Phantoms Build Up to Pavlik Fight with Series Against Machine
Published on February 18, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (Wednesday, February 18th, 2009) - The first-place Mahoning Valley Phantoms will look to stay atop the NAHL North Division as they open a three-game homestand with a two-game series against Detroit's Motor City Machine starting Thursday at the Chevrolet Centre.
The two games will be part of the run-up at the Centre to Saturday's world middleweight boxing title fight at the 5,500 seat arena between Youngstown native and defending champion Kelly Pavlik and top contender Marco Antonio Rubio.
The February 20th game, the Phantoms-Machine series finale, will feature a pre-fight rally for the champ as well as his hydration weigh-in for the February 21st bout.
Phantoms Team President Bruce Zoldan says that the pre-fight event is a source of pride both for him and the team itself.
"The Phantoms Hockey organization and Team Pavlik are proud to partner in this great middleweight championship fight being held right here in our Valley," says Zoldan. "I am proud to live here in the Valley and so proud of Kelly Pavlik who truly represents the spirit and fight of the citizens of our Valley to be winners."
The hydration weigh-in will take place for Pavlik and Rubio at 6:45 PM at the Chevrolet Centre. All fans are welcome to attend the weigh-in; admission is free with a ticket to the Phantoms game.
Zoldan urges fans to come early for the rally and the weigh-in.
"We want everyone to join us Friday night at 6:00 at the Chevy Centre as we all rally around Kelly Pavlik and the Phantoms Hockey team the night before the World Championship Fight."
The Phantoms are 8-1-0 in nine prior games against the Machine, including a 5-0-0 record at the Chevrolet Centre.
Mahoning Valley's hottest line entering the series is that of Johnny Meo, Brandon Saad and Stefan Salituro; the line combined for 18 points on 6 goals and 12 assists last weekend against Marquette.
"We're definitely clicking," says Meo, "and with a scorer like Brandon who can put the puck in the net from anywhere and a talented play-maker like Salituro out there with me, I'm pretty confident that if we can maintain our defensive responsibilities, that our line will finish the season strong."
Meo will break the all-time Phantoms games played record on Thursday, playing in his 179th game in the purple and orange, breaking the old record of 178 set by Brent Dexter (2005-2008).
The Phantoms' line of Jordy Trottier, Nick Shkreli and Nick Kenney have combined for 11 goals and 7 assists against Motor City this season while goaltenders Jordan Tibbett and Garrett Bartus have combined for a 2.44 GAA and a .891 SV% in the nine games.
Machine forward Ryan Misiak has found the most success against the Phantoms, averaging a point a game with three goals and six assists against the division leaders thus far.
The Phantoms (30-11-4, 64 pts) currently sit eight points ahead of second-place Traverse City (25-12-6, 56 pts) for the top spot in the NAHL's North Division. The North Stars are in Upper Michigan this weekend for a two-game series against Marquette.
The Phantoms-Machine series opens up Thursday at 7:15 PM at the Chevrolet Centre.
The game will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin at 7:00 PM.
Special group rate tickets are available for groups of 20 or more for $6 per ticket. The Phantoms are also offering a special Knockout Package for the Pavlik fight including the last remaining ringside seats for $550.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2009
- National Team Development Program Weekly Update - U.S. National Team
- February Reading Month for Bobcat Hockey - Bismarck Bobcats
- Rangers to Battle Traverse City - Marquette Rangers
- Phantoms Build Up to Pavlik Fight with Series Against Machine - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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