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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Game Notes: vs Cedar Rapids

January 31, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms wrap up the season series with the League-leading Cedar Rapids RoughRiders on Saturday night. Youngstown dropped the first game of the weekend on Friday, in a 6-1 loss. The Phantoms currently sit in fourth place in the USHL's Eastern Conference.

LAST NIGHT RECAP: The Youngstown Phantoms (19-12-5) dropped a 6-1 decision to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders on Friday night. Forward Kiefer Sherwood was the lone goal scorer for the Phan- toms, who see their two-game winning streak snapped.

The Phantoms carried the play throughout most of the opening period, and drew first blood with 1:40 left in the frame, when forward Max Letunov took the puck from below the goal line and sent a pass from his stomach out front to Sherwood, who snapped it off the post and in past Cedar Rapids netminder Ben Blacker, giving the Phantoms a 1-0 lead.

That lead was short lived, as just 52 seconds later, RoughRiders Andrew Gaus crashed the net and scored on a rebound, tying the game, 1-1, after 20 minutes

The RoughRiders came out firing in the second, receiving goals from Andrew Oglevie, Cal Burke, and Hugh McGing, putting the RoughRiders up, 4-1, after the second.

Cedar Rapids got two more in the third from Erik Foley and Adam Gaudette, sealing the 6-1 win for the RoughRiders.

PREVIEWING CEDAR RAPIDS: The RoughRiders snapped their two-game losing streak with a 6- 1 win over the Phantoms Friday night. The RoughRiders have won six of their last eight games, and despite the two losses to the Phantoms last weekend, still sit in first place in the USHL's Eastern Con- ference, five points ahead of the Muskegon Lumberjacks. They are led by 40-point scorer Jiri Fronk (23g, 17a), followed by a pair of 30 point scorers in Andrew Oglevie (14g, 24a), and Erik Foley (17g, 16a),. They also currently boast the League's best offense, averaging 3.89 goals per game. In net, Cedar Rapids ices two of the top six netminders in the league in Ryan Larkin (10-4-0, 2.20 GAA, .923 SV%), and Ben Blacker (17-6-0, 247 GAA, .924 SV%).

KIEF 'EM COMING: Forward Kiefer Sherwood scored his 13th goal in his last 15 games, in Fri- day night's 6-1 loss to Cedar Rapids. He potted the game-winner in last Friday's 5-3 win over the RoughRiders, and has recorded points in 12 of his last 15 games played (13g, 4a), and is the team leader in goals with 19.

HELLO, OLD FRIENDS: Goaltender Chris Birdsall made the most of his return to Cedar Rapids last weekend, earning a sweep of his former team. It was the first time the Glenn Rock, NJ has faced his former team since being traded to Youngstown back in the offseason. Through 21 games this sea- son, Birdsall has posted a 9-5-5 record, along with a 2.81 goals-against average, and a .900 save per- centage.

NEVER FEAR, ALVY'S HERE!: After being held without a goal for 19 consecutive games, for- ward Matt Alvaro had a pair of goals last weekend, including the game winner in last Saturday's 3-2 win over Cedar Rapids. He has four goals in his first USHL season, and has added 15 assists for 19 total points.

SCORING TOUCH: Forward Kyle Connor had a pair of goals in last Friday's 5-3 win over Cedar Rapids, and added an assist in Saturday's 3-2 win over the RoughRiders. He has points in eight of his last 10 games (3g, 9a), and is currently second on the team in scoring with 39 points (14g, 24a). Addi- tionally, he has failed to register a point on just nine occasions this season.

OFF THE SCHNEID: Forward Max Letunov scored in last Saturday's 3-2 win over Cedar Rapids, just one week after snapping his season-long seven-game goal drought with in a 5-3 loss to the Madi- son Capitols on January 17th. Letunov is the team leader in points, accounting for 15 goals and 26 assists through 36 games played, and has only failed to find the scoresheet on nine occasions this season.

MAN DOWN? NO PROBLEM: Forward Ryan Lomberg scored a shorthanded marker in last Fri- day's 5-3 win over Cedar Rapids, marking the team's seventh shorthanded tally this season- four of which belong to Lomberg, which is tied for most in the USHL. He has been an offensive force all sea- son long, accounting for 17 goals and nine assists on the season.

