USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week 17

Published on January 24, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms went 1-1-1 in a grueling, three-day, three-game road swing over the weekend. This week they return to the Covelli Centre for a pair of games to wrap up their January schedule. On Thursday the Phantoms (19-12-3, fourth East) will face the Waterloo Black Hawks for the first time this season and the following night they will take on the Dubuque Fighting Saints, who will be playing for the third time in the confines of the Covelli Centre. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. EST both Thursday and Friday night.

The Week In Review

Game 32: Phantoms Fall 2-1 In Overtime, Drop First Of Two-Game Set In Des Moines

Sam Anas scored the lone goal for the Phantoms, who lost their fourth straight game Friday night. Goaltender Matthew O'Connor played sublime in net, turning away 32 of 34 shots. But unfortunately for Youngstown, his counterpart Jason Kasdorf was just as sharp as he captured his first victory over the Phantoms in four starts, and the Buccaneers (13-15-3, fifth West) got their first win on home ice since Dec. 3.

Game 33: Bradley Blasts 3 From The Point, Phantoms Win Firefight In Des Moines 8-6

One night after a goaltending clinic was put on in Buccaneer Arena, the Phantoms put on a very different show, led by defenseman Chris Bradley. The RPI commit netted a hat trick as the Phantoms defeated the Buccaneers 8-6 in a Saturday night firefight. Dylan Margonari scored a pair of goals, including the eventual game-winner, while short-handed, and Zach Tatrn, Richard Zehnal and JT Stenglein also chipped in with goals. O'Connor turned away 27 of 33 shots to record his 16th win of the season.

Game 34: 'Opportunistic' Steel Down Phantoms In Third

Both teams entered the third period tied at 1-1, but the Steel (10-21-1, eighth East) got a pair of goals in the final frame and the Phantoms, who were playing for the third straight day on the road, could not orchestrate a comeback, and fell 3-1. Bradley scored the Phantoms' only goal, his fourth in two nights, and goaltender Sean Romeo turned away 17 of 20 shots, but had little to no chance on the trio of Chicago tallies.

Loose Pucks

-- Chris Bradley's hat trick on Saturday in Des Moines was the first for a defenseman in Phantoms history. The last USHL defenseman to record a hat trick in was former Cedar Rapids RoughRiders blue liner Bryce Aneloski during the 2009-2010 season.

-- With five assists over the weekend, Mike Ambrosia tied former Phantom Jiri Sekac's single-season assist record of 27, set in 2010-2011. Ambrosia, a Princeton commit in his second year with the Phantoms, is already the franchise's all-time points and assists leader.

-- Phantoms players Austin Cangelosi and Richard Zehnal, along with Bradley, will all suit up for Team East in the inaugural USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game tonight at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, Mich. The game will showcase 40 of the top NHL draft prospects in the league and be webcast online for free on FASTHockey.com. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. EST.

-- The Phantoms and Buccaneers combined for 14 goals on Saturday night in Des Moines, the most goals scored in a single game in Youngstown history. The two teams racked up nine goals and a whopping 22 separate penalty infractions in the second period alone.

The Week Ahead

Game 35: Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Waterloo

The Black Hawks (17-10-4, fourth West) make their only visit to the Covelli Centre on Thursday. The teams went past regulation both times they faced off in Youngstown last season, with the Phantoms taking the first game 3-2 in overtime before falling 5-4 in a five-round shootout in the second meeting. There is a good chance that Thursday's game could be a close one as well as seven of Waterloo's last eight games have been decided by two goals or less.

Game 36: Friday, Jan. 27 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Dubuque

The Phantoms split a two-game series with the Fighting Saints (20-10-3, third East) back in November at the Covelli Centre, dominating the defending Clark Cup champions in a 5-2 win in the first outing. The second time around, however, Phantoms spotted the Fighting Saints four goals before making a late push, but they were ultimately unable to make up the deficit, falling 4-3. Dubuque's captain, and the USHL's top-rated forward, Zemgus Girgensons, had recorded 17 points in just 11 games before facing the Phantoms, who held him without a point or even a shot in the lone game he dressed for. Since that series, he has only 14 points in as many games.

They Said It

"I think that was the longest period I've ever been a part of in hockey."

-- Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen on a wild second period last Saturday night Des Moines that saw both teams combine for nine goals and 22 penalties.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Mike Ambrosia (9G-27A-36 Points)

Goals: JT Stenglein (17)

Assists: Ambrosia (27)

Power-Play Goals: Stenglein (6)

Short-Handed Goals: Cangelosi (6, first USHL)

Points by a Defenseman: Chris Bradley (5G-6A-11PTS)

Plus/Minus: Cangelosi (plus-14)

Wins: Matthew O'Connor (16, second USHL)

Goals Against Average: O'Connor (2.69)

Save Percentage: O'Connor (.909)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Bowling Green forward Adam Berkle (2009-2011) scored a pair of goals and added an assist over the weekend as the Falcons split a two-game series with Alaska winning 3-1 on Friday before falling 4-1 the following day.

-- Maine forward Stu Higgins (2009-2011) registered an assist as the Black Bears routed Boston College 7-4 on Saturday.

-- Bentley forward Brett Gensler (2009-2010) had an assist on the lone Falcons as they fell to the Rochester Institute of Technology 2-1 on Saturday.

-- Miami of Ohio defenseman Ben Paulides (2009-2011) added an assist as the RedHawks shutout Western Michigan 4-0 on Saturday.

Events and Promotions

Tuesday, Jan. 24: The USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game: The game, which is the first of its kind for the USHL, will showcase many of the top USHL players eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, including Phantoms player Chris Bradley, Austin Cangelosi and Richard Zehnal. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. EST at L.C. Walker Arena and FASTHockey, the USHL's exclusive online broadcast provider, will webcast the game for FREE!

Viewers can watch the webcast live via multiple formats - the USHL's Facebook page, through a previously established FASTHockey account, or Roku users can watch the game on the platform's USHL channel.

To view the USHL free game broadcast, fans must first register and create a free account on FASTHockey http://ushl.fasthockey.com . Facebook users should "Like" the USHL Facebook page and log in to their FASTHockey account using the "USHL on FASTHockey App" to watch the game.

Thursday, Jan. 26: "Double Dollar Deal Day" : Come down to the Covelli Centre Thursday for a "Double Dollar Deal Day" when the Phantoms host Waterloo. 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. 27: Youngstown State University Night and Thunder Stick Giveaway: Members from YSU Greek Life will be honored, and YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson will drop the ceremonial first puck Friday night at the Covelli Centre. The first 3,000 fans through the door will receive Thunder Sticks courtesy of the Ohio Lottery and college students with a valid student I.D. can get a 50 percent discount at the box office. And make sure to come down early to see a live penguin from the Pittsburgh Aviary, which will be on the concourse from 6:15 p.m. until puck drop at 7:15 p.m. EST

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 24, 2012


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