Phantoms face early season challenge
September 21, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
Boardman, Ohio (Thursday, September 21, 2006) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms will open their NAHL North Division play on the road Friday against the U.S. National Under-18 Team. Since their inception in 2003, the Phantoms' regular season opener has been at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor against Team USA's Under-18 squad, save last week's league showcase.
For the Phantoms, they look for their first win in 10 games against the Under-18 team. But they are not the only squad to suffer such futility against this powerhouse. The U-18s are 35-2 against NAHL teams since 2004, losing both games by one goal. However, the Phantoms have made a habit of staying competitive with the red, white, and blue and will look to do more of the same at the very least.
"We play good games against them and we want to come out with a 'W'. At this point in the season, we're still trying to figure things out. We're looking to go in there and try and steal a win," said head coach Bob Mainhardt.
For the first time, the U-18s represented the Development Program this year at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota last week, something normally reserved for the Under-17 team. They left suburban St. Paul as the only undefeated team from the event with a 4-0 record, outscoring their opponents 25-4. Among their wins was an 11-1 drubbing of the three-time defending Robertson Cup champion Texas Tornado.
With the NAHL increasing its regular season schedule to 62 games, the U-18 team now only has 13 additional league games this season, as the Under-17 squad will play the remaining 45. The combined league records of both teams will represent the overall record of National Team's Development Program in the NAHL. Because they played in Blaine last week, Friday's game will be the first of only two matchups this season between the Under-18 team and the Phantoms. Both teams had faced one another four times in each of the past two seasons.
13 members of last year's Under-18 team were picked in June's NHL draft, led by defenseman Erik Johnson; the number one overall selection by the St. Louis Blues. Johnson will forego a rookie season with the Blues and, instead, honor his commitment as a freshman with the University of Minnesota. Aside from their NAHL games, the U-18 team predominantly plays a schedule against international and NCAA Division 1 competition.
This year's Under-18 team includes 20 returnees from last year's Under-17 program. All but five of them have committed to NCAA programs for next season. Left wing James vanRiemsdyk, who recorded six goals and five assists in eight games last season against the Phantoms, is headed to the University of New Hampshire next season.
"For those who commit to a school before the season, it allows them to get focused on other things while eliminating those anxieties," said Under-18 Head Coach Ron Rolston. "It lets them relax, but it also reflects in their maturity and becoming a professional both on and off the ice."
THE NUMBERS ARE IN: The league's promise to enforce the rules of the game was evident at the NAHL Showcase. Though penalty minutes increased by only 14.7%, misconduct and major penalties such as fighting were called less often. With fervent and frequent whistle-blowing for holding, hooking and interference throughout the four days, teams averaged a combined 18.44 power play opportunities per game during the showcase. It represents a 70.4 increase over last season's average of 10.82. In addition, of the 354 skaters who played in at least two games last week, just over 85% of them (301) spent some time in the penalty box.
Phantoms captain Chris Fairbanks is tied for ninth in the league with three goals following last week's showcase performance. Right winger Nick Kulas was the Phantoms leading scorer in Minnesota with four points on two goals and two assists.
The Under-18 Team's average size is 6 foot-2 and 195 pounds; clearly the biggest opponent the Phantoms will face this season. Conversely, this is likely the Phantoms fastest squad on ice in four seasons, setting up a battle of size versus speed.
"We're hoping that the way the new rule enforcement is going, it will open the game up more and allow us to use our speed. It will force those big guys that clamp down on you and take away the offensive opportunities. Hopefully, they'll (the officials) stay consistent and make those calls this weekend," said Mainhardt.
"You have to use the strengths that you have. We have to utilize that to our advantage, especially on offense, and make it a trademark. In adjusting to the new rules, I wasn't surprised that our players got better after two games. At 17 years old, they now have to change their habits of playing," added Rolston.
GOT ROOM FOR MORE? As a special provision involving games with the U.S. National Team's Development Program, both teams can dress 23 players for a game; three more than the normal maximum of 20 in other NAHL games. With injuries, the U.S. will likely field a roster of 21, but the Phantoms will likely utilize all three extra spots, meaning every skater should see action. "We will definitely take advantage of that. You can never have too much depth. This will give us an opportunity to be a little bit fresher, which, in turn, should mean our guys can work a little bit harder," said Mainhardt.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 21, 2006
- IceDiggers open home schedule Friday vs. Marquette - Alpena IceDiggers
- Phantoms face early season challenge - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Keith Gizzi Named USA Hockey Foundation's First-Ever Chief Development Officer - U.S. National Team
- Bobcats open season on home ice - Bismarck Bobcats
- Jets Welcome New Interns - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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