Cerrato Hat Trick Helps Phantoms Dominate Chicago 7-1

February 25, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release

Youngstown, OH - The Youngstown Phantoms (25-13-4-3, 57pts) picked up a huge 7-1 victory at home over the Chicago Steel. Saturday night's win secured the weekend sweep of the Steel and helped the Phantoms start their eight-game home stand out right. Charlie Cerrato's first USHL hat trick led an offensive explosion for the Phantoms, who put up more than six goals for the second time this season. Scoring seven goals one day after only scoring one regulation goal was a welcome sight for Phantoms Assistant Coach Brandon Gotkin.

"Last night was a little bit slow for us offensively," Gotkin said. "I thought they did a really good job executing our game plan and our top guys stepped up and produced at big times."

It was all Phantoms in the first frame. Phantoms rookie Christian Chouha picked up his first USHL goal after he finished a two-on-one break by firing a missile past the Chicago goalie to take a 1-0 lead. The Phantoms took advantage of costly Chicago penalties in the first period, picking up two power play goals. Ryan Botterill was the first to tally on the man advantage at 14:06 when he sent the puck into the net from the left-wing circle. Mikey Burchill was next to get in on the party after he located the puck off a defender's stick at the top of the crease and put it home. The first period ended with a 3-0 lead in favor of the Phantoms.

The second period was a good old-fashioned, low event period. The Phantoms managed two penalty kills in the period, while Cerrato was in the right place at the right time when he redirected a shot into the net at 16:54 to extend the Phantoms' lead to 4-0.

Jordan Brisson got Chicago on the board at 3:20 of the third when he sent one home past Phantoms goalie Aiden Wright for a power play goal, but from that point on, the home team did not let off the gas as they kept adding to their lead. Cerrato got his second goal of the night on a one timer right through the five-hole at 8:29. Less than four minutes later, he picked up his third goal on a redirect from in tight for the third Phantom hat trick of the season. Luke Osburn finished off the night's scoring at 18:57 with a smooth wrister from the left dot. Coleson Hanrahan fed Osburn on the goal, giving him his first USHL point.

Wright stopped 17 of 18 shots as he continues the hot start to his USHL career, now 6-1-0-1 in his first eight starts. Quentin Sigurdson, the reigning USHL Goaltender of the Week, was in the cage for the Steel's cage, where he stopped 23 of the 30 shots sent his way.

The Phantoms are in action again next Thursday when they take on the Waterloo Black Hawks at Covelli Centre for the annual School Day Game. Puck drop is slated for 10:05am.

By the Numbers

Shots - 30

Saves - 17

Power Play - 2/3

Penalty Kill - 3/4

Goals - Botterill, Burchill, Cerrato (3), Chouha, Osburn

Assists - Burchill (2), Hanrahan, Jencko, Machu, Pietila, Pitner, Ramos, Strathmann (2), Young

Youngstown Phantoms' Christian Chouha on game night (Scott Galvin/Scott Galvin Photography)

United States Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2024

• Hong Scores in Overtime, Caps Pick up Second Straight Win - Madison Capitols
• Late Effort Falls Short in 5-4 Loss in Green Bay - Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Rewind: Taking a Look Back at Saturday's Action in the USHL - USHL
• Cerrato Hat Trick Helps Phantoms Dominate Chicago 7-1 - Youngstown Phantoms
• Top Line Tallies Thrice, Stars Beat NTDP - Lincoln Stars

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