Phantoms Invade the Chevrolet Centre
September 9, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (Tuesday, September 9th, 2008) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms and the Chevrolet Centre announced Tuesday that they have signed a deal to bring Phantoms hockey to the downtown Youngstown arena for the 2008-2009 NAHL season.
"We are committed to continuing hockey here in the Mahoning Valley," says Phantoms President Bruce J. Zoldan, "and when [Chevrolet Centre General Manager] Eric Ryan and the Chevy Centre came to us it was an easy decision to bring Phantoms hockey downtown."
The Phantoms will play 24 of their 28 home games at "The Chevy," with the remaining four games to be played at the Ice Zone in Boardman.
Ryan-whose management company, Eric Ryan Productions, runs the Chevrolet Centre-says that bringing the Phantoms in was a very selfless move on the part of Zoldan.
"Bruce Zoldan owns the Ice Zone, and he certainly could've just left his team at his arena," says Ryan, "but he chose to bring the Phantoms here to the Chevy Centre as part of his commitment to hockey here in the Valley."
Zoldan emphasized the high-level at which the Phantoms play, noting, "there will be a lot of people who will be pleasantly surprised at the skill level of these players."
Phantoms Head Coach Bob Mainhardt emphasized the point by calling 6'5", 220 pound defenseman Carl Nielsen in front of the press conference audience. Mainhardt said, "I don't like hearing the term 'boys' in reference to this team," pointing to Nielsen, "and I highly doubt that anyone would want to face this 'boy' on the playground."
Season tickets for the 2008-2009 campaign are now on sale, including all 24 games at the Chevy Centre and all four games at the Ice Zone. Anyone seeking information on season tickets should call Phantoms' Ticket Sales Director Terri Fannon at (330) 965-7500.
The Phantoms play one final preseason game on Saturday at 3:00 PM against Detroit's Motor City Machine, with free admission to the public. Mahoning Valley opens the regular season at the Sherwood NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota, on Wednesday, September 17th, against the Owatonna (MN) Express.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 9, 2008
- Phantoms Invade the Chevrolet Centre - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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