Phantoms Look To Bounce Back Against Toledo
Published on September 21, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, OHIO (Tuesday, September 21, 2004) -- After opening the regular season with a pair of losses to the USA 18-and-Under National Team in Ann Arbor, Michigan this past weekend, the Youngstown Phantoms Junior-A hockey club will be on the road again tomorrow night for a 7:30 p.m. contest against the Ice Diggers in Toledo. Youngstown lost to Team USA by scores of 9-4 and 10-4, after surrendering just one goal in its final three exhibition games.
Up in Boston the weekend of September 10-12, the Phantoms shut out the New England Huskies (4-0) and Boston Junior Bruins (3-0) before defeating the New Hampshire Monarchs, 2-1, in an overtime shootout. After that, allowing 19 goals in two games was a bit alarming, but Youngstown Head Coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt believes his group of defensemen and his young goaltenders will settle in and play better as the season progresses.
"Right now, it's hard to get a real good read on our club," Mainhardt said. "The weekend before, we played some very talented teams out East and we were very excited about the way we performed. Then we ended up doing about a 180 the following weekend. We're making some adjustments, stepping things up and challenging some guys a little bit more. But at the same time, we don't want to put too much pressure on them. There's a fine line there."
Mainhardt has described newcomers Jeremy Smith and Jimmy Brennan as "leaders and very good defensemen," and returning players such as Mark Zarbo and Chris Smith are also expected to be key members of the defensive corps. With last season's number one goaltender Tyler Sims off to Providence College, and his back-up John Murray now playing for the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede, first-year Phantoms Jerry Kuhn and Tommy O'Brien are the new netminders.
"We do have young guys and rookies in some pretty important positions, but we're still confident we have a group that's going to get it done," Mainhardt said. "We'll have a better read on our club in a few weeks, but I think we'll be fine."
Phantoms News & Notes: Free agent forward Dale Michonski has signed with Youngstown after being released by the USHL's Indianapolis Ice. The Chicago native will be added to the roster today and is expected to see action against Toledo tomorrow night. "Michonski is an energy, grinder-type forward that should bring a pretty good physical presence to the team," Coach Mainhardt said. To make room for Michonski on the Phantoms' roster, defenseman Kevin Hicks, who has a fractured vertebra in his back, will be placed on the injured reserve list. Hicks is expected to be sidelined for a period of approximately six weeks...LW Aaron Rhyner, who led Youngstown with 29 goals last season, scored three times in the two-game series in Ann Arbor over the weekend. "We're glad to see him get off to a good start," Coach Mainhardt said...The most goals the Phantoms allowed in a single game last season was six -- on four occasions.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 21, 2004
- North American Hockey League Chooses Pointstreak - NAHL
- Phantoms Look To Bounce Back Against Toledo - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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