May 23, 2013
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Phantoms Notebook: Week No. 1

September 26, 2012 - United States Hockey League (USHL) Youngstown Phantoms

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms drop the puck on the 2012-13 season this weekend with a pair of games at the Covelli Centre. After closing out the preseason with a win over the top team in the Eastern Conference last season, Green Bay, the Phantoms will open regular season play against perennial Western Conference power Omaha Friday night and a raw but talented Des Moines squad Saturday night.

The Week In Review

Fall Classic Game No. 1: Phantoms Run Out of Puck Luck Against Des Moines

The Phantoms outshot the Des Moines Buccaneers 23-15 last Thursday, but fell 4-1 in their first game of the USHL Fall Classic at the IBP Ice Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Returning left wing JT Stenglein scored the lone goal, and veteran blue liner Dan Renouf registered an assist for Youngstown. Goaltender Jake Moore made 11 saves in the loss.

Fall Classic Game No. 2: Romeo Rebukes Dubuque, Phantoms Win 3-2

Sean Romeo got the start Friday and was a stellar between the pipes, turning away 31 shots to back-stop the Phantoms to a 3-2 win over the Dubuque Fighting Saints in their second game of the USHL Fall Classic. The Phantoms jumped out to a 2-0 lead off first-period goals from Austin Cangelosi and Luke Stork. Stenglein made it 3-0 with a short-handed goal in the second, but the Saints fought back in the third to bring it within one, before Romeo closed the door in the final minutes of regulation.

Fall Classic Game No. 3: Phantoms Cash Out of Fall Classic with 4-1 Win Over Gamblers

First-year winger JJ Piccinich put the Phantoms ahead 2-1 with 4:16 remaining in the third period when he redirected a point shot from Kale Bennett. Then 15 seconds later, Sam Anas led a quick counter attack and hit Cangelosi on the backdoor for an easy put away, and after and empty-net goal from Eric Sweetman, the Phantoms came away with a 4-1 win over the Green Bay Gamblers in their final game of the Fall Classic. Markus McCrea also scored for the Phantoms and after allowing a goal on the first shot of the game, netminder Patrick Spano was a perfect 16-for-16 in the victory.

Loose Pucks

-- The Phantoms finished the 2012 preseason with a record of 3-2-0 and were 2-1-0 at the Fall Classic, with wins coming against the past two Clark Cup champions, Dubuque (2011) and Green Bay (2012).

-- The Phantoms returned from Sioux City with a new addition to the roster - forward Markus McCrea. A big-bodied winger (6-foot-3, 200 pounds), McCrea brings a wealth of experience to a young Phantoms roster. The Temecula, Calif., native played three seasons for the Everett Silvertips in the Western Hockey League and spent last season with the Lincoln Stars.

-- Head coach Anthony Noreen did some line jumbling after the loss to Des Moines on Thursday at the Fall Classic. One of his more intriguing decisions was to match up the team's three youngest players - 16-year-old wingers Mac MacSorley and JJ Piccinich and 15-year-old center Kyle Connor - on the same line. The move paid off as Piccinich tallied the game-winning goal Saturday.

The Week Ahead

Game No. 1: Friday, Sept. 28 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Omaha

The Omaha Lancers make their first trip to the Covelli Centre in nearly two years for the start of the 2012-13 regular season. The Lancers won the first six meetings over the Phantoms' first two seasons in the USHL. Last year, however, the Phantoms picked up win No. 1 over the Lancers in Omaha, led by a 17-save performance in goal from Sean Romeo. The Lancers went 4-1 in the preseason and return nine skaters from a team that finished second in the Western Conference in 2011-12, including workhouse goaltender Alex Lyon. The Yale commit recorded 28 wins last season, tops among all returning USHL netminders.

Game No. 2: Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Des Moines

Just nine days after the team met in Sioux City, the Phantoms will face off against the Des Moines Buccaneers Saturday, with two points in the standings on the line. First-year head coach John Rogger, who won the Clark Cup as an assistant with the Gamblers back in May, gets his first chance as the man behind the bench for the Bucs, who are coming off a seventh-place finish in the West last season. The Phantoms dominated the 2011-12 season series, winning four of five contests and racking up four-plus goals in each of those victories. Des Moines struggled in the preseason, going 1-4-0, but that one win came against the Phantoms, thanks in large part to a two-goal performance from first-year USHL defenseman Nolan Valleau.

They Said It

"One of the most important shifts you're going to play in a game is after you score a goal or give up a goal - how you respond. We went with a veteran line and Sammy and Cange went out and did their job."

-- Head coach Anthony Noreen on the Phantoms' opportunistic offense in their preseason finale against Green Bay on Saturday.

Points: Austin Cangelosi (3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points)

Goals: Cangelosi (3)

Assists: Sam Anas (3)

Power-Play Goals: Cangelosi, JT Stenglein (1)

Short-Handed Goals: Stenglein (1)

Points by a Defenseman: Kale Bennett (1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points)

Plus/Minus: Markus McCrea (plus-2)

Wins: Sean Romeo (2)

Goals Against Average: Romeo (2.50)

Save Percentage: Romeo (.906)

Events and Promotions

Friday, Sept. 28 vs. Omaha - Magnet Schedule Giveaway

The first 1,000 fans through the Covelli Centre doors on Friday night will receive a magnetic 2012-13 Youngstown Phantoms schedule sponsored by Wedgewood Pizza. The doors open at 6:15 p.m. EST.

Saturday, Sept. 29 vs. Des Moines - Phantoms T-Shirt Giveaway

The first 1,000 fans through the Covelli Centre doors on Saturday night will receive a free Phantoms T-shirt, sponsored by Eagle Wear. The Doors open at 6:15 p.m. EST.

Friday, Sept. 29 and Saturday Sept. 29 - Phantom Phest

Celebrate downtown Youngstown's revival at Phantom Phest! Fans in attendance either night will receive a coupon booklet filled more than $40 worth of exclusive food and beverage specials from downtown's top restaurants. And to top things off, the Phantoms will light up the Youngstown skyline after Saturday's game with a vibrant fireworks show, courtesy of Phantom Fireworks.

Great seats for Opening Weekend are still available, and tickets start at the one-time low price of just $5! Call the Phantoms Office at 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to purchase tickets.

Season tickets for the 2012-13 season are on sale now starting at the low price of just $7 a game. Benefits include invitations to exclusive season ticket holder events, discounts at the Phantoms Team Shop, playoff priority and much more. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve seats today. For all the latest news, visit www.YoungstownPhantoms.com, follow the Phantoms on Twitter ( @YtownPhantoms ) and "˜like' them on Facebook ( www.Facebook.com/YoungstownPhantoms ).

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