USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantom Philes: Thanks For Supporting Relay For Life Night

Published on October 27, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (October 27, 2009) - These are the Phantom Philes, a weekly inside look at Youngstown's very own stop on the road to the National Hockey League.

Today's edition: Thanking everyone who participated in Saturday's Relay For Life Night.

Marlene Allen was driving in her car when she heard that that familiar statement emitting from her dashboard radio, a statement we've all heard in one form or another.

At some point in your life, you will know at least one person afflicted with cancer.

That may not have applied to Allen at the time, but unfortunately the scourge of cancer found its way into her life in a major way, as her mother and aunt both fell victim to the deadly disease, followed by her sister contracting and subsequently fighting off lung cancer.

As if that wasn't enough to prove Allen's radio correct, her sister's cancer has now reappeared and metastasized into her brain.

"She's currently going through chemo[therapy]," Allen said. "That's one of the reasons why it means so much to do something to directly help with finding a cure."

Allen is currently in her third year as a member of the Servants of Christ Relay For Life team, which originated among members of the Fairview United Methodist Church in Niles. Allen's team attended the Youngstown Phantoms' Relay For Life Night last Saturday as the team hosted the Tri-City Storm.

Off the ice, proceeds from ticket sales and a post-game auction of special edition game-worn jerseys went to the American Cancer Society.

"It's such an important cause," said Phantoms team President Alex Zoldan. "People everywhere are fighting the disease and it's a battle that needs to be fought on all fronts. Everyone has a responsibility to help out."

Relay for Life is a fundraising event hosted by the American Cancer Society, and is now also held in many other countries. It is an overnight event designed to spread awareness for cancer prevention, treatments and cures, celebrate survivorship and raise money for research.

"Our pastor's wife is a cancer survivor, so that's how we got into it," Allen said. "Now our church is merging with another one, but [the Servants of Christ] will live on."

As part of Saturday evening's festivities, the Phantoms invited area Relay For Life teams like Allen's to attend as a reward for their diligent fundraising efforts.

"These teams work so hard year-round," said Phantoms Director of Community Relations & PR Kelly Carroll. "They deserve a night of fun to celebrate their cause and we'd love for them to have an enjoyable evening at the Covelli Centre."

For Allen's team, attending Relay For Life Night was an extension of a habit they picked up two years ago when the Phantoms' previous incarnation in the lower-level North American Hockey League hosted a similar event at the Ice Zone skating complex in Boardman.

"Everyone had a lot of fun [Saturday], even though most of them didn't know too much about hockey," Allen said. "But once you get there and get into the game, it's like 'Wow!'"

After dropping two games to the Storm, the Phantoms (2-4-1) head to the road this weekend for a pair of games in Fargo, N.D., against the defending West Division champion Force. Friday's game starts at 8:35 p.m. Eastern time from the state-of-the-art Urban Plains Center, while Saturday's contest will commence at 8:05. Voice of the Phantoms Matt Gajtka brings you all the play-by-play live on Youngstown's ESPN 1240!

FOLLOW THE PHANTOMS ALL SEASON LONG!

Listen to Voice of the Phantoms Matt Gajtka call exciting Phantoms hockey on Youngstown's ESPN 1240 and the B2 Networks! Broadcasts begin approximately 15 minutes prior to opening faceoff. Phantoms fans outside the listening area can log onto www.wbbw.com and use ESPN 1240's streaming audio player, so there's no need to miss a second of the action!

In addition, tune in to ESPN 1240 every Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. for Phantoms Phever presented by House of Speed, an hour-long talk show that brings you an inside look at your Youngstown Phantoms! Join host Matt Gajtka live from Jeremiah Bullfrog's Sports Bar & Grille on US Route 224 in Boardman, the new site of Phantoms Phever, as he chats with coaches, players and front office staff about northeast Ohio's most exciting team and the great sport of hockey. This week's guests for the inaugural show from Jeremiah Bullfrog's will be Head Coach/GM Bob Mainhardt, first-overall selection in the 2009 USHL Futures Draft Matt Mahalak and Steve Halloran from House of Speed.

Also, make "Youngstown Phantoms" your friend on Facebook and follow "ytownphantoms" on Twitter to stay plugged into the Phantoms 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

THE WEEK THAT WAS:

Friday, October 23: TRI-CITY 5, YOUNGSTOWN 3

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After scoring three goals in a period four times in their first five games, the Youngstown Phantoms might've thought they had the copyright on the three-spot.

If so, they need to sue the Tri-City Storm for infringement.

