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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook

December 4, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After a tough-luck overtime loss the night before Thanksgiving, the Youngstown Phantoms were able to enjoy some down time with a rare weekend off after the holiday. Well-rested and buoyed by the acquisition of winger Alex Rauter, the Phantoms (7-11-3, 17 points) have the chance to gain some ground in the standings with a pair of games against Eastern Conference opponents, the Chicago Steel and Team USA, this weekend at the Covelli Centre.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Game No. 20: Connor Scores Twice But Phantoms Fall To Ice 4-3 In OT

The Indiana Ice left the Phantoms with little to be thankful for on the eve of Thanksgiving. Youngstown lost a pair of players to injuries in the middle period and surrendered a two-goal lead in the third on the way to eventually falling 4-3 in overtime to the rival Ice (11-5-3, 25 points). Leading-scorer Kyle Connor remained red-hot, netting a pair of goals, including a short-handed marker for the Phantoms. JJ Piccinich picked up the helper on both of Connor's tallies and Maxim Letunov also scored. Youngstown netminder Colin DeAugustine turned in a strong outing, making 38 saves, but was bowled over by 6-foot-6 Tyler Andrew on a goal in the third period and was beaten off an odd-bounce just 61 seconds into overtime.

LOOSE PUCKS

-- Connor's two-goal night last Wednesday extended his goal-scoring streak to five consecutive games. The 16-year-old overtook Piccinich for the team goals lead and has not been held off the score sheet since returning to the Youngstown lineup after winning gold with Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge.

-- The Phantoms lost both defenseman Tommy Parran (upper body) and forward Josh Melnick (upper body) to injuries in the overtime loss in Indy. The pair is expected to remain on the shelf over the weekend. The team also placed forward Alfred Larsson (upper body) on injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 27. The big Swedish center is eligible to return Dec. 13 against the Tri-City Storm.

-- With the rash of injuries, the Phantoms made a deal earlier this week, acquiring forward Alex Rauter from the Omaha Lancers in exchange for a conditional eighth-round pick in the 2014 USHL Phase II Draft. A Cornell recruit, Rauter notched 2-2-4 in 13 games this season and has 9-6-15 in 40 career USHL games, all with the Lancers. He is expected to make his debut for the Phantoms this weekend and will wear No. 14.

-- The Phantoms have also recalled affiliate forward Grant Meyer from the Cleveland Barons Under-18 AAA team. The Curtice, Ohio, native has appeared in two games with Youngstown notching a pair of shots and a plus-1 rating. He will wear No. 10 for the Phantoms.

-- With the his captain shelved on the IR, head coach Anthony Noreen named forward Josh Nenadal acting captain. Nenadal, who is in his second season with the Phantoms and third overall in the USHL, was voted an assistant captain before the start of the season.

-- Noreen named 20-year-old forward Conor Lemirande an assistant captain as well. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Lemirande has six assists and 30 penalty minutes over his last seven games.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Game No. 22: Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:05 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Chicago Steel

The Steel (7-15-0, 14 points) make their first visit to the Covelli Centre since Oct. 11, when Colin DeAugustine shut them out in his first career USHL start. Chicago has made progress since that point, but remains at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings after dropping three of its last four contests, including a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Ice last Saturday. The acquisition of CJ Smith, who has 3-4-7 in nine games since coming from the Muskegon Lumberjacks, has been a bright spot for the Steel. Netminder Chris Nell has quietly put together some impressive numbers in net with a .913 save percentage, but leads the league with 13 losses, likely a testament to facing a league-leading 566 shots through 18 games.

Game No. 23: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:05 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Team USA

Team USA (14-10-1, 25 points) enters the weekend on the opposite end of the spectrum of the Steel, tied with the Dubuque Fighting Saints for the most points in the East. The Phantoms will be tasked with containing the high-powered U.S. National U-18 Team, led by the dynamic duo of Sonny Milano (7-15-22 in 11 games played) and Jack Eichel (12-9-21 in nine games played). Eichel's stellar play in particular has not gone unnoticed, as the 17-year-old, who isn't even draft eligible until 2015, was recently named to the USA's preliminary roster for the 2014 World Junior Championships.

THEY SAID IT

"We had a lot of guys who were sick and battled through tonight and lost some more numbers on the bench, but I thought we were good. I had no issue with any of our play throughout the game. I thought our guys deserved better."

-- Anthony Noreen, on his team's tough-luck loss to the Indiana Ice last Wednesday.

PHANTOMS LEADERS

Points: Kyle Connor (11-13-24, 5th in USHL)

Goals: Connor (11, T-5th in USHL)

Assists: Connor (13)

Power-Play Goals: JJ Piccinich, Luke Stork (5, T-2nd in USHL)

Short-Handed Goals: Connor, Tyler Spezia (1, T-4th in USHL)

Plus/Minus: Several tied (plus-1)

Penalty Minutes: Conor Lemirande (54)

Points by a Defenseman: Kyle Mackey (1-4-5)

Wins: Colin DeAugustine (5)

Goals Against Average: DeAugustine (2.84)

Save Percentage: DeAugustine (.905)

Shutouts: DeAugustine, Sean Romeo (1, T-5th in USHL)

ALUMNI WATCH

-- Quinnipiac forward Sam Anas (2011-13) notched a goal and an assist last Saturday as the No. 5 Bobcats routed Massachusetts 6-1. Anas, who was recently named the ECAC Rookie of the Month for November, is currently tied for third in the nation in scoring with 12-12-24 in 17 games played.

-- Miami forward Alex Gacek (2010-12) scored a pair of goals as the No. 12 Redhawks tied Bemidji State 4-4 last Friday. Phantoms alumni Ben Paulides (2009-11) and Danny Mattson (2010-11) both registered assists for Miami and Bemidji respectively in the game.

-- Bentley forward Brett Gensler (2009-10) notched a goal and added three assists over pair of games against Air Force over the weekend.

-- Boston University goaltender Matthew O'Connor (2010-12) turned away 37 shots to back stop the Terriers to a 3-2 victory over No. 15 Cornell last Saturday. O'Connor has been strong in his sophomore season at BU posting a 6-2-1 record and impressive .929 save percentage in 10 starts.

-- Minnesota forward Tommy Serratore (2009-10) recorded an assist in back-to-back games as the No. 1 Golden Gophers swept rival Wisconsin over the weekend, winning 4-1 last Friday and 4-3 the following night.

-- Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) defenseman Scott Mayfield (2009-11) notched an assist and a plus-2 rating in a loss to the Albany Devils last Saturday.

EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS

Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7: "Teddy Bear Toss Weekend" Sponsored by Hot 101 FM

The fur will fly this weekend at the Covelli Centre during the Phantoms' first ever "Teddy Bear Toss Weekend" to benefit Marine Corps Toys for Tots. Fans who bring a teddy bear or other stuffed animal to the Covelli Centre box office either night can purchase Purple zone tickets at a discounted rate of just $6 and teddy bears will also be available for purchase for just $5 in the arena. Then once the Phantoms score their first goal, fans are asked to celebrate for throwing their teddy bears on the ice and all stuffed animals will be gathered and donated to Toys for Tots. For more information call 330.747.PUCK.

Single game tickets are on sale now for all Phantoms' home games at the Covelli Centre. Phantoms 10-Game Flex Plans are also available starting at the low price of just $89. 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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