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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms' Kyle Connor to Represent Team USA at World Junior A Challenge

October 18, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Youngstown Phantoms forward Kyle Connor currently leads the USHL in scoring and in November, he will have the chance to lead his country on the international stage. Connor was named to the U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge, Nova Scotia, USA Hockey announced Thursday.

The 16-year-old winger is one of 22 USHL players selected to represent USA at the six-team international tournament, which will be held Nov. 4-12 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen will also serve as an assistant coach the U.S. squad.

"This is a big honor for Kyle - especially at his age, being the youngest player on the team - and a big honor for our franchise," Noreen said. "It's a testament to how much he's grown over the last year in the league. It's very well deserved."

A native of Shelby Township, Mich., Connor has notched four goals and eight assists for a league-leading 12 points through just eight games this season. The Michigan recruit racked up an impressive 17-24-41 in 62 games for the Phantoms last season, when he was the youngest player in the entire USHL.

Connor has previous experience representing the Red, White and Blue as well. He earned a silver medal with U.S. Under-18 Team in August at the renowned Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament held in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia. The year before, Connor captured gold with Team USA at the 2012 U-17 Five Nations Tournament in Chomutov, Czech Republic, and led the tournament 4-2-6 in four games.

"That was part of the equation, too," Noreen said. "Kyle's gone overseas the last few summers and he's had success and been a contributor on those teams. That experience should help him and I think he's proven he's a guy you can value going into those tournaments."

The World Junior A Challenge is one of the premier international select tournaments, pitting teams from Canada East, Canada West, Czech Republic, Russia and Switzerland. This is the fourth year in a row that Youngstown has had at least one player selected to represent the Team USA, which has captured at gold three of those four tournaments, including last year's.

Team USA opens up it defense of the gold medal Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. EST with an exhibition game against Canada West. FASTHockey, the official broadcast partner of the USHL, will offer live streaming coverage for all tournament games at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com.

Full Roster and Tournament Schedule Below:

USA Roster for World Junior A Challenge

Defensemen

Jordan Gross (Green Bay Gamblers), Josh Jacobs (Indiana Ice), Steven Johnson (Omaha Lancers) Teemu Kivihalme (Fargo Force), Clark Kuster (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Ryan Mantha (Sioux City Musketeers), Neal Pionk (Sioux City Musketeers).

Forwards

Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Shane Eiserman (Dubuque Fighting Saints), CJ Franklin (Sioux Falls Stampede), Marcel Godbout (Des Moines Buccaneers), Connor Hurley (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Zeb Knutson (Sioux Falls Stampede), Dennis Kravchenko (Sioux Falls Stampede), Karson Kuhlman (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Seamus Malone (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Andrew Oglevie (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Austin Poganski (Tri-City Storm), Nick Schmaltz (Green Bay Gamblers), Matthew Weis (Green Bay Gamblers).

Goaltenders

Chris Birdsall (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Cal Petersen (Waterloo Black Hawks)

World Junior A Challenge schedule (All times EST)

Nov. 2 vs. Canada West (exhibition) at 6 p.m.

Nov. 5 vs. Russia at 7 p.m.

Nov. 6 vs. Canada East at 7 p.m.

Nov. 7 - Quarterfinals (TBD)

Nov. 8 - Semifinals (TBD)

Nov. 9 - Third- place and Fifth-place games (TBD)

Nov. 10 - Championship at 1 p.m.

Season tickets for the 2013-14 season are on sale now starting at the low price of just $8 a game. Benefits include invitations to exclusive season ticket holder events, discounts at the Phantoms Team Shop and much more. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve seats today. For all the latest news, visit www.YoungstownPhantoms.com, follow the Phantoms on Twitter (@YtownPhantoms) and 'like' them on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/YoungstownPhantoms).

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