Countdown To Puck Drop: Phantoms At Cedar Rapids
Published on December 30, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
Two nights after vanquishing Waterloo in their first-ever confrontation with the Black Hawks, the Youngstown Phantoms skate into Cedar Rapids for a New Year's Eve showdown against the East Division's RoughRiders. This will be the Phantoms' first of five meetings on the year with Cedar Rapids, three of which will take place in eastern Iowa.
The Phantoms (13-11-2, 28 pts / T-3rd in East) moved into a tie for third place in the East with Cedar Rapids with their 4-3 win over Waterloo Tuesday night at the Covelli Centre. F Jefferson Dahl is exploring new territory for the first-year franchise, as his two-goal performance extended his goal-scoring streak to a team-best five games. His first-period score came with the Phantoms shorthanded, his second of the season, tying him with D Scott Mayfield for first on the club.
The RoughRiders (13-12-2, 28 pts / T-3rd in East), now returning to action after an 11-day holiday break, squeezed out a 2-1 road decision at Indiana in their previous contest two Saturdays ago. F Derek DeBlois netted the game-winning goal, his seventh, to back up G Troy Grosenick, who earned his 11th win of the season by stopping 35 of 36 Ice shots. The win over the defending Clark Cup champs snapped a two-game losing streak for Cedar Rapids.
PHANTOM PHACTS
- Dahl isn't the only Phantom who has shifted his goal-scoring motor into overdrive. Third-year USHL F Tom Serratore has also revved it up lately, turning on the red light in three consecutive games, Youngstown's second-longest streak on the season. The former Sioux City Musketeer now has points in six of his last nine games dating back to Nov. 28 vs. Lincoln.
- Power-play goals by Serratore and Mayfield Tuesday night gave the Phantoms' eighth-ranked man-advantage unit its third two-tally effort in its last four games. In fact, when Youngstown's power play scores one, it's a great bet to strike again later in the contest - the power play's two-goal contributions (nine) notably outnumber its one-goal deposits (seven).
- December has already been the Phantoms' best month so far. After finishing both October and November with identical 4-4-1 records, Youngstown has totaled a 5-3-0 mark in the final month of 2009. A tangible area of statistical improvement is the shots-on-goal category: the Phantoms have outshot their opponents four times in December, matching their total from the season's first two months.
RIDERS ON THE STORM
- Cedar Rapids' collective fortunes have largely ridden on goaltender Grosenick, as his games- and minutes-played totals both rank first in the 14-team league. Specifically, the 20-year-old second-year USHLer has appeared in 25 of the RoughRiders' 27 tilts (good for 1399 minutes and 52 seconds of playing time), during which he's racked up an 11-11-2 record with a 3.09 goals-against average and an.888 save percentage.
- The other league leader in the RoughRiders' stable is D Bryce Aneloski. The third-year blueliner paces his fellow rearguards with 16 assists and 24 points. Only Green Bay's David Makowski (10 goals) has found the twine more often than Aneloski, who is only one point back of F Zach Lehrke for the top of Cedar Rapids' points leaderboard.
- The RoughRiders are in their 11th season in the USHL after the former North Iowa Huskies moved across the state from Mason City to Cedar Rapids in 1999. The banner year for the franchise and head coach/GM Mark Carlson was 2004-05, when the 'Riders captured both the Anderson and Clark Cups. Carlson has been on board since the team arrived in eastern Iowa, posting a.592 winning percentage that ranks fourth among active USHL bench bosses.
UPCOMING PHANTOMS GAMES (All times eastern)
@ Green Bay: Saturday, January 2 at 8:05 p.m.
@ Green Bay: Sunday, January 3 at 1:05 p.m.
VS. FARGO: Friday, January 8 at 7:15 p.m. - New Year New You & Bargain Beer Night / Watch the Phantoms host the Force for the first time and enjoy $1 drafts all night long! Further details to come on this promotional night...
VS. FARGO: Saturday, January 9 at 7:15 p.m. - Super Heroes Night / Honor our local police officers and firefighters!Enjoy a "Guns & Hoses" game pitting Youngstown's Finest vs. Youngstown's Bravest on the ice. More details to come...
CATCH PHANTOMS PHEVER!
Phantoms Phever, presented by House of Speed, is an hour-long weekly talk show that brings you an inside look at your Youngstown Phantoms. Join Voice of the Phantoms Matt Gajtka at Jeremiah Bullfrog's Sports Bar & Grille on US Route 224 in Boardman as he chats with coaches, players and front office staff about northeast Ohio's most exciting team and the great sport of hockey. Catch Phantoms Phever Tuesdays at 6 p.m. on Youngstown's ESPN Radio 1240 AM and online at www.wbbw.com!
FOLLOW THE PHANTOMS ALL SEASON LONG
ESPN 1240 is also the exclusive radio home for the Youngstown Phantoms! Matt Gajtka has the call from all 60 Phantoms regular season games as they roll through their first-ever campaign in the Tier I United States Hockey League. Hockey nuts outside the listening area can log onto www.wbbw.com to utilize the "Listen Live" feature! Fans may also purchase the Phantoms season pass at www.b2tv.com to watch and listen via the B2 Networks' multimedia game broadcasts.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2009
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Outlasts Czech Republic, 3-2 - U.S. National Team
- Musketeer Upcoming Booster Club Events - Sioux City Musketeers
- Lancers Prepare For Busy New Year's Weekend - Omaha Lancers
- Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli Joins Ownership Group Of USHL Member Club In Dubuque - USHL
- Countdown To Puck Drop: Phantoms At Cedar Rapids - Youngstown Phantoms
- Frustrating First Game - Waterloo Black Hawks
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