Phantoms Head Coach Brad Patterson Promoted to General Manager
May 29, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
Youngstown Phantoms head coach Brad Patterson
(Youngstown Phantoms)
Phantoms Head Coach Brad Patterson has been promoted to Head Coach and General Manager, adding the General Manager duties to his existing Head Coach role. Patterson has been the head coach of the Phantoms for the past three seasons posting a 103-61-11-7 (W-L-OTL-SOL) record with a playoff berth in each season. The Phantoms advanced to the Clark Cup Finals in the 2017-18 season. Patterson replaced former General Manager, Jason Koehler.
Patterson's first task in his expanded role will be selecting the initial 30-man roster for the 2019-20 season. The main player selection camp is scheduled to begin June 12th in Pittsburgh, PA, where 100+ skilled players will compete against returning veteran players and the Phantoms' USHL draft picks for roster spots. Patterson will be joined in Pittsburgh by his coaching staff, Jeff Potter and Nick Peruzzi. Jeff Potter has been promoted to Associate Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel, and Nick Peruzzi has been promoted to Director of Scouting and Assistant Coach.
"I'm excited to take this next step in my career with the Phantoms organization. The past 10 years with the Phantoms have been tremendous, and I look forward to building on them," said Patterson. "I am thrilled that Jeff Potter and Nick Peruzzi will continue to play an integral role with the team as we prepare for main camp next month to begin to finalize next season's roster."
"Brad is an exemplary coach and leader," said Murry Gunty, co-owner of the Phantoms and CEO of Black Bear Sports Group. "Both Bruce Zoldan and I believe that Brad is the right person to lead our organization."
"Brad Patterson has developed into a first rate coach during his time with the Phantoms," said Bruce J. Zoldan. "He is a true gentleman, and the Phantoms are lucky to have him on our team. We hope Brad leads our team for many years to come."
Patterson joined the Phantoms coaching staff in 2009 following a collegiate and professional career that included two seasons with the Youngstown Steelhounds (Central Hockey League).
The Youngstown Phantoms are a member of the United States Hockey League, the nation's only Tier-I junior hockey league. The Phantoms have seen over 100 players commit to NCAA Division I schools, and 15 players have been drafted into the NHL. The Youngstown Phantoms are co-owned by Bruce Zoldan, CEO of Phantom Fireworks, America's largest retail fireworks company; and Black Bear Sports Group, a privately held company formed by Murry Gunty in 2015 that seeks investments in sports and entertainment facilities, teams and youth sports events. Black Bear currently owns and operates eleven arenas across the United States with a total of 20 sheets of indoor ice, two indoor turf fields, two youth hockey clubs and junior hockey franchises in the USHL, NAHL and EHL.
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 Youngstown Phantoms head coach Brad Patterson |
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