Phantom Forwards Bring NHL Pedigree to the Valley
November 12, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (Wednesday, November 12th, 2008) - At Mahoning Valley Phantoms games, fans always know that they are watching NHL stars of tomorrow strive for a Robertson Cup championship, but many may not know that some Phantoms have members of their family who are NHL stars of years past.
Such is the case for Phantom forwards Kyle Verbeek and Jordy Trottier. Verbeek is the son of Pat Verbeek, who won a Stanley Cup with the 1998-99 Dallas Stars and still stands as the only NHL player to have over 500 goals and 2,500 penalty minutes.
Trottier's family sports three former NHL'ers including his father, Monty, who played for the New York Islanders, his Uncle Rocky who was a first-round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils and his Uncle Bryan, a Hall of Famer who won six Stanley Cups with the Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Kyle Verbeek says that there are certainly advantages to having a father who played 19 seasons in the NHL.
"Growing up, it helped a lot to be able to go to all these NHL games for free and see my dad and his teammates play at the highest level," says the second-year Phantom forward from Bloomfield Hills, MI. "There was always so much hockey going on, and it definitely rubbed off.
"On top of that, scouts will sometimes look down the roster, see 'Verbeek' and maybe give me a longer look, which is definitely helpful."
Trottier says that the benefits also come with added expectations, thanks to the name on the back of his jersey.
"People expect a lot of me," says Trottier, "coming from such a well-known hockey family. I know I have to work harder to live up to, and hopefully exceed, those expectations."
According to Verbeek, it can also be tough for players coming from such families, especially if things aren't going so well on the ice.
"After games, especially ones your dad watched, it can lead to a lot of long car rides home with a lot of arguments," says Verbeek. "You may not want always to listen to some of the advice you get, especially if you know you're not playing well, but ultimately I know I have to listen to my dad because he played for so long in the NHL and he knows what's best."
Trottier says that one of the biggest challenges of coming from a family rich with NHL history is being his own man.
"Our family casts a long shadow in the hockey world," says the first year Phantom forward who shares the team lead in goals with six, "so it can be difficult for people to see that I am my own player."
To that end, he takes cues from his father and uncles to help forge his own identity on the ice.
"I try and take my Uncle Bryan's hard-nosed, competitive attitude and combine it with my Uncle Rocky's offensive creativity and become kind of the 'Ultimate Trottier.'"
While having an NHL background can be both beneficial and stressful for these Phantoms, they say they wouldn't trade it.
"When you're 12 years old and you see your dad lift the Stanley Cup," says Verbeek, "that's not an experience you'll ever forget."
"It definitely has its perks," adds Trottier.
"Yeah, I'd say it's pretty cool," Verbeek agrees.
Jordy Trottier, Kyle Verbeek and all of their Phantoms teammates play their first game at the Chevrolet Centre on Friday night at 7:15 PM against the defending Robertson Cup champion St. Louis Bandits.
The game can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1240 AM, WBBW, and viewed worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via the B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin at 7:00 PM.
Season tickets and individual game tickets are now on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone in Boardman. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2008
- Phantom Forwards Bring NHL Pedigree to the Valley - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Phantoms Reach Deal with Youngstown's ESPN Radio 1240 - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Springfield Defenseman Jack Callahan Committs to Quinnipiac University - Springfield Jr. Blues
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