Phantoms draft pair from Michigan
Published on May 22, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, Ohio - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms selected a pair of players from Michigan in the 2007 North American Hockey League Draft on Tuesday.
The Phantoms selected defenseman Adam Chavez. Chavez, a native of Farmington Hills and a senior at Farmington HS, played for Belle Tire's Midget Major program this past season.
In 26 games, Chavez recorded a goal, 11 assists and 16 penalty minutes. At 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, he is focused on his skill set.
"I've improved my penalty killing and my play in the defensive zone a lot," Chavez said. "I need to work on my physical game; stepping up and taking the man."
Four Phantoms from the 2007 season (Chad Boeckman, Brent Dexter, Derek Graham and Robert Harrison) played previously for Belle Tire.
The Phantoms also chose Canton native and Salem HS senior Grant Blakey. Blakey is a 5-foot-9, 165 pound center from Victory Honda's Midget Major team.
In 30 games, Blakey scored 18 goals and added nine assists to go along with 40 penalty minutes.
"I did a good job of going hard into the corners for the puck and putting it in the net," Blakey said. "My speed and strength need to improve at the next level."
Like Belle Tire, Victory Honda saw four of its alumni on this past season's Phantoms roster. They included Chris Fairbanks, Bill Stemzynski, Jason Simota and Mike Fillinger, who was a Honda teammate of Blakey's two seasons ago.
"We selected two skilled players," Phantoms Assistant Coach Curtis Carr said. "They both have tremendous potential."
Chavez and Blakey join six players who were tendered by the Phantoms over the couse of last season. But the pair, along with John Houston, Zack Barbis, Vince Mihalek, Kurt Washnock, Scott Moser and Chris Dyer, are not guaranteed spots on next season's squad.
Last weekend, the Phantoms conducted the first of two tryout camps in Plymouth, Mich. Next weekend, from June 1-3, the second tryout camp will take place at the Ice Zone in Boardman.
From there, a select number of players from both camps will return to the Ice Zone for the Phantoms Invitational Camp from July 19-22. The team's training camp roster will then be determined.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned and operated by the B.J. Alan Company- Phantom Fireworks, which is headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from May 22, 2007
- Phantoms draft pair from Michigan - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Stars lay it on the (blue) line in NAHL Draft - Traverse City North Stars
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