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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week No. 7

October 30, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms were low on luck last week, dropping a pair of games to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and Team USA despite outplaying and outshooting both by a combined 62-50 margin. The Phantoms (4-7-1, 9 points) will look to reverse their fortunes they open a five-game Covelli Centre homestand this weekend with a pair against the Sioux Falls Stampede.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Game No. 11: Cedar Rapids Rides 3-Goal 3rd To Comeback Win Over Youngstown

The Phantoms got a pair of goals from Luke Stork and dominated through two periods Friday night in Cedar Rapids. But the RoughRiders (5-1-1, 11 points) made the most out of limited chances in the third, scoring three times on just six shots to come from behind and pick up a 4-3 win. Kyle Connor also found the back of the net for the Youngstown, which outshot Cedar Rapids 35-20 in the contest. Goaltender Sean Romeo helped the Phantoms' penalty kill shut down the USHL's top-rated power play, but was victimized by a pair of bad-luck bounces in the third.

Game No. 12: 'Snakebit' Phantoms Drop 4-2 Contest To Team USA

Luck was not on the Phantoms' side Sunday afternoon in Ann Arbor. Despite nine power plays and numerous breakaways, they could not overcome a sloppy first period and fell 4-2 to Team USA (9-5-1, 19 points). Youngstown got goals from Josh Melnick and JJ Piccinich, who picked up his team-leading ninth of the season and a solid outing from Romeo who made 26 saves on 29 shots. His USA counterpart Michael Lackey put on an impressive performance as well turning away 25 of 27 shots, and including all 10 thrown his way in the third period - and got some help from goal posts as three Phantoms rang shots off the framework in the third period.

LOOSE PUCKS

-- If the Phantoms are going stop their current skid, they will have to do so without the help of the head coach and leading scorer. Both Anthony Noreen and forward Kyle Connor will miss Youngstown's next four games while representing Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge, which runs Nov. 4-10 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Noreen is serving as an assistant coach on the USA staff while Connor, who has five goals, 11 assists and 16 points in 12 games this season, will be tabbed among the Red, White and Blue's top-six forwards.

-- With Connor out of the lineup, the Phantoms have recalled a pair of affiliate forwards, 17-year-old Anthony Siderio and 16-year-old Kevin Conley. Youngstown's sixth-round pick in the 2012 USHL Futures Draft, Siderio currently plays with the Selects Hockey Academy (South Kent, Conn.) Under-18 Team, while Conley, a junior at Wausau West High School in Wisconsin, was the Youngstown's second-round pick (24th overall) in the 2013 USHL Phase II Draft. Siderio will wear No. 10 and Conley will wear No. 14.

-- Luke Stork scored a pair of goals Friday in Cedar Rapids including a highlight-reel backhand to put the Phantoms in front 3-1 in the second period and snap a 0-for-26 drought on the power play. The Pittsburgh native his four goals in his past five games and six on the season after scoring 12 while playing in all 64 of the Phantoms' games as a rookie in 2012-13.

-- Two Youngstown blue liners - Czech Lukas Klok and Alaskan Truman Reed - picked up their first USHL points with assists on Stork's second-period goal.

-- Though the Phantoms struggled to convert on the man-advantage over the weekend, they continued to play stellar short-handed killing off all 13 penalties they took. Youngstown has gone 28-of-29 on the penalty kill over the past six games and improving their season PK rate to 87 percent, good for fifth in the USHL despite that fact that only Team USA (77) has been short-handed more times than Youngstown (74).

THE WEEK AHEAD

Games No. 13 & 14: Friday, Nov. 1 & Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7:05 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Stampede

The Phantoms kick off a five-game Covelli Centre homestand with a pair against perennial Western Conference power Sioux Falls (7-3-1, 15 points). The Stampede have been the USHL's best road team thus far this season going 6-1-1 and currently sit in second place in the West. Although the Phantoms will be without their leading scorer and head coach, the Stampede may face a taller task as their top three scorers - CJ Franklin, Dennis Kravchenko and Zeb Knutson respectively - were all chosen to the U.S. Junior Select Team competing at the World Junior A Challenge. Despite their absence, Sioux Falls still has plenty of firepower up front led by second-year forward Tony Calderone, who racked up 29 goals last season.

