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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Final Roundup

April 11, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Phantoms closed out 2013-14 with one final homestand, facing off against the Dubuque Fighting Saints and the Sioux City Musketeers.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

On Friday night, the Fighting Saints were in town for a 7:05 faceoff at the Covelli Centre.

Despite getting outshot 17-7 in the opening period, the Phantoms would score the only goal to take a 1-0 lead. Steven Ruggiero recorded his first career USHL goal, while Kyle Connor and JJ Piccinich each picked up an assist.

At 3:18 of the second period, the Phantoms would double their lead after Zach Evancho capped off a solid effort. After finishing his check along the boards, the puck was freed up for Josh Melnick to take control. Evancho got to an open area of the ice and was then set up by Melnick before finishing the play.

About midway through the second period, Connor scored his 31st goal of the season to give his team a 3-0 lead after Piccinich set him up for a tap in. The tally was Piccinich's second assist of the night, and Connor's 74th point of the season.

Karson Kuhlman was able to cash in on a late power play goal for the Fighting Saints to get them to within two, but the Phantoms would hold on for the win, with Sean Romeo making 38 of 39 saves in a stellar effort.

The following night, the Sioux City Musketeers were in town for the final game of the season. Less than 30 seconds into the game, Alfred Larsson was given a penalty for cross checking, sending the Musketeers to the man advantage. Trevor Olson capitalized on the play after getting set up by Terrance Amorosa and Cedric Lacroix to put the visitors ahead, 1-0.

The Phantoms were able to respond with an equalizer, as Tommy Parran scored his fifth goal of the season, with assists from Evancho and Melnick.

Sioux City then found themselves shorthanded for the first time in the game after Jared Thomas was nabbed for high sticking. After assisting on the previous goal, Melnick finished the play this time around to give the Phantoms a 2-1 lead after one.

At 2:42 of the third period, Cedric Lacroix beat Colin DeAugustine to tie things up for the Musketeers. Joe Snively was credited with the only assist on the tally. Shortly after the equalizer, the Phantoms had to kill a penalty, but Conor Lemirande did not shy away from attacking the opposing end when given the opportunity. Sure enough, after streaking down the right wing boards he fired a shot past goaltender Collin Olson to give the Phantoms a 3-2 lead.

The Musketeers would rally for three unanswered goals throughout the remainder of the game, and went on to win by a score of 5-3.

LOOSE PUCKS

- Kyle Mackey committed to play college hockey at the Air Force Academy, becoming the first Phantom in team history to commit to either of the U.S. service academies that play hockey at the Division I level.

- Kyle Connor finished the season ranked second in the USHL with 74 points, establishing a franchise single-season best. He now has 115 career points as a Phantom, which trails Austin Cangelosi by eight for the all-time franchise record.

- Connor will also represent the USA at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, to be played in Finland later this month.

- JJ Piccinich led the league in power play goals with 13. He also broke out with a 58-point campaign, improving by 43 over his 15-point rookie season. The 43-point jump is the second-most in franchise history for a season-to-season improvement in scoring by one player (JT Stenglein went from three points in 2010-11 to 51 in 2011-12, a 48-point leap).

- Maxim Letunov's 43-point season was the third-best total for a rookie in team history, trailing Cangelosi (59) and John Padulo (48).

THEY SAID IT

"The biggest thing I'll say is, don't look at the record, don't look at the losses, but look at the people. Look at the guys that are going to move on from this program. Who would you rather have to represent this town, team, and family other than [guys like] Conor Lemirande, Alfred Larsson, Tyler Spezia, Sean Romeo, or Truman Reed? These guys are the most special group of people that I've been around. They're going to move on and be leaders, captains, great members of families, and they're going to make people around them better."

- Anthony Noreen, speaking after the final game of the season

PHANTOMS LEADERS

Points: Kyle Connor (31-43-74, 2nd in USHL)

Goals: Kyle Connor (31, 4th in USHL)

Assists: Connor (43, 4th in USHL)

Power Play Goals: Piccinich (13, led USHL)

Shorthanded Goals: Tyler Spezia (2, T-7th in USHL)

Plus/Minus: Zach Evancho (+2)

Penalty Minutes: Josh Nenadal (141, T-5th in USHL)

Points by a Defenseman: Kyle Mackey (16)

Wins: Colin DeAugustine, Sean Romeo (8)

Goals Against Average: Romeo (3.42)

Save Percentage: Romeo (.891)

Shutouts: DeAugustine, Romeo (1 each)

ALUMNI WATCH

- Scott Mayfield made his NHL debut for the Islanders on April 6 at Columbus, becoming the second USHL Phantom to appear in an NHL game.

- The first, Andrej Sustr, scored his first NHL goal on April 5 vs. Dallas. The Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman, in turn, became the first USHL Phantom to ever score in the NHL.

- Boston College (Austin Cangelosi/Quinn Smith) fell to Union by a 5-4 final in the first Frozen Four semifinal on Thursday.

- Minnesota (Tom Serratore) defeated North Dakota by a 2-1 final on a shorthanded goal by Justin Holl at the 19:59 mark of the third period to advance to the National Championship game.

- Saturday night, Serratore will attempt to become the second Phantom to ever win the NCAA Division I National Championship, following in Smith's footsteps (2012).

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