Game 37: Youngstown vs Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH-7:05 pm

YNG: 19-12-5, 43 PTS-4th Place (East)

CR: 27-10-0, 54 PTS-1st Place (East)

PHANTOMS STEAL THE SHOW: The Phantoms were the main topic of conversation at Tuesday's USHL/NHL Top Pro- spects Game in Dubuque, IA, as the first three goals of the game were scored by Youngstown Phantoms. Forward Kevin Conley had a pair of first period goals and an assist, while forward Chase Pearson tallied a first period goal of his own and also dished out an assist, helping Team East to a 7-4 win. For his efforts, Conley was named Team East Most Valuable Player. It did not stop there, as midway through the second period, goaltender Chris Birdsall came into the game for Team West and proceeded to stop all nine shots he faced. Despite being held off the scoresheet, the Phantoms' other two representatives, forward Kyle Connor and defenseman Kris MyllarI, each finished with a plus-one on-ice rating.

THE CAPTAIN COMMITS: Team captain Ryan Lomberg recently committed to play college hockey at Miami University. The former University of Maine Black Bear will have two years of eligibility remaining. He becomes the 16 th Phantom from this year's team to commit to an NCAA school.

Lomberg is currently second on the team with 17 goals, and is sixth with 26 points. Prior to Maine, the Richmond Hill, ONT native suited up for the Muskegon Lumberjacks during the 2011-2012 season, where he led the team with 40 points (22g, 18a).

YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST: Defenseman Carson Vance's game-winner in last Friday's 4-3 win over Chicago marked the first goal of his USHL career. Through 28 career USHL games, the Tempe, AZ native has a goal a four assists.

WELL AREN'T YOU SPECIAL: The Phantoms special teams units have been amongst the best in the USHL all season long. The Phantoms currently boast the third-ranked power play in the League, converting on 23.2% of their chances (38/169).

Kiefer Sherwood is currently second in the League with 10 power play markers on the year. The penalty kill has been just as solid, ranking tops in the USHL, killing off 121/137 opposition power plays (88.3%), while scoring seven shorthanded goals. In the Phantoms' sweep of the Bloomington Thunder on October 24th & 25th, nine of the team's 11 goals on the weekend were of the special teams variety; six on the power play and three shorthanded. Overall, 18 different players have recorded at least one special teams point this season.

LEAGUE LEADERS: The Phantoms amongst the leaders in the USHL in many offensive categories, including goals (135) assists (219), points (354), power play goals (38), and shorthanded goals (7). Currently, the Phantoms are second in the League in scoring, averaging 3.77 goals per game.

ALL-TIME LEADER: With his goal in November 16th's 4-3 overtime loss to the Lincoln Stars, Kyle Connor became the Phan- toms' all-time goal-scoring leader, with the 55th goal of his career, surpassing Sam Anas' 54. Connor scored his 50th career goal back on October 11th, making him the 18th player in USHL history to reach the mark, and just the third player in League history to score 50 before his 18th birthday, joining former Waterloo Black Hawk Taylor Cammarata, and former Omaha Lancer Seth Ambroz. In addition to Connor and Anas, former Phantom Austin Cangelosi is the only other Phantom to score 50 goals in a career.

THE NHL COMES CALLING: Three players with Youngstown ties were chosen in last June's NHL Draft- Max Letunov, JJ Piccinich and Nathan Walker. Letunov was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round with the 52nd overall se- lection, making him the second-highest NHL Draft selection in Youngstown Phantoms history (Scott Mayfield, 2nd RD, #34 Overall to NYI in 2011). Next up was Walker, who was selected in the third round (89th overall) by the Washington Capitals. He suited up for the Phantoms during the 2012-2013 season, and last September signed a professional contract with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), making him the first Phantoms player to make the jump from the USHL to the AHL. Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Walker is the first Australian-born player to be selected in the NHL Draft. The Final Phan- tom taken off the board was Piccinich who was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fourth round with the 103rd overall pick. Currently a freshman at Boston University, Piccinich just wrapped up a two-year USHL career in which he totaled 30 goals and 43 assists in 123 games played.

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