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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Game Notes vs Team USA U17

April 11, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms wrap up the 2014-15 regular season with the back end of a home-and-home with Team USA's Under 17 squad on Saturday night. Youngstown clinched the Anderson Cup title outright with a 3-1 win over Team USA's Under 17 program on Friday night. It marks the first Anderson Cup title for the Phantoms in team history, and they are guaranteed home ice advantage throughout the 2015 Clark Cup Playoffs.

LAST NIGHT RECAP:

The Youngstown Phantoms (39-14-6) picked up a 3-1 win over Team USA's Under-17 program on Friday night. Forward Kiefer Sherwood scored twice, while forward Chase Pear- son chipped in one for the Phantoms, who clinch the Anderson Cup outright with the win.

Youngstown wasted little time finding the back of the net, as just 7:02 into the opening period while on the power play, forward Josh Melnick took a shot from the point that was deflected by Sherwood past Team USA netminder Corbin Kaczperski, giving the Phantoms a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes.

That lead was extended to 2-0 after the second, when Melnick sent a pass to Sherwood who wristed it through traffic and past Kaczperski 9:33 into the period, with his second goal of the game.

Team USA's Patrick Khodorenko cut the Phantoms' lead in half 1:21 into the third, however roughly a minute and a half later, Pearson sniped one off the post and in, putting the Phantoms back up by two goals, 3-1.

Team USA got a few more quality scoring chances down the stretch, however goaltender Chris Bird- sall was solid in net for the Phantoms, stopping 30 of the 31 shots he faced to collect the win.

PREVIEWING TEAM USA U-17: Team USA has been struggling as of late, dropping 12 of their last 13 games played against USHL competition, with the lone win coming in a 4-0 decision over the Muskegon Lumberjacks last Friday. They are led by forward Joey Anderson, who has accounted for 24 points (14g, 10a) against USHL competition this season. Right behind him is forward Patrick Kho- dorenko, who has accounted for seven goals and 11 assists this season. In goal, Jake Oettinger and Joseph Woll have virtually split time this season, with Oettinger holding the edge in all three major statistical categories including wins (6), goals-against average (3.23), and save percentage (.907).

GET SOME COLD CUTS: Forward Kiefer Sherwood scored twice in Friday's 3-1 win over Team USA, giving him three goals over his last two games. He scored the game-tying goal in Wednesday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Chicago Steel which gave the Phantoms a share of the Anderson Cup. Sher- wood has been on a roll as of late, totaling 22 points (9g, 13a) over his last 16 games played

HELLO, MR. ANDERSON: The Youngstown Phantoms earned the 2014-2015 Anderson Cup out- right following their 3-1 win over Team USA on Friday night. It marks the first time the Phantoms have earned the Anderson Cup, which is presented to the USHL's regular season champion.

MONUMENTAL TURNAROUND: The Phantoms have already seen a 44 point turnaround from last year, marking one of the largest turnarounds in League history. Youngstown finished last season last in the USHL's Eastern Conference, compiling a record 17-37-6. Their 17-straight wins also equaled the Phantoms' entire win total from last season.

PLAYOFF BOUND: By virtue of Dubuque's 4-1 win over the Tri-City Storm on Friday night, the Phantoms are guaranteed to face the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the first round of the 2015 Clark Cup Playoffs. Game one will be in Muskegon on Wednesday, April 15th at 7:15pm, while Games two and three will be Friday and Saturday, April 16th and 17th in Youngstown at 7:05pm. Games four and five will be played if necessary, and will be in Muskegon on Monday the 20th and in Youngstown on Wednesday the 22nd, respectively.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: The Phantoms will be injecting some new blood into their lineup over their last to regular season games, as affiliate-list forwards Justin Cmunt, Grant Meyer, and Kole Shewood, along with affiliate-list defenseman Connor Moore are all scheduled to see game action. All four skated in Friday night's win over Team USA, and three have seen action prior to this weekend. Meyer is no stranger to the Phantoms, as he skated in six games with the Phantoms earlier in the season, and parts of last season. Sherwood has also cracked the Phantoms' lineup, scoring his first career USHL goal in last Saturday's 5-1 win over Muskegon. Moore suited up for the Phantoms last season, potting his first USHL goal in a 7-3 win back on March 21st, 2014.

Game 60 Youngstown Phantoms vs Team USA-Under 17

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH-7:05 pm

YNG: 39-14-6, 84 PTS-1st Place (East)

USA : 25-31-3, 53 PTS-8th Place (East)

BIRD IS THE WORD: Goaltender Chris Birdsall picked up is ninth win in his last 10 starts on Friday night, stopping 30 of the 31 shots he faced in the 3-1 win over Team USA's Under 17 program. He has been stellar for the Phantoms over the last couple of months, posting a 9-1-0 record over his last 10 starts, allowing more than three goals on just three occasions. The Boston College commit is 11-3-0 in his last 14 starts, posting a 2.13 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in that span.

THE PUCK STOPS HERE!: Even though goaltender Colin DeAugustine saw his career-long 11 game winning streak come to an end in Wednesday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Chicago Steel, he has been one of the top goaltenders in the USHL over the past couple of months, winning 12 of his last 14 starts, and posting a 15-1-1 record over his last 19 games played.

STANDING ON THE TOP: The Phantoms currently boast three of the top 10 point scorers in the USHL, including League-leader Kyle Connor (32G-46A-78P), Max Letunov who ranks seventh with 62 points (24g, 38a), and Josh Melnick who is tied for eighth with 14 goals and 47 assists for 61 points. As a team, Youngstown leads the USHL in scoring, averaging 3.83 goals per game.

CENTURY CLUB: With an assist in the 4-2 loss to the Omaha Lancers on March 27th, forward Tyler Sheehy hit 100 points for his USHL career. Acquired in a trade with the Waterloo Black Hawks at the trade deadline, Sheehy has accounted for a pair of goals and eight assists through his first ten games in a Phantoms uniform. Through 116 career USHL games, the University of Minnesota commit has accounted for 39 goals and 63 assists. He joins current teammates Kyle Connor and Max Letunov, and alums Austin Cangelosi and JT Stenglein as the only Phantoms to score 100 or more points in their USHL careers.

RECORD BREAKERS: The Phantoms set a new USHL Tier-1 era record (2002-Present) with their 17th consecutive win on March 22nd. The 2013-14 Waterloo Black Hawks and the 2005-06 Sioux Falls Stampede both held the previous record with 16.

The overall USHL record is 19, set by the Des Moines Buccaneers during the 1998-99 season.

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 fifth-ranked power play in the League, converting on 21.55% of their chances (61/283).

Their 61 power play goals leads the USHL, and forward Kiefer Sherwood is currently fourth in the League with 12 power play markers on the year. The penalty kill has been just as solid, leading the USHL by killing off 194/225 opposition power plays (86.22%), while scoring a League-leading 16 shorthanded goals; six of which belong to forward Ryan Lomberg, who leads the USHL in that category. In Overall, 22 different players have recorded at least one special teams point this season.

LEAGUE LEADERS: The Phantoms are amongst the leaders in the USHL in many offensive categories, including goals (226) assists (370), points (596), power play goals (61), and shorthanded goals (16). Currently, the Phantoms lead the League in scoring, averaging 3.84 goals per game.

PHANTOMS STEAL THE SHOW: The Phantoms were the main topic of conversation at the USHL/NHL Top Prospects 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 Con- nor and defenseman Kris MyllarI, each finished with a plus-one on-ice rating.

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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