USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week 5

Published on October 25, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms (4-2-0) made history last week with the franchise's first regular season win over Cedar Rapids, but they saw their four-game winning streak come to an end Saturday against Team USA. The Phantoms then will be eager to get another one started this weekend when they travel to Nebraska to take on Tri-City (3-3-0) Friday night and Omaha (3-2-1) on Saturday.

The Week In Review

Game 5: Gacek's Overtime Winner Stretches Winning Streak to 4 Games

Thanks to a pair of goals from Austin Cangelosi, along with Brent Norris' first career USHL goal, the Phantoms carried a 3-1 lead into the third period. But Cedar Rapids came back with a pair of unanswered goals in the final eight minutes of regulation to force overtime. Less than two minutes into the extra frame, Alex Gacek netted his second goal in as many games to give the Phantoms the 4-3 victory.

Game 6: Phantoms Rally Comes Up Short In 5-4 Loss to Team USA

The Phantoms got first-period goals from Kevin Liss and Mike Ambrosia, but trailed Team USA 4-2 after 40 minutes. USA added another goal early in the third, but with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, the Phantoms pulled the goalie. Austin Cangelosi tallied his league-leading eighth goal with 1:32 left and 68 seconds later, Ryan Belonger cut the lead to one, but the Phantoms simply ran out of time to tie it.

Loose Pucks

-- Center Austin Cangelosi, 17, netted a trio of goals last week, including his league-leading third short-handed tally in the 4-3 overtime win over Cedar Rapids. The most short-handed goals any USHL player scored last season was four. Needless to say, the Estero, Fla. native is on pace to shatter that mark.

-- Newly-acquired right wing Brent Norris scored the first goal of his USHL career in the first game of his career Thursday against Cedar Rapids. The goal was extra sweet for Norris, who was drafted by the RoughRiders this summer but released after the preseason.

-- On Monday right wing Ryan Belonger became the second Phantoms player this season to commit to play NCAA Division-I hockey in 2012-13. He will join defenseman Mike Gunn at Northeastern University next season.

The Week Ahead

Game 7: Friday October 28 - Phantoms @ Tri-City at 8:05 p.m. EST

The Phantoms face off against the Tri-City Storm for the first time this season on Friday. The Storm took both meetings between the teams in 2010-11. Center Dylan Margonai had a goal and an assist last season against the Storm, both coming in a 5-3 loss on Oct. 9, 2010.

Game 8: Saturday October 29 - Phantoms @ Omaha at 8:05 p.m. EST

The Omaha Lancers finished second in the USHL Western Conference with 75 points in 2010-11, but lost their top seven scorers from last season. Through six games this season, only two Lancers, Jimmy Murray and Jonathan Liau, have recorded more than three or more points. The Phantoms have eight players with three or more.

They Said It

"I think in years past we may have folded up shop [after the two goals], but I took a look up and down the bench before overtime and our guys were unphased. I had a pretty good feeling we were going to get it done."

-- Head Coach Anthony Noreen on his team's fighting spirit after surrendering a pair of late goals in their 4-3 overtime win over Cedar Rapids.

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Former Phantoms defenseman and 2011 second-round draft pick of the NHL's New York Islanders Scott Mayfield recorded the first goal of his NCAA career in Denver's 10-2 route of Minnesota State last Saturday.

-- Former Phantoms captain Adam Berkle scored the lone goal in Bowling Green's 1-0 victory over Lake Superior State last Friday.

Events and Promotions

Tuesday, Oct. 25: Youngstown Phantoms "Behind the Glass": Tune into ESPN 1240 AM WBBW from 6-7 p.m. tonight for the Youngstown Phantoms "Behind the Glass" radio show hosted by the voice of the Phantoms Bart Logan and Larry Synder. Goaltender Matthew O'Connor and defenseman Chris Bradley will join them in the studio to talk about the big test this week in Nebraska, their college futures and much more. Fans can call in to 330.782.1240 with questions and can also listen to the show streaming online at http://www.WBBW.com.

Check out the Youngstown Phantoms Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2011


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