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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week No. 1

September 18, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms open up their fifth season in the United States Hockey League this weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich. when the take on the U.S. National Team Development Program in a pair of games Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. The Phantoms closed out preseason play last weekend with a pair of hard-fought losses at the inaugural USHL Fall Classic East showcase in Indianapolis, but enter the regular season brimming with optimism as they look to secure a third-straight Clark Cup playoff berth.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Fall Classic East Game No. 1: Phantoms Fall In Classic Opener

Second-year forward Luke Stork scored a pair of goals and JJ Piccinich tallied his first of the preseason, but it was not enough to power the Phantoms past the defending Clark Cup champions. The Dubuque Fighting Saints won the special teams battle with a pair of power-play goals and one short-handed marker en route to a 6-3 victory over the Phantoms in Game 1 of the USHL Fall Classic East Friday night at Pan Am Arena. Stork stashed his first of the game with 3:15 remaining in the second, when he tipped a point shot from rookie defenseman Truman Reed on the power-play to make it a 3-1 game. Piccinich notched another on the power play minutes after Dubuque pulled in front 4-1 early in the third. Then after another Dubuque tally, Stork made it a 5-3 game when he intercepted a puck at center ice and beat Arthur Brey on a breakaway. But the Saints were able add an empty-netter to secure the win.

Fall Classic East Game No. 2: Phantoms Let 3rd-Period Lead Slip Away Against Team USA

The Phantoms carried a 1-0 lead into the third period but saw it vanish over the final 10 minutes of regulation Saturday morning at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. First-year forward Kiefer Sherwood's fourth goal of the preseason was not enough as the Team USA under-18 squad notched a pair late in the period and added an empty-netter with eight seconds remaining to hand Youngstown a 3-1 loss in its final tune-up before the regular season. Jake Moore, who started all five of Youngstown's preseason games, was stout between the pipes turning away 19-fo-21 but was outshone by USA's Blake Weyrick who stopped all but one thrown his way. Sherwood gave the Phantoms a 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the second when after a give-and-go with Stork. Sonny Milano knotted it up for USA 9:59 into the third and Shane Gersich followed up with the go-ahead goal with less than three minutes left in regulation.

LOOSE PUCKS

-- Kiefer Sherwood continued his white-hot preseason scoring the lone goal in Youngstown's 3-1 loss to Team USA Saturday. The first-year forward out of Columbus, Ohio, finished the preseason with four goals - tying him with Dubuque's Alexx Privitera for second in the USHL - in five games and was a danger every time the puck was on his stick in Indy.

-- Traditionally, players see a significant jump in their offensive production in their second season in the USHL and after last weekend, it appears Luke Stork will continue that trend. Tasked with many tough defensive assignments during his rookie season, Stork put up a very respectable 12 goals, 18 assists and 30 points while playing in all 64 games and displayed some high-end offensive skills adding 2-1-3 in a pair of games at the USHL Fall Classic East.

-- Though forward Nathan Walker wasn't present for the Phantoms' preseason games, it hasn't stopped him from garnering plenty of attention. The Australian standout made his preseason NHL debut for the Washington Capitals Saturday, recording an assist in a 4-3 shootout win over the Winnipeg Jets. Walker also dished out a highlight-reel helper Tuesday against the Boston Bruins, earning him the No. 8 spot on the SportsCenter Top 10.

-- The Phantoms will make their final player personnel decisions and submit their 23-man active roster and 18-man affiliate to the USHL tonight by the 12:59 a.m. EST deadline. The League will officially release each member clubs roster and affiliate list to the public by 4 p.m. Thursday in an effort to better serve and inform the fan base. Phantoms fans will be able to view the official roster and affiliate list Thursday on YoungstownPhantoms.com.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Games No. 1 & 2: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. & Saturday, Sept. 21 at 3:30 p.m. - Youngstown at Team USA

The Phantoms kick off the 2013-14 campaign with a rematch of the final game of the preseason when the take on the U.S. under-18 squad Friday at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor. Youngstown will receive a welcome boost leading into the weekend with the return of starting goaltender Sean Romeo, who went 4-3-0 with three shutouts and a .944 save percentage in seven games vs. the National Team last season. The Phantoms will also look for second-year forward and Shelby Township, Mich., native Kyle Connor to pick up where he left off after racking up 4-3-7 in eight games vs. Team USA in 2012-13. Saturday Youngstown will get its first look at the U.S. U-17 team, which is led by Ohio native Jack Roslovic.

THEY SAID IT

"It feels good to get a couple under my belt, but I think it's a reflection of the whole team right now. The ultimate goal is it doesn't really matter who scores, we've just got to win games."

-- Kiefer Sherwood on his team-leading four preseason goals.

Season tickets for the 2013-14 season are on sale now starting at the low price of just $8 a game. Benefits include invitations to exclusive season ticket holder events, discounts at the Phantoms Team Shop and much more. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve seats today. For all the latest news, visit www.YoungstownPhantoms.com, follow the Phantoms on Twitter (@YtownPhantoms) and 'like' them on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/YoungstownPhantoms).

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