Radoslav Illo, Cody Murphy and Brett Moehler scored third-period goals for the visiting Storm, propelling Tri-City to a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over the Phantoms Friday night at the Covelli Centre.

Youngstown, which has lost two in a row to fall to 2-3-1 on the young season, carried a 3-2 lead into the third on a pair of power-play goals by defenseman Luke Eibler and an even-strength marker by Rich Young. However, Tri-City (4-1-1) stormed back when Illo threw Nate Jensen's rebound into the open right side of the goal to make it 3-3 6:32 into the third - the Storm's third power-play goal of the night.

Murphy then drove the net and tapped in a loose puck off a goalmouth scramble to push Tri-City on top just shy of the midway point of the final period. Moehler added his second of the game into an empty net to close the scoring at 19:13. The Storm outshot the Phantoms 10-2 in the third.

The two clubs will square off again Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. as the Phantoms present Relay For Life night, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. Youngstown will sport special-edition jerseys for the event, which will be auctioned off after the game.

For the second straight game, the Phantoms surrendered the opening goal as Moehler converted Maxwell Tardy's pass from the right side of the net with the Storm on their second of four first-period power plays.

But Youngstown struck right back with a quick pair to take the lead heading into the first intermission. Eibler blasted a one-timer from the left circle through goalie Carsen Chubak with the Phantoms on their first power play to tie the score at 15:39. It was Eibler's first USHL goal and it was set up by Joe Zarbo's smooth cross-ice delivery.

Not long after the Covelli Centre crowd settled back into their seats, the Phantoms had the lead. Ben Paulides floated a wrister to the front of the net from the right point, where it hit a sea of bodies. Only Young knew where it was, and he deposited a backhand for his first-ever league tally at 16:58 to make it 2-1.

Despite the warning shots fired by both power play units, Youngstown and Tri-City continued to skate to the penalty box with regularity in the second frame, leading to another exchange of man-advantage markers. The Storm tied the score 2-2 at 12:29 when Schwartz popped the puck front to Tardy, who maneuvered it around goalie Jordan Tibbett from the top of the crease.

It appeared the game would remain tied going into the third, but when Tri-City's Matt Johnson was whistled for slashing with 39 seconds left before intermission, the Phantoms had their fifth power-play opportunity. Just 10 seconds into the 5-on-4 advantage, Eibler gunned a wrong-footed snap shot over Chubak's right shoulder for his second red light of the evening and a 3-2 Youngstown lead.

Go to http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid1048752 for full box score.

Saturday, October 24: TRI-CITY 3, YOUNGSTOWN 1

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A two-goal second period was the difference for the Tri-City Storm as they swept a two-game weekend series with the Youngstown Phantoms, winning 3-1 Saturday night at the Covelli Centre.

Adam Berkle scored the lone goal for homestanding Youngstown, his second, to answer Maxwell Tardy's first period power-play tally for Tri-City, but Radoslav Illo and Brett Moehler each found the twine for the second time in as many nights to provide the final margin. The Phantoms have dropped their first three on home ice to begin the season.

The Storm (5-1-1) have now won three in a row and have not lost in regulation since opening the season with a 3-1 loss at Omaha Oct. 3. Rookie goaltender Steven Bolton got his first USHL start and the Las Vegas native came up aces for the most part, collecting 31 saves in his maiden Tier I victory.

Jordan Tibbett turned away 27 of 30 Tri-City shots in his second consecutive start for Youngstown. The Phantoms (2-4-1) will hit the road for two in Fargo, N.D., next weekend against the defending West Division champion Force.

Tardy put the Phantoms in an early hole at 5:47 of the opening frame by collecting his own rebound, circling the net and sniping a wrister high to the short side. Moehler and Jaden Schwartz picked up the assists on the Storm's fourth man-advantage goal of the weekend.

Berkle nailed the equalizer for Youngstown of assists from Nick Czinder and Taylor Holstrom with 3:44 remaining in the frame. The first-year forward hopped on a lofted pass and got behind the defense before dekeing Bolton and sliding the puck between his legs to make it 1-1.

But when Illo rifled a sharp-angle shot under the crossbar just 20 seconds into the second, the Phantoms found themselves playing from behind again. Moehler then provided insurance at 7:50, burying Schwartz's cross-rink pass from the inside of the left circle.

Youngstown turned up the pressure in the third despite being shorthanded thrice, as it outshot Tri-City 14-4 in the final stanza. It was a reversal of the previous night when the Storm dominated the shots-on-goal category late, but the Phantoms couldn't get the puck to bounce their way despite numerous desperate scrambles in Bolton's crease.

Go to http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid1048764 for full box score.

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 October 27, 2009


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