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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Brace for Rivalry-Filled Three-In-Three

February 6, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The challenges keep on coming for the Youngstown Phantoms.

Fresh off of a difficult series in Dubuque (a weekend that saw Youngstown earn a split), the Phantoms will play a "three-in-three" with a road game at Indiana sandwiched between two home games with the Lumberjacks and the Ice.

Despite the heavy scheduling, as well as the travel involved, Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen knows his team will be ready.

"These are the types of weekends that we train for all year, and in the offseason," said Noreen. "One of the things I'll never question about this team is it's conditioning. We've had a good, couple hard days [of practice] this week, and I expect it to be a hard-fought weekend."

Although the Phantoms are surely feeling good about the big victory over the Fighting Saints last Saturday, Noreen also added that his team would have put in a positive week of practice no matter the result.

"One of the things we've loved about this team all along is that they're upbeat no matter what the results are, and that's something we want," said Noreen. "We've had two really good days [of practice] at the Ice Zone, two harder-working type days. We'll probably slow things down a little bit [in the latter half of the week], and get ready for Friday."

Another element of positivity for the Phantoms ahead of the three-in-three is the health of the defensive corps. The team will "probably" get Tommy Parran back from injury, according to Noreen. That would give the Phantoms more than six defensemen available for game day roster selection for the first time since January 22 against Indiana.

Additionally, the forward group, decimated by injury for much of November and December, appears to finally be settling in. Youngstown has, for the most part, used the same 12 forwards and line combinations over the last two weeks, and Noreen believes the stabilization has helped his team.

"I'm not a huge fan of shuffling the lines a lot," said the Phantoms' coach. "There's a time and place for it; obviously, when things aren't going well, you sometimes start reaching, trying to shuffle things up. Right now, despite whatever the result is, I think our forward lines have a good mix to them. I really think there's good chemistry amongst all four of them; I think they feed off of each other, I think they make each other better, and I think the group we're looking at is hopefully the one that we're able to stick with."

Noreen particularly singled out secondary scorers such as Kiefer Sherwood and Josh Melnick as major contributors in recent games.

"[Depth scoring] is what we've needed, and, at times, what we've lacked, especially early in the season. That's something you need. That's something you need to win in this league, at this level, and at levels beyond-you need guys to step up and score."

The Phantoms will need all of their players to come through in this weekend's games against the rival Lumberjacks and Ice, two skilled teams who recently visited and won in the Covelli Centre.

"You remember it," said Noreen, when asked how those games would affect preparation for this weekend. "You always look forward, but I think you have to remember things that have happened in the past-that's how you grow, and that's how you get better."

The importance of home ice will also be on display this weekend, with Friday and Sunday's contests occurring at home. After this weekend, the Phantoms will not play at the Covelli Centre until February 28.

"Bottom line, losing in our building is unacceptable-no matter who we're playing, no matter the situation, no matter what shape our team is in as far as health status, or things like that-losing at home is 100% unacceptable. As this team grows and matures, that's something that we'll realize and get better at, especially against rival-type teams, and against teams in our division. Those are the games that we need to win, and we need to expect to win."

Before Friday's puck drop, Noreen and the rest of the Phantoms' staff will navigate the waters of the USHL trade deadline, which is slated for tonight at 12:59 pm eastern time. While Noreen stressed that time remains before the deadline, he does not anticipate Youngstown doing anything significant.

"We're worried about this team right now. We like our group, and we like the mix we have. The core guys that will be back for the years to come-those are guys who we are not going to move. The veteran guys that we have, the guys who are in their last year of junior hockey-I think they bring so much to our room as far as leadership, doing things the right way, and leading by example. We want them around here. They are guys we want around our younger players, teaching what it takes to compete at this level, and what it's about to be a Youngstown Phantom."

Single game tickets are on sale now for all Phantoms' home games at the Covelli Centre. Phantoms 10-Game Flex Plans are also available starting at the low price of just $89. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve seats today. For all the latest news, visit www.YoungstownPhantoms.com, follow the Phantoms on Twitter (@YtownPhantoms) and 'like' them on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/YoungstownPhantoms).

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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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