USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week No. 3

Published on October 9, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms stayed perfect last weekend, getting a pair of dominant road wins over the Waterloo Black Hawks and the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Now, two weeks into the season, the Phantoms (4-0-0, 8 points) find themselves atop the of United States Hockey League standings, while center Austin Cangelosi and winger JT Stenglein are No. 1 and 2 in the league scoring race. They will look to keep rolling this weekend when they return to the Covelli Centre for a pair of games against the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

The Week In Review

Game No. 3: Stenglein And Cangelosi Get Tricky, Power Phantoms Past Black Hawks 9-6

The Phantoms' offense exploded Friday night, on the backs of Stenglein and Cangelosi. The pair combined for seven goals - four for Stenglein, three for Cangelosi - and the Phantoms routed Waterloo (2-1-0, 4 points) by a score of 9-6. Markus McCrea and Eric Sweetman also scored, while the Phantoms' power play went 3-for-5 on the evening. Goaltender Sean Romeo made 19 saves to record his second win of the season.

Game No. 4: McCrea, Spano Help Phantoms Beat RoughRiders 5-1, Stay Perfect

After putting up nine goals on Friday night, the Phantoms offense stayed red-hot adding five more on Saturday in Cedar Rapids. McCrea led the way with a pair of goals while Luke Stork, Sam Anas and Dan Renouf also found the back of the net as the Phantoms rode away from the Stable with a 5-1 win. Patrick Spano was outstanding in goal turning away 29 of 30 shots from the RoughRiders (2-1-0, 4 points).

Loose Pucks

-- Left wing JT Stenglein set a single-game franchise record Friday night with his four-goal outburst and tied former teammate Ty Loney (Denver) for a single-game points record with five points. The Greece, N.Y., native added some extra hardware on Monday when he was named the USHL's CCM Offensive Player of the Week.

-- After netting a league-leading eight short-handed goals last season, center Austin Cangelosi scored his first one of the 2012-13 campaign Friday night. With nine career short-handed goals, he is one away from tying the USHL Tier I era record of 10, which is currently shared by Jaroslav Markovic (Tri-City, 2004-06) and Matt White (Omaha, 2007-10).

-- The Phantoms continued their strong stretch against the USHL "˜s Western Conference with a win over Waterloo last weekend and on the season they are a perfect 3-0-0. Since last season, the Phantoms have just one regulation loss against Western Conference opponents and own a 12-1-3 record.

-- After not having a single defensemen among the top-20 scoring blue liners in 2011-12, the Phantoms have three - Dan Renouf (3-0-3), Eric Sweetman (2-1-3) and Ryan Lowney (1-2-3) - tied for the USHL lead through four games. Goals from defensemen accounted for less than 8 percent of the Phantoms' total goals last season, while this season they've accounted for 26 percent.

The Week Ahead

Games No. 5 & 6: Friday, Oct. 12 & Saturday Oct. 13 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Dubuque

It is a battle for first place in the USHL standings this weekend at the Covelli Centre as the top-ranked Phantoms take on the second-place Fighting Saints (3-0-0, 6 points). The games also pit the league's highest scoring team, Youngstown, which is averaging more than four goals a game, against one the staunchest defensive teams, Dubuque, which has yet to surrender more than two goals in an outing this season. Arthur Brey has done the lion's share in net for Dubuque, winning both of his starts and allowing just one goal, while first-year forward Mike Szmatula leads the Saints with five points. The Phantoms took the season series in 2011-12, winning four of five meetings between the teams. They also came away with a gutsy win at the 2012 Fall Classic in Sioux City, Iowa, handing the Fighting Saints their first and only loss of the preseason.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Austin Cangelosi (5-5-10, first in USHL)

Goals: Cangelosi, JT Stenglein (5, first in USHL)

Assists: John Padulo (6, first in USHL)

Power-Play Goals: Cangelosi, Stenglein, Eric Sweetman (1)

Short-Handed Goals: Cangelosi, Ryan Lowney (1, T-second in USHL)

Points by a Defenseman: Dan Renouf (3-0-3), Sweetman (2-1-3), Lowney (1-2-3)

Plus/Minus: Renouf (plus-11, first in USHL)

Wins: Sean Romeo, Patrick Spano (2, T-second in USHL)

Goals Against Average: Spano (1.98)

Save Percentage: Spano (.927)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Bowling Green forward Adam Berkle (2009-11) registered a pair of assists as the Golden Falcons routed Ontario IT 9-1 in exhibition play Sunday.

-- Minnesota State, Mankato forward Dylan Margonari (2010-12) scored a goal as the Mavericks defeated Lethbridge in exhibition play Sunday.

-- Boston University goaltender Matthew O'Connor (2010-12) turned away five shots over a period and a half to earn the win as Terriers shutout Toronto 5-0 in exhibition play Sunday.

-- Miami University (Ohio) forward Alex Gacek (2010-12) recorded an assist as the RedHawks downed Western Ontario 6-2 Sunday in exhibition play.

-- Boston College forward Quinn Smith (2010-11) added an assist as the Golden Eagles shutout Newbrunswick 6-0 Saturday in exhibition play.

Events and Promotions

Saturday, Oct. 13: Girls' Hockey Day:

To celebrate the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Girls' Hockey Weekend, the Phantoms will be offering a learn-to-play clinic and reception before the game Saturday for women of all ages! Doors will open for registration at the Covelli Centre at 2:30 p.m. EST and the clinic will be held from 3:30 - 5 p.m. (skates and equipment provided). The reception will follow the clinic and the puck drops at 7:15 p.m. Ticket packages are just $18 and include admission to the learn-to-play clinic, the post-skate reception and a purple level ticket to the game. Call 330.747.PUCK for more information or to sign up!

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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United States Hockey League Stories from October 9, 2012


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