USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week 25

Published on March 21, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms return to the Mahoning Valley this week after playing four straight games on the road. The Phantoms (30-15-7, T-second East) captured three of a possible four points last weekend, falling to the Waterloo Black Hawks in overtime Friday before snapping their three-game skid against the Chicago Steel with a win Saturday in Bensenville, Ill. The stakes will be even higher this weekend at the Covelli Centre when they take on the first-place Green Bay Gamblers on Friday and the second-place Indiana Ice on Saturday.

The Week In Review

Game 51: Belonger's Late Goal Not Enough As Phantoms Fall To Black Hawks In OT

The Phantoms captured a point, but fell short of another Friday against Black Hawks (27-17-6, third West). Ryan Belonger tied the game up for the Phantoms with less than three minutes remaining in regulation to force overtime, but Ian McCoshen scored in the extra frame to give the Black Hawks a 6-5 win at Young Arena. Austin Cangelosi added a short-handed goal for the Phantoms and Dylan Margonari, Chris Bradley and Mike Ambrosia also found the back of the net. Goaltender Matthew O'Connor, making his fist start since missing a pair of games last weekend with the flu, turned away 35 of 41 shots in the loss.

Game 52: Stenglein Sparks Phantoms To 5-2 Win Over Steel

JT Stenglein put the Phantoms up 1-0 just 12 seconds into the game and they never looked back, downing Steel (19-31-2, seventh East) by a score of 5-2 Saturday at the Edge Ice Arena. Stenglein also iced the scoring with an empty-netter late in the third period and added an assist on the night to give him three points. Soren Jonzzon scored a pair of goals and Pat Conte had the other as the Phantoms moved into a tie with Indiana for second place in the USHL Eastern Conference standings. O'Connor saved 27 of 29 shots to record his league-leading 27th win of the season.

Loose Pucks

-- Center Austin Cangelosi scored his league-leading seventh short-handed goal of the season Friday against Waterloo. The first-year center is just two shy of the USHL single-season short-handed goals record of nine, set by Dubuque's Mark Mowers during the 1993-1994 season.

-- Cangelosi's tally brought the Phantoms' total of short-handed goals this season to 17, by far the most in the league and highest total for a team since the Fargo Force scored 17 during the 2008-2009 season. The all-time USHL record for team short-handed goals is 21, set by Des Moines in the 2005-2006 season.

-- With a pair of goals in the win over Chicago on Saturday, left wing JT Stenglein became the first player in Phantoms history to reach the 30-goal plateau in a season. His first goal of the night, coming just 12 seconds after the opening faceoff, was also the fastest scored in franchise history.

-- Saturday was also Stenglein's seventh multi-goal game of the season. The Phantoms are 7-0-0 this season in games where the Greece, N.Y., native has found the back of the net more than once.

-- Beginning this Friday, the Phantoms face either the Gamblers or the Ice in seven of their final eight games of the regular season. Of those eight remaining games, six will be played on home ice at the Covelli Centre, where the Phantoms are 16-6-2 on the season.

The Week Ahead

Game 53: Friday, March 23 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Gamblers

On Friday the Phantoms take the ice against the Anderson Cup favorite Gamblers (41-8-2, first East) for just the second time this season - and the first meeting at the Covelli Centre. Green Bay has won 12 of its past 13 game and owns a league-best 23-3-0 record on the road. The Gamblers have been lauded for their high-powered offense this season, but their defense has been just as dominant allowing a league-low 2.24 goals a game. However, when the teams last met on Dec. 16, the Phantoms potted five, with their game-winning goal coming in the third period courtesy of Green Bay native Ryan Belonger.

Game 54: Saturday, March 24 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Ice

On Saturday, the Ice (30-14-7, T-second East) make their third trip to the Covelli Centre, where they have yet to defeat the Phantoms this season. Youngstown got a 4-3 shootout win over Indiana back on Nov. 5, and more recently, a 6-3 trouncing on March 7. Phantoms left wing JT Stenglein scored a pair of goals to go along with three assists in those two wins. Ice netminder Jon Gillies, who is neck-and-neck with the Phantoms' Matthew O'Connor in USHL wins column, is 3-1-1 overall against this Phantoms this season, but he has a 0-1-1 record with a 4.32 goals against average .850 save percentage at the Covelli Centre.

They Said It

"I don't think there's a goalie in the league that was going to stop that shot. Even though it was from far out, it went bar down. That's a big-time goal."

-- Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen on Soren Jonzzon's second goal of the game Saturday, a booming slap shot from the point.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Mike Ambrosia (16G-42A-58PTS, fifth in USHL)

Goals: JT Stenglein (30, T-third in USHL)

Assists: Ambrosia (42, second in USHL)

Power-Play Goals: Stenglein (9)

Short-Handed Goals: Austin Cangelosi (7, first in USHL)

Points by a Defenseman: Chris Bradley (6G-13A-19PTS)

Plus/Minus: Cangelosi and Alex Gacek (plus-19)

Wins: Matthew O'Connor (27, first in USHL)

Goals Against Average: O'Connor (2.77)

Save Percentage: O'Connor (.908)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Boston College forward Quinn Smith (2010-2011) captured the Hockey East tournament title as the No. 1 Eagles topped Maine and former Phantom Stu Higgins (2009-2011) on Saturday by a score of 4-1. Boston College, also the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, will play Air Force in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday.

-- Denver defenseman Scott Mayfield (2009-2011) and forward Ty Loney (2009-2011) came up short on Saturday as the Pioneers fell 4-0 to North Dakota in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association tournament final. Denver will play Ferris State in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday.

-- A total of seven Phantoms alumni will be suiting up for the NCAA tournament beginning this Friday. Along with Smith, Higgins, Loney and Mayfield, Ben Paulides (Miami), Tom Serratore (Minnesota), Andrew Sinelli (Michigan) will also by vying to capture a national title with their teams.

Events and Promotions

Friday, March 23: "Student I.D. Night": Every Friday Phantoms home game is a "College I.D. Night" at the Covelli Centre. College students with a current and valid student I.D. will receive 50 percent off purple level tickets at the box office!

Saturday, March 24: Scout Night, ZOOperstars! and Team Poster Giveaway: Come down to the Covelli Centre Saturday for what's sure to be one of the most exciting games of the season! It's the second Scout Night of the season and all preregistered Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops will receive an exclusive Phantoms patch! The ZOOperstars! will also be in arena for a fun-filled interactive performance between periods.

Plus, the first 1,000 fans through the door will receive a FREE Phantoms team poster presented by Cerni Motors and the Eastwood Mall. And, stick around after the game for a full-team autograph session!

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 March 21, 2012


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