USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week 14

Published on January 3, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms faced the most adversity they have seen all season last week, as nearly a third of the players fell victim to the flu and the team went winless in three games. Now the Phantoms (16-8-2, fourth East) are looking to get healthy and bounce back with another trio of games this week as they return to the Covelli Centre to host Muskegon on Thursday and Friday before traveling to back out to Indiana to take on the Ice on Saturday.

The Week In Review

Game 24: Shootout Loss Snaps Phantoms' Four-Game Winning Streak

The Phantoms returned from the holiday break to face the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders last Wednesday, but had no gifts in store for them as they fell 2-1 in a shootout. Goaltender Matthew O'Connor played one of his best games of the season, turning away 41 of 42 shots, including 18 in the second period. Mike Ambrosia scored the lone goal for Youngstown, but the RoughRiders (11-10-7, fifth East) grabbed both points on the evening after Jack Rowe scored in the shootout.

Game 25: Ice Slide By Phantoms With 5-2 Win In First Of Two-Game Set

The Ice (17-7-4, second East) jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first 31 minutes of the game and the Phantoms were unable to chip away in time, falling 5-2 Friday in the Pepsi Coliseum. Dylan Margonari and JT Stenglein scored for the Phantoms, but an 0-for-5 night on the power play helped secure the victory for Indiana in game one of the weekend series.

Game 26: Flu-Stricken Phantoms Fall To Ice 3-0

The Phantoms, as they had the night before, battled a nasty bout of the flu, which kept second leading-scorer Austin Cangelosi out of the lineup and had nearly a third of the team playing at "about 60 percent". But Ice goaltender Jon Gillies gave them no favors. Indiana, thanks in part to an early 5-on-3 power play, potted a pair of goals before the game was six minutes old, and added another in the third period. Gillies, the United States Hockey League's wins leader, turned away all 26 shots he faced, including Youngstown's best opportunity in the second period when Sam Anas got the puck alone on the doorstep, to record his second shutout of the season and hand the Phantoms their third straight loss.

Loose Pucks

-- Phantoms left wing Mike Ambrosia saw his six-game points streak come to an end Saturday night against the Ice. He recorded four goals and seven assists for 11 points over the span. Center Austin Cangelosi, who missed Saturday night's game, still has an active five-game scoring streak with a goal and eight assists in that time.

-- Ambrosia's assist on JT Stenglein's third-period goal on Friday night was the 36th of his USHL career, tying him with Jiri Sekac for No. 1 in on the Phantoms' all-time career assists list.

-- On Saturday, the Ice handed the Phantoms their first consecutive losses in regulation this season. Prior to that, the first-place Green Bay Gamblers were the only other team in the USHL without consecutive regulation losses.

-- Though the New Year's Eve loss Saturday did put a damper on things, 2011 was the most successful calendar year for the Phantoms in the three-year history of the franchise in the USHL. Between the latter portion of the 2010-2011 campaign and through 26 games this season, the Phantoms finished 2011 with a 31-20-8 record.

The Week Ahead

Game 27 & 28: Thursday, Jan. 5 & Friday, Jan. 6 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Muskegon

The Phantoms will be looking to get back on the winning track later this week against the Muskegon Lumberjacks and even up the season series between the teams along the way. The Lumberjacks (9-12-1, seventh East) won the first three meetings between the bitter USHL Eastern Conference rivals before the Phantoms came away with a 4-2 win on Dec. 3 in L.C. Walker Arena. Four different Phantoms scored in that game, while defenseman Jordan Young recorded his ninth assist in as many games against the 'Jacks in his USHL career.

Game 29: Saturday, Jan. 7 at 7:05 p.m. EST - Phantoms at Indiana

Saturday may be the sixth game in 11 days for the Phantoms, but they should not have any issues getting up for it with the chance to repay the Ice. Indiana leapfrogged Youngstown in the USHL Eastern Conference standings with last weekend's wins, but the Phantoms, who have two games in hand, will have the chance to make up some ground on the Pepsi Coliseum ice.

They Said It

"It was the first breakdown of the third period and it was kind of the way the weekend went for us. We made one mistake and it wound up in the back of our net. It's on us to not make those mistakes."

-- Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen on Indiana's third-period goal on Saturday, which stymied Youngstown's comeback chance.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Mike Ambrosia (8G-18A-26PTS)

Goals: JT Stenglein (14)

Assists: Ambrosia (18)

Power-Play Goals: Stenglein (4)

Short-Handed Goals: Austin Cangelosi (5, first in USHL)

Points by a Defenseman: Jordan Young (2G-8A-10PTS)

Plus/Minus: Cangelosi (plus-13)

Wins: Matthew O'Connor (13, second in USHL)

Goals Against Average: O'Connor (2.56)

Save Percentage: O'Connor (.914)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Forward Jiri Sekac (2009-2011) recorded a pair of assists for the Czech Republic - one in a 7-0 win over Denmark last Tuesday and the primary assist on the eventual game-winner in Friday's 5-2 upset of Team USA - to propel them the 2012 World Junior Championship quarter finals.

-- Forward Ty Loney (2009-2011) had a goal and a pair of assists as Denver routed Air Force 7-1 on Saturday.

-- Forward Brett Gensler (2009-2010) scored his fourth goal of the season on Sunday as Bentley fell to Yale 9-3.

Events and Promotions

Thursday, Jan. 5: "Double Dollar Deal Day" : Come down to the Covelli Centre Thursday for a "Double Dollar Deal Day" when the Phantoms host Muskegon. Fans can get a 16-oz. beer, 16-oz. soda, hotdog or popcorn for the low price of just $2 each! Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the puck drops at 7:15 p.m. EST.

Friday, Jan. 6: "Brown-Steelers Day and Student I.D. Night" : Cleveland Browns fans have one more chance to break out their gear and Pittsburg Steelers fans can get a head start on celebrating the playoffs Friday night at the Covelli Centre. All fans wearing Browns or Steelers apparel will get a $4 dollar discount on purple level tickets and additionally, all students with a valid college I.D. will get 50 percent off purple level tickets.

Single game tickets for the 2011-12 season are on sale now. Season ticket and flex plans start at the low price of just $90. Call the Phantoms office today at 330.747.7825 for more information or to make a reservation today! For a complete Phantoms schedule, visit www.youngstownphantoms.com .

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2012


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