 33 saves on the evening. The Phantoms had a trio of great opportunities to tie the game late in the final period, but were unable to convert.

Game 31: Despite 'Desperate' Third Period, Phantoms Fall To Team USA 6-4

The Phantoms let their frustration get the best of them late in the second period Saturday night, and Team USA made that the difference. After Pat Conte opened the scoring in the first period, the Phantoms surrendered five unanswered goals to enter the third period trailing 5-1. Despite a frantic final 20 minutes, which saw the Phantoms cut the margin to one off of goals from Ryan Belonger, JT Stenglein and Austin Cangelosi, they were not able to make up the deficit. Team USA added an empty-net goal to hand the Phantoms their first consecutive home losses this season and third defeat in a row.

Loose Pucks

-- Left wing JT Stenglein was the only Phantom to register at least a point each night over the weekend, extending his current point-scoring streak to four straight games. He has two goals, four assists and six points over the span.

-- The Phantoms have placed left wing Stephen Collins on the 45-day injured reserve. The 20-year-old suffered a lower body injury in Friday night's loss to Team USA. The Phantoms are expected to call up an affiliate list player as an interim replacement for this weekend's games.

-- The Phantoms and Team USA combined for a whopping 133 penalty minutes on Saturday night, including 81 assessed to Youngstown, which eclipsed last season's single-game high by one minute. Right wing Ryan Belonger was penalized after a late-game altercation and will miss the next two games as a result.

-- In a combined six games against Des Moines and Chicago, the Phantoms' opponents this weekend, first-year center Austin Cangelosi has six goals and six assists for 12 points. He has scored three of his league-leading six short-handed goals in those games, all Phantoms wins.

The Week Ahead

Games 32 & 33: Friday, Jan. 20 & Saturday, Jan. 21 at 8:05 p.m. EST - Phantoms at Des Moines

If the season ended today, the Buccaneers (12-14-3, fifth West) would have a Clark Cup playoff spot wrapped up for the first time since 2007. Of late, though, the Bucs have struggled, dropping six of their last eight games. Leading-scorer Anthony Greco, however, is holding up his end and has 10 points over that span and scored his third short-handed goal of the season last Saturday. The same cannot be said for hulking 6-foot-5 winger Zach Saar, who has no points and a minus-2 rating in a pair games since he was acquired in a trade from Chicago on Jan. 2.

Game 34: Sunday, Jan. 22 at 4:00 p.m. EST - Phantoms at Chicago

The 2011-2012 campaign has been a struggle for the Steel (9-21-1, eighth East) and first-year Head Coach Scott McConnell. But despite the growing pains, they have taken a monumental step forward from last season, when they won just nine games total, and there are signs of improvement as the Steel have netted 11 goals over their last four games. A big part of the increase in offensive output is the addition of Ray Pigozzi, who has four assists in as many games since he was acquired from Des Moines in the swap for Saar.

They Said It

"It's frustrating when you feel like the guy's taking liberties on one of your teammates. That's what we talked about between the second and the third. We said 'Let's take a breath here. Let's not get frustrated or out of control. Let's stay classy, and let's play our game.'"

-- Phantom Head Coach Anthony Noreen on his second-intermission speech on Saturday that helped spark a three-goal third.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Mike Ambrosia (9G-22A-31PTS)

Goals: JT Stenglein (16)

Assists: Ambrosia (22)

Power-Play Goals: Stenglein (6)

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

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

Plus/Minus: Cangelosi (plus-15)

Wins: O'Connor (15, T-second USHL)

Goals Against Average: O'Connor (2.59)

Save Percentage: O'Connor (.911)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Denver forward Ty Loney (2009-2011) registered two goals and an assist in a pair of games this weekend as the Pioneers beat Bemidji State 6-3 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday.

-- Denver defenseman Scott Mayfield (2009-2011), a second-round pick of the NHL's New York Islanders, had an assist for the Pioneers in each victory.

-- Bemidji State forward Danny Mattson (2010-2011) had an assist in each of the losses to Denver.

-- Bentley forward Brett Gensler (2009-2010) had a goal in two assists in two games this weekend as the Falcons tied Air Force 2-2 Friday night and defeated them 2-1 on Saturday.

-- Wisconsin forward Jefferson Dahl (2009-2010) had a goal as the Badgers shutout Minnesota State 4-0 on Friday.

-- Michigan forward Andrew Sinelli (2010-2011) registered an assist as the Wolverines upset No. 2 Ohio State 4-0 on Friday.

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 18, 2012


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