Phantoms Crush Toledo
Published on October 9, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
Toledo, Ohio -- The Youngstown Phantoms Junior-A hockey club put together its finest performance of the young season tonight, defeating the Toledo Ice Diggers at the Team Toledo Ice House, 7-1. The Phantoms (3-3-0) got seven goals from seven different players in downing the host Ice Diggers (5-4-0), who had won five of their previous six games.
Youngstown jumped out in front in the first period, scoring two power play goals 42 seconds apart after Toledo's Dan Armijo received a match penalty and an automatic ejection for fighting with tape on his hand. Kyle Laughlin picked up the first goal of the night for Youngstown at the 12:10-mark and then Evan Case made the score 2-0 in favor of the visiting Phantoms with another tally at 12:52.
Toledo got on the scoreboard just 38 seconds into the second period on a goal by Jake Hovick, but then Youngstown poured in three straight goals to increase its advantage to 5-1 by the 7:05-mark. At that point, Ice Diggers Head Coach Mike Mankowski removed goaltender Derek Szesny from the game and replaced him with Justin Marriott. The Phantoms' goals during that stretch came from Shane Lennox, Mike Maltese and Dale Michonski -- with each member of the trio registering his first of the season. A power-play goal by Youngstown's Rob Rassey at 4:38 of the third period made the score 6-1. Toledo's frustration boiled over with 9:30 left in the game when a huge brawl broke out, causing a lengthy delay as penalties and ejections were sorted out. Aaron Rhyner scored the Phantoms' seventh and final goal at the 17:43-mark.
"This is the type of performance we've been expecting from this group of players from Day One," Phantoms Head Coach & General Manager Bob Mainhardt said after the game. "We were able to play strong, disciplined hockey tonight despite all the monkey business. We took advantage of the opportunities we had offensively, and defensively the shots we gave up were low percentage shots."
Miscellaneous Notes: Youngstown has won back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Phantoms defeated the Soo Indians, 4-1, last Saturday...Aaron Rhyner now leads the Phantoms with six goals and has scored at least one goal in five of the team's six games...Youngstown out-shot Toledo in the first period tonight, 15-7. However, the shots on goal for the evening ended up even at 32-32...Jerry Kuhn was in goal for the Phantoms tonight and improved his personal record to 3-2-0...In the only previous meeting between the two teams this season, the Phantoms defeated the Ice Diggers, 5-2, at Toledo back on September 22...Youngstown will now be idle for 10 days before taking part in the NAHL Showcase Tournament in Minneapolis. There, the Phantoms will play four straight days with the action getting underway on Wednesday, October 20.
For more information about the Youngstown Phantoms, members of the media should contact Jim Lachimia at (412) 708-9301 or jlatch@zoominternet.net.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 9, 2004
- Phantoms Crush Toledo - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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