THEY SAID IT

"We're about 'the process' - not being results-oriented - and nobody can deny that we outplayed them. The one area that it didn't show, and unfortunately it's the most important, was the scoreboard."

-- Head coach Anthony Noreen on his team's performance in last Friday's loss to Cedar Rapids.

PHANTOMS LEADERS

Points: Kyle Connor (5-11-16, T-2nd in USHL)

Goals: JJ Piccinich (9, T-2nd in USHL)

Assists: Connor (11, 2nd in USHL)

Power-Play Goals: Piccinich (5, 1st in USHL)

Short-Handed Goals: N/A

Plus/Minus: Blake Christensen (plus-2)

Penalty Minutes: Fredric Larsson, Josh Nenadal (26)

Points by a Defenseman: F. Larsson (1-3-4), Alex Smith (2-2-4)

Wins: Colin DeAugustine (2)

Goals Against Average: DeAugustine (1.44)

Save Percentage: DeAugustine (.952)

Shutouts: DeAugustine, Sean Romeo (1, T-3rd in USHL)

ALUMNI WATCH

-- Quinnipiac forward Sam Anas (2011-13) racked up three goals over a pair of Bobcat wins over Holy Cross Friday and Saturday, and five total in three games last week. Tuesday Anas, the Phantoms' all-time goals leader, was named the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week. The last Bobcat to capture the honors was another former Phantom, Soren Jonzzon (2011-12), who earned February 13, 2013. Anas currently leads Quinnipiac, and is tied for fourth in the nation, with six goals.

-- Hershey Bears forward Nathan Walker (2012-13) scored his first career American Hockey League goal Sunday in a 4-2 win over the Norfolk Admirals. The Sydney, Australia native also dropped the gloves for his first AHL fight.

-- Maine forward Cam Brown (2012-13) notched a goal and added three assists Saturday as the Black Bears beat up on Massachusetts 8-4. Defenseman Dan Renouf (2011-13) also added an assist in the rout.

-- Denver forward Ty Loney (2009-11) tallied a goal and an assist as the Pioneers downed Niagara 5-1 Friday.

-- Bemidji State forward Danny Mattson (2010-11) registered three assists over a pair of games as the Beavers swept Alabama-Huntsville, winning 6-1 Friday and 1-0 Saturday.

-- Northeastern forward Ryan Belonger (2010-12) scored a goal Saturday as the Huskies sunk St. Lawrence 6-3.

-- Niagara forward Pat Conte (2011-12) scored his first college goal Sunday but it was not enough as the Purple Eagles fell short against Air Force 7-4.

-- Penn State forward Taylor Holstrom (2009-10) added a goal in the Nittany Lions' lost to Vermont 5-2 Saturday.

EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS

Friday, Nov. 1: "Pink in the Rink"

Help paint the Covelli Centre pink to wrap up Breast Cancer Awareness Month Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. when the Phantoms take on the Sioux Falls Stampede. All fans are encouraged to wear pink and will receive a commemorative pink ribbon at the door while the Phantoms will recognize breast cancer survivors and celebrate the tremendous work of area charities. Fans can purchase pink carnations to throw on the ice after the Phantoms' first goal for just $1 with all the revenue donated to the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center. And on top of that, $2 from every walk-up ticket purchased will be donated to the JACBCC. For details and additional fundraising information, call the Phantoms office at 330.747.PUCK!

Friday, Nov. 8: Military Night

With Veterans Day just around the corner, the Phantoms will be honoring the brave men and women in uniform Friday, Nov. 8 when they take on the Fargo Force. All current and past military members receive free tickets to the game with a valid military I.D. and all their family members are able to purchase tickets at an exclusive discounted rate of $5. Additionally, the Phantoms will have plenty of patriotic music pumping throughout the Covelli Centre and much more!

Saturday, Nov. 9: Scout Night

The Phantoms invite area Boy and Girl Scout troops to attend their first "Scout Night" of the season, Saturday, Nov. 9 when they take on Fargo. Group tickets start at just $8 and all scouts receive an exclusive Phantoms Hockey patch! The Deadline to register is Friday, Nov. 1. For more information call the Phantoms Office at 330.747.PUCK!

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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