USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week No. 12

Published on December 11, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After a rare weekend off, the Youngstown Phantoms shook off the rust on the road last week, losing a pair of tough games to the top-ranked Dubuque Fighting Saints before closing out with an impressive win over the rival Chicago Steel Sunday. The Phantoms (10-13-0, 20 points) are back on the road this week for a pair of cross-conference clashes with the Des Moines Buccaneers Friday and Saturday in Central Iowa.

The Week In Review

Game No. 21: Phantoms' Streak Snapped With 5-1 Loss To Fighting Saints

Thirteen days after their last game, the Phantoms struggled to find their footing Friday night against the Fighting Saints (19-3-1, 39 points). The USHL's top-ranked team potted a pair in the first period and went on to down the Phantoms 5-1, snapping their four-game winning streak. Alexander Dahl scored the lone goal for the Youngstown while goaltender Sean Romeo surrendered five goals on 38 shots for his first loss in nearly three weeks.

Game No. 22: Comeback Cut Short: Phantoms Fall To Fighting Saints 5-4

The Phantoms mounted a ferocious third-period push, but ran out of time Saturday night against the Fighting Saints. Dubuque jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but the Phantoms rallied to make it a 5-4 game in the third, only to see their comeback cut short by the final buzzer. Markus McCrea, Kyle Connor, Alfred Larsson and Tommy Davis all scored goals for the Phantoms, who fell to Fighting Saints for the second night in a row. Romeo allowed five goals on 28 shots and was saddled with his second straight loss.

Game No. 23: Phantoms Show Mettle Win 4-2 Win Over Steel

After a pair of draining road games in Dubuque, the Phantoms showed no signs of fatigue Sunday afternoon against the Steel (11-8-2, 24 points). Youngstown jumped on Chicago right from the drop of the puck and continued to press until the final buzzer to close out its three-game road trip with a 4-2 win. Sam Anas paced the Phantoms with a pair of goals to give him a team-leading 10 on the campaign. Austin Cangelosi also scored and Josh Nenadal chipped in with an empty-netter, while in Youngstown's net, Romeo was sharp turning away 31 of 33 in the win.

Loose Pucks

-- Right wing John Padulo was held off the score sheet for the first time in eight contests Sunday against the Steel. The Rochester, N.Y. native racked up two goals and 11 assists over the seven-game streak and is among the USHL leaders with 17 helpers on the season.

-- Center Austin Cangelosi scored a goal and added two assists Sunday against the Steel for his eighth multi-point game of the campaign. The Phantoms are 8-0-0 when Cangelosi, a Boston College commit, records two-or-more points in a game this season.

-- Left wing Markus McCrea tallied his eighth goal of the season Saturday in Dubuque, matching his total output from 2011-12 with the Lincoln Stars. Three of the veteran winger's goals this season have come on the power play and he has generated countless more opportunities for his teammates with his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame parked in front of the net on the man-advantage.

The Week Ahead

Games No. 24 & 25: Friday, Dec. 14 & Saturday, Dec. 15 at 8:05 p.m. EST - Phantoms at Des Moines

The Phantoms will look to continue their steady climb back up the Eastern Conference standings this weekend, but it will be no easy task against the upstart Buccaneers (13-11-1, 27 points). The two teams met opening weekend in Youngstown - a game that saw the Phantoms score a pair of goals in the final 51 seconds to force overtime and then clinch the win in the extra frame thanks to a goal from Dan Renouf. Of late, however, the Bucs have been red-hot winning six of their last eight, thanks in no small part to their potent power play. Over that span, Des Moines' man-advantage unit has racked up 10 goals and has been held off the board just twice, while only two teams - Dubuque and Sioux Falls - have more wins on home ice than the Buccaneers' nine.

They Said It

"There aren't many guys in the world who can make a play like that. That's why we're so fortunate to have a guy like Sam in our lineup every night."

- -- Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen on Sam Anas' game-opening goal Sunday in Chicago.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Austin Cangelosi (9-15-24)

Goals: Sam Anas (10)

Assists: John Padulo (17, T-fifth in the USHL)

Power-Play Goals: Anas, Markus McCrea (3)

Short-Handed Goals: Cangelosi, Ryan Lowney, Josh Nenadal (1)

Plus/Minus: Dan Renouf (plus-14)

Penalty Minutes: Padulo (57)

Points by a Defenseman: Lowney (3-12-15, T-fifth in USHL)

Wins: Sean Romeo (8)

Goals Against Average: Romeo (.892)

Save Percentage: Romeo (3.35)

Shutouts: Romeo (2, T-second in USHL)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Bentley forward Brett Gensler (2009-10) racked up four points (two goals, two assists) over a pair of games against Air Force Friday and Saturday. Gensler currently leads the nation in scoring with 10-16-26 in 15 games and has been included on CBS Sports' Hobey Baker watch list for the top player in college hockey. Additionally, his assist Saturday was the 100th point of his college career.

-- Boston goaltender Matthew O'Connor (2010-12) was a giant killer once again turning away 31 of 33 shots as the No. 6 Terriers knocked off No. 1 for the second week in a row with a 3-1 win over New Hampshire Thursday. O'Connor, a freshman, was named Hockey East's Athletic Republic Player of the Week for his stellar work between the pipes for BU.

-- Minnesota forward Tommy Serratore (2009-10) scored a goal each night as the No. 4 Gophers took three of four points against Colorado College, winning 4-3 Friday and tying 4-4 Saturday.

-- Denver duo Ty Loney (2010-11) and Scott Mayfield (2009-11) combined for three points over a pair of games against No. 8 North Dakota. Loney assisted on Mayfield's goal as the No. 11 Pioneers tied UND 2-2 Friday, then Loney notched a goal of his own in a 6-3 loss Saturday.

-- Bemidji State forward Danny Mattson (2010-11) registered a pair of assists Saturday in a losing effort as the Beavers fell to Minnesota-Duluth 4-2.

-- Bowling Green forward Adam Berkle (2009-11) scored a goal in the Falcons' 3-3 tie with Alaska Saturday.

Events and Promotions

Phantoms Holiday Four-Pack ticket packages are on sale now, but only for a limited time. Packages include four undated ticket vouchers plus a Phantoms T-shirt, a combined $60 value, all for just $29. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve a Holiday Four-Pack. 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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United States Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2012


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