Phantoms entertain Team USA
Published on March 15, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, Ohio - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms wrap up their regular season with a seven-game home stand at the Ice Zone.
It begins this weekend with a pair of games against the U.S. National Team. Face-off on Friday and Saturday is at 7 p.m.
Saturday's game will feature the Phantoms wearing green St. Patrick's Day jerseys. A post-game auction will follow with proceeds to benefit Phantoms Youth Hockey.
The Phantoms, 42-12-1, have won 36 of their last 41 games after a 6-7-1 record to start the season. They are 9-2 versus Team USA this season, outscoring them 53-42.
Goaltender Ryan Zapolski's 37 wins are one shy of tying the North American Hockey League record for victories by a goaltender in a season. Larry Sterling owns the mark of 38, set in 2003 with Team Compuware.
Of the 31 players in the NAHL that have scored at least 20 goals this season, the Phantoms place the most of any team with five.
Dustin Cloutier is tied for second in the NAHL with 37 goals, followed by Nathan Longpre (25), Chris Fairbanks (23), Matt Quigley (20) and Mike Fillinger (20).
Fillinger has recorded a goal in each of his last five games, which is the longest active streak in the league and one behind Cloutier's team-high of six this season.
ALUMNI UPDATE: As many as six former Phantoms could vie for an NCAA Division I championship when the 16-team tournament field is announced on Sunday.
Freshman goaltender Tommy O'Brien and Notre Dame (29-6-3) are ranked first in this week's USA Today Men's Hockey Poll.
The Fighting Irish are a lock for the tournament, regardless of their outcome against Lake Superior State in a Central Collegiate Hockey Association semifinal on Friday.
Junior defenseman Charley Fetzer and #13 Miami of Ohio (23-13-4), who lost to Lake Superior State in the CCHA quarterfinals, will wait on Sunday to see if they receive an at-large bid.
In the other semifinal, freshman center Anthony Ciraulo and the ninth-ranked Michigan Wolverines (25-12-1) face Michigan State.
Freshman defenseman John Kivisto and the Michigan Tech Huskies (18-16-5) take on the defending national champion Wisconsin Badgers in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Final Five quarterfinal. Michigan Tech is ranked 16th in the country.
Sophomore defenseman Chris Smith and the 10th-ranked St. Lawrence Saints (22-12-2) take on Quinnipiac in the Eastern College Athletic Conference semifinals Friday night.
Freshman center Owen Meyer and the Army Cadets (16-11-5) battle Connecticut in an Atlantic Hockey semifinal, also Friday night.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company- Phantom Fireworks, which is headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2007
- Phantoms entertain Team USA - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Travels to Take on NAHL's Best - U.S. National Team
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