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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Know Your Enemy: Green Bay Gamblers

September 1, 2009 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (September 1, 2009) - In anticipation of the team's inaugural season in the United States Hockey League, the Youngstown Phantoms present "Know Your Enemy," a team-by-team guide to the USHL. This week's focus: the Green Bay Gamblers.

With former Green Bay Packer hero Brett Favre now blasphemously donning the purple uniform of the Minnesota Vikings, it seems like the only things northeastern Wisconsinites can count on are the USHL's Gamblers turning in a successful season and, oh yeah, copious amounts of snow.

After the 2007-08 season though, the people of Green Bay could have been excused for crossing the Gamblers off that list when they stumbled to dismal totals of 13 wins and 32 points, results only outdone by the franchise's first season in 1994-95. However, the club that has won two Clark Cups (USHL titles), two Gold Cups (the now-defunct national Junior "A" championship), three Anderson Cups (regular season titles) and five division crowns returned to its customary prominence last season, topping the Sioux Falls Stampede by one point for both the East Division title and the Anderson Cup.

Even though the Gamblers' season came to a sobering end in the playoffs - after trouncing the Waterloo Black Hawks in three straight first-round games, Green Bay was trumped by the eventual Clark Cup champion Indiana Ice in the second round - the message was clear that this team that has accomplished so much in just 15 seasons was on the hunt for more hardware.

The Gamblers came upon their 39-17-4 record last year honestly - they were the second-highest scoring team in the then 12-team USHL with a 3.95 goals/game average and their 2.75 goals allowed per contest ranked third in the league. Their powerful offensive attack was also a diverse one, with 10 forwards reaching double digits in goals and five players drilling home 20-plus, led by Michael Forney and C.J. Lee's 26 apiece. Current Phantom Jefferson Dahl, acquired by Youngstown in this year's Expansion Draft, registered 15 goals and 26 points in Green Bay last year.

On the blue line, Taylor Johnson was the most prolific Gamblers defensemen, posting eight goals and 24 assists. Nick Jensen boasted a gaudy team-leading +34 rating to accompany his 22 points. In goal, Reid Ellingson got the majority of the starts (40) and the wins (24), even though understudy Steve Summerhays had the better goals-against average (2.35) and save percentage (.909).

As noted above, the Gamblers franchise had a rough go of it during their inaugural season, but Green Bay held all the cards in its second campaign, claiming the rare "triple crown" in 1995-96 - winning the Anderson, Clark and Gold cups behind the solid netminding of current NHL goalie Ty Conklin. The Gamblers tried to ante up and reclaim all three chalices in 1996-97, but Omaha snatched the Clark Cup to prevent the unprecedented feat. The Gamblers would eventually take the USHL title again in the spring of 2000.

Team success aside, Green Bay has also accumulated a healthy dose of individual accolades. The club has graduated more than 100 players to the collegiate ranks and currently has 19 alumni playing professionally, including established NHLers Conklin, Blake Wheeler (Boston), Jeff Finger (Toronto), Ryan Carter (Anaheim) and Tom Preissing (Los Angeles).

The Gamblers play their home games at the seven-year-old Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, Wisc., a suburb of Green Bay. The Resch Center has a capacity of 10,200, and although the maximum for hockey games is slightly less than that, it is still the largest building in the USHL. The Phantoms will host the Gamblers twice - Wednesday, Nov. 11 and Friday, Nov. 13, both at 7:15 p.m. - before traveling to Green Bay for back-to-back games Jan. 2-3 and returning Feb. 28 for a Sunday afternoon matchup.

John Cooper enters his second season as head coach and GM of the Gamblers and Brendan Bruss is the team president. Green Bay's logo and team colors (black and gold) are a tribute to the old Green Bay Bobcats, who existed from 1958-1981 and were members of the USHL two seasons before folding.

The Youngstown Phantoms are a Member Club of the United States Hockey League (USHL), America's only Tier I hockey league and premier developer of National Hockey League talent with more than 100 alumni on current NHL rosters.

Visit www.youngstownphantoms.com or call the Front Office at 330.747.PUCK(7825) for more information on the Phantoms organization. The Youngstown Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company (Phantom Fireworks), located in Youngstown, Ohio.

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 1, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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