USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week 23

Published on March 7, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms put on an offensive show last weekend at the Covelli Centre, scoring six goals each night as they swept Team USA in a pair of United States Hockey League Eastern Conference clashes. But there will be little time for rest for the Phantoms (28-14-5, third East), as they have three games on the slate this week. The Phantoms take on the Indiana Ice in a two-game home-and-home series - starting Wednesday at the Covelli Centre and finishing Friday at the Pepsi Coliseum in Indianapolis - before traveling to wrap up their season series with Team USA (19-20-4, sixth East) on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Week In Review

Game 46: Phantoms Erupt For 5 Goals In The 2nd, Down Team USA 6-3

The Phantoms' four previous clashes with Team USA - three of them losses - were decided by a combined five goals. Friday night at the Covelli Centre, the Phantoms scored that many in the second period alone, downing Team USA 6-3 in the first of a back-to-back on home ice. Mike Ambrosia led the way for the Phantoms with a pair of goals and an assist on the night. Sam Anas had two goals, including an empty-netter, while Soren Jonzzon and Alex Gacek also found the back of the net. Goaltender Matthew O'Connor turned away 29 of 32 shots in the win.

Game 47: Phantoms Bury Team USA 6-1, Secure Weekend Sweep

The Phantoms picked up right where they left off on Friday with a dominant 6-1 win over Team USA Saturday night in the Covelli Centre. It was the Phantoms' second win of the weekend, and third straight overall against Team USA after dropping their first four meetings of the season. Six different players found the back of the net for the Phantoms, led by Gacek, who scored a goal and set up three others. JT Stenglein, Dylan Margonari and Eric Sweetman each notched a goal and an assist, while Pat Conte and Jonzzon tallied the others. O'Connor was near perfect between the pipes, stopping all but one of Team USA's shots for his 25th win of the season to remain atop the USHL's wins column.

Loose Pucks

-- Right wing Alex Gacek and defenseman Eric Sweetman were named the USHL's CCM Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for their performances over the weekend. Gacek had a pair of goals and three assists over the weekend while Sweetman had a goal and an assist to go along with a plus-5 rating.

-- Gacek's three assists, four points and plus-4 rating Saturday night were all single-game career highs for the second-year forward. The Miami University (Ohio) commit has six points over his past three games and 13 goals, 14 assists and 27 points on the season.

-- Center Dylan Margonari continued his point-scoring binge with a goal and two assists over the weekend. The Greensburg, Pa., stretched his point streak to 10 straight games, the longest active streak in the USHL and tied for the fifth-longest in the league this season. He has four goals, 12 assists and 16 points over that span.

-- Center Soren Jonzzon scored a goal in each game over the weekend and he has four goals in the Phantoms' three wins over Team USA this season. The third-year USHLer was held to just three goals in his first 40 games this season, but has five goals in six games since securing his commitment to Quinnipiac University on Feb. 15.

The Week Ahead

Games 48 & 49: Wednesday, March 7 at 7:15 p.m. EST at the Covelli Centre and Friday March 9 at 7:05 p.m. EST at Pepsi Coliseum - Phantoms vs. Indiana

The Phantoms have the chance to leapfrog the Ice (28-12-6, second East) in the standings with a pair of wins this week. The Phantoms face off against the Ice Wednesday at the Covelli Centre for a mid-week special, before traveling to Indianapolis on Friday. Wednesday will be the fifth meeting of the season between the two Eastern Conference foes, but just the second game in Youngstown. The Phantoms came away with a 4-3 shootout win when Indiana last came to Northeast Ohio, with the captain, Mike Ambrosia, scoring the winner in the third round. But in three games vs. the Phantoms at Pepsi Coliseum, Ice goaltender Jon Gillies, who is tied with Matthew O'Connor atop the USHL wins column with 25, has a 3-0-0 record with a 1.00 goals against average and a .967 save percentage.

Game 50: Saturday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m. EST - Phantoms at Team USA

The Phantoms wrap up their season series with Team USA on Saturday at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. After falling in their first four meetings of the season, the Phantoms have won three straight over Team USA - outscoring them 17-8 in the span - and can salvage a season split with a victory on Saturday. The game Saturday will also be the fourth meeting between the two teams in the Phantoms' past eight games. Alex Gacek has three goals, four assists and seven points in the last three outings against Team USA. Soren Jonzzon has four goals and first-year defenseman Daniel Renouf has four assists in those three wins as well.

They Said It

"We take great pride in playing in front of our hometown fans and even more so in representing them. Our team wants to embody the fabric of this community. That's something we strive for - the effort, the work ethic and blue-collar mentality - every time we put the Youngstown jersey on."

-- Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen on sweeping Team USA in front of the home fans last weekend.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Mike Ambrosia (14G-38A-52PTS)

Goals: JT Stenglein (25, T-fifth in USHL)

Assists: Ambrosia (38, second in USHL)

Power-Play Goals: Stenglein (7)

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

Points by a Defenseman: Chris Bradley (5G-11A-16PTS)

Plus/Minus: Cangelosi (plus-21)

Wins: Matthew O'Connor (25, T-first in USHL)

Goals Against Average: O'Connor (2.70)

Save Percentage: O'Connor (.909)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Bentley forward Brett Gensler (2009-2010) recorded six points (3G-3A) in a pair of wins as the Falcons took two out of three against Sacred Heart over the weekend. Gensler, the Atlantic Hockey Conference's leading scorer, had two goals and two assists in a 5-3 win on Friday and added another goal and assist on Sunday in a 5-0 shutout.

-- Bowling Green forward Adam Berkle (2009-2011) recorded five points (2G-3A) in three games over the weekend as the Falcons bounced back from a Friday night loss to capture a pair of wins Saturday and Sunday over Northern Michigan. The former Phantoms captain had a goal in a 4-2 loss Friday, two assists in a 5-3 win Saturday, and a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win Sunday.

-- Holy Cross defenseman Nilan Nagy (2010-2011) had a pair of assists as the Crusaders defeated Army 5-2 on Saturday.

-- Denver defenseman, and second-round pick of the NHL's New York Islanders, Scott Mayfield (2009-2011) added two assists as the No. 9 Pioneers shutout Nebraska-Omaha 3-0 on Friday.

-- Denver forward Ty Loney (2009-2011) added an assist on Saturday as the Pioneers captured their second win of the weekend over Nebraska-Omaha by the score of 3-2.

-- Nebraska-Omaha defenseman Andrej Sustr (2009-2010) scored one of the Mavericks' two goals in the loss on Saturday.

-- Boston College forward Quinn Smith (2010-2011) had an assist as the No. 1 Eagles routed Vermont 5-1 on Friday.

Events and Promotions

Wednesday, March 7: "Double Dollar Deal Day" : Come down to the Covelli Centre for a mid-week special as the Phantoms take on the Indiana Ice Wednesday at 7:15 pm. EST. It's a "Double Dollar Deal Day" where fans can get a 16-oz. beer, 16-oz. soda, hotdog or popcorn for the low price of just $2 each!

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 March 7, 2012


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