USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Countdown To Puck Drop: Phantoms At Des Moines

Published on October 10, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


The Youngstown Phantoms will try to shake off a season opening home loss tonight in Iowa's capital city, as they play their first-ever road contest in the United States Hockey League. Their opponent is 1-2-0 Des Moines, which has dropped its last two after kicking off its 2009-10 campaign with a win.

Youngstown took off to the best of possible starts last Saturday as it played a nearly flawless opening period, carrying a 2-0 lead into the first intermission against defending champion Indiana. But the current Clark Cup holders would storm back for six unanswered over the final 30 minutes en route to a 6-2 victory in Youngstown's Covelli Centre.

The Buccaneers, coming off three consecutive last-place finishes, opened on the road in Sioux Falls, S.D., and prevailed 4-3 in a shootout after a back-and-forth affair. Des Moines' home opener didn't go as well, though, as Cedar Rapids scored three late ones to break a 4-4 tie and send the Bucs to their first loss of the season by a 7-4 count. Last night in Lincoln, Neb., Des Moines rallied for a 2-1 second period lead, only to fall 3-2 to the homestanding Stars.

The Phantoms and the Bucs squared off Friday, Sept. 25, in Sioux City, Iowa, as part of the USHL Fall Classic, with Des Moines pulling out a 3-2 victory on a D.J. Vandercook goal with 1:54 to play.

Phantom phacts

- Second-year USHL forward Joe Zarbo made history last Saturday as his goal at 5:36 of the first period was the first in Youngstown Phantoms franchise history. Zarbo, who played last season for the Tri-City Storm, whipped a high wrister over the glove of Indiana's Casey DeSmith from the top of the left circle.

- Brett Gensler accounted for the rest of Youngstown's Opening Night offense when he deflected an Andrej Sustr drive between DeSmith's legs to stake the home side to a 2-0 lead. It wasn't exactly unexpected as Gensler tallied thrice in the preseason, including a similar tip-in in the exhibition opener at Chicago Sept. 11.

- Two rookie defensemen racked up points in their USHL debuts against Indiana. Dan Senkbeil, a highly-regarded offensively-minded blueliner from California's Bay Area, set up Zarbo for the opening tally. Not to be outdone, the Czech Republic's Sustr held the puck in the Indiana zone and unleashed a waist-high shot that Gensler redirected into the net.

- In the Fall Classic loss to Des Moines, the Phantoms twice rallied from one goal down to tie. Adam Berkle knotted things up in the first period, while USHL veteran Brian Dowd popped one in to make it 2-2 late in the middle frame.

Buccaneer bits

- 5-foot-9 forward T.J. Tynan has played large for Des Moines thus far, registering six points (3 G, 3 A) in the opening three games of the season. The Orland Park, Ill., native exploded for two goals and two helpers last Saturday against Cedar Rapids, and his goal yesterday gave the Bucs their only lead in Lincoln.

- Goaltender Charles Williams, who was dominant against the Phantoms at the Fall Classic, suffered a rough start to his first USHL regular season. He stopped only 23 of 30 Cedar Rapids shots in the Bucs' home-opening 7-4 loss.

- The Toronto Maple Leafs selected 6-foot-6, 225-pound Des Moines defenseman Eric Knodel in the fifth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The former Philadelphia Jr. Flyer is from West Chester, Pa., the same hometown as Phantom Andrew Lamont; Knodel has committed to the University of New Hampshire.

- The Buccaneers are led by first-year head coach Mike Guentzel, who comes to Des Moines by way of Colorado College. Guentzel has a history of success in the USHL, winning the Clark Cup twice in the mid-1990s behind the bench for the Omaha Lancers. He also served as assistant coach for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers for 14 seasons, helping capture two NCAA national titles along the way.

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 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 from 6-7 p.m. on Youngstown's ESPN 1240, WBBW-AM!

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. Listeners outside the immediate area may log onto www.wbbw.com and click the "Listen Live" feature to access WBBW-AM's streaming audio player.

To watch and listen to Phantoms action via the B2 Networks' multimedia webcasts, purchase the Phantoms season pass or individual game passes at www.b2tv.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2009


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