Phantoms Notebook
Published on April 1, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
OVERVIEW: The Youngstown Phantoms suffered their first loss in 56 games last Friday in Omaha, before snapping their short skid on Saturday, bouncing back with a big win on Saturday. Youngstown currently leads the USHL with 79 points, and they just need one point to clinch home-ice advantage in the first round of the upcoming USHL Clark Cup Playoffs.
LAST WEEKEND RECAP
FRIDAY: The Youngstown Phantoms (36-14-5) fell to the Omaha Lancers, 4-2, on Friday night. Forward Josh Melnick and defenseman Connor Yau tallied the goals for Youngstown, who fall for the first time since January 31st. Despite the loss, the Phantoms still sit atop the League standings, two points ahead of the Tri-City Storm for first place overall in the USHL.
The Phantoms found themselves down after the first period, as Omaha received goals from Steven Spinner and Ryan Donato to put the Lancers up, 2-0, after 20 minutes.
After Donato netted his second of the game early in the second on the power play, the Phantoms got on the board when Melnick gained a step on the defender after receiving the outlet pass from forward Kiefer Sherwood. Melnick skated into the slot and sniped it past Omaha netminder Kris Oldham, cutting the Phantoms' deficit to 3-1 after two periods.
The Lancers pushed their lead back to three goals, 4-1, after Anthony Angelo lit the lamp early in the third, however the Phantoms managed to find the back of the net when a pile up in front resulted in Yau jamming the puck into the net. The play was reviewed, but the goal stood, and the Phantoms' deficit was cut to 4-2, 8:32 into the final period.
The Phantoms had a myriad of chances in the final 11 minutes, including a shot from forward Ryan Lomberg that rang off the crossbar, but the Phantoms were not able to muster anymore offense, falling, 4-2, to the Lancers.
SATURDAY: The Youngstown Phantoms (37-14-5) earned a 2-1 win over the Omaha Lancers on Saturday night. Forward Taylor Best and defenseman Alec Vanko scored the goals for the Phantoms, who tie the USHL lead with their 37th win of the season.
The bodies and hits were flying in the opening period as both teams set a physical tone early in the contest. Emotions ran high throughout the opening 20 minutes, and as a result, forwards Matt Alvaro and James Winkler were assessed five minute majors and game misconducts for checking from behind and head contact, respectively.
The two sides headed to the locker room scoreless after the first, and in the second, the hard hitting, physical play continued, highlighted by a fight between forward Ryan Lomberg, and Omaha's Jake Henderson, midway through the frame.
Not long after, the Phantoms netted the game's first goal, when Best came over the Omaha blueline on a three-on-two rush and launched a wrister off the crossbar and in past Lancer goaltender Kris Oldham, putting the Phantoms up, 1-0, after 40 minutes.
The Phantoms got a little insurance early in the third while on the power play, when a shot from Lomberg came off of the end boards right to Vanko to the left of the net, and he flipped it past Oldham, putting the Phantom up, 2-0.
The Lancers cut the lead in half on a goal from Steven Spinner with eight minutes left in the third, however netminder Colin DeAugustine was strong in net, stopping 35 of the 36 shots he faced to backstop the Phantoms to the 2-1 win.
UP NEXT: The Phantoms host the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Saturday night, in their second-to-last home game of the season. Youngstown then heads to Chicago next Wednesday morning, for an 11:00am ET affair with the Steel.
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 4th VS Muskegon - Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH - 7:05pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey
Wednesday, April 8th @ Chicago - The Edge Ice Arena, Bensenville, IL - 11:00am - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey
Friday, April 10th @ Team USA Under 17 - Ann Arbor Ice Cube, Ann Arbor, MI - 7:00pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey
Saturday, April 11th VS Team USA Under 17 - Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH - 7:05pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey
4/4
vs Muskegon
7:05 pm
4/8
@ Chicago
11:00 am
4/10
@ USA Under 17
7:00 pm
4/10
vs USA Under 17
7:05 pm
NOTABLES
- Forward Tyler Sheehy is currently riding a three-game point streak, totaling a goal and three assists in that span. With an assists on Friday and Saturday, he now has 101 points in his USHL career (39g, 62a).
QUOTABLES
-"Tonight makes you appreciate how special this accomplishment (winning 17 games in a row) was, because of how hard this League is and how hard every game is. Obviously you never want to lose, but maybe we needed this one to remind ourselves of just how bad we want to win so we don't take things for granted down the stretch." - Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen following Friday's loss to Omaha
- "It was a playoff-type hockey game tonight and we were expecting that. We challenged our guys to play that type of hockey, and it was definitely an emotional and passionate game from both teams, but it was probably as gutsy of a win that we've had all season." - Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen following Saturday's win over Omaha
Youngstown Phantoms Alumni Update
Pro Alumni Update
Brandon Saad (2008-2009) - Played in 75 games with the Chicago Blackhawks this season, registering 22 goals and 26 assists, along with a plus-five on-ice rating. Jiri Sekac (2009-11) - Through 66 games with the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim this season, he has accounted for eight goals and 13 assists Andrej Sustr (2009-10) - Suited up in 72 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, dishing out 13 assists and registering a plus-10 rating while averaging 17:39 TOI. Scott Mayfield (2009-10) - Skated in 60 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) this season, recording 12 assists and a minus-six rating, and 146 penalty minutes. Nathan Walker (2012-13) - Played in 28 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL), he has a goal along with three assists and a plus two on-ice rating. Jefferson Dahl (2009-10)- Skated in 37 games with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) this season, recording 12 goals and 19 assists along with a plus-11 on-ice rating Nilan Nagy (2010-2011)- Signed by the Alaska Aces of the ECHL on 3/18. In five games, he has accounted for a goal and a plus-two on-ice rating.
College Alumni Update (Tournament Results)
#1 Minnesota State (Dylan Margonari) upset by Rochester Institute of Technology, 2-1 Quinnipiac (Soren Jonzzon, Sam Anas) defeated by #2 North Dakota, 4-1 #3 Boston University (JJ Piccinich, Matt O'Connor) defeated Yale, 3-2, in OT. O'Connor: Win, 2 GA, 21 SV #4 Miami (Alex Gacek, Conor Lemirande, Ben Paulides) upset by Providence, 7-5. Paulides Career: 113 games, 6 goals, 16 assists Denver (Ty Loney) defeated Boston College (Austin Cangelosi, Quinn Smith), 5-2 Loney: Assist. Smith Career: 148 games, 18 goals, 24 assists.
Round of 8
Boston University defeated Minnesota-Duluth, 3-2. Piccinich: Assist. O'Connor: Win, 2 GA, 27 SV. Season: 24-3-4, 2.10 GAA, .928 S% Providence upended Denver, 4-1. Loney Career: 152 games, 39 goals, 50 assists.
Frozen Four
Boston University will face North Dakota in the Frozen Four, April 9, 8:30pm. Piccinich and O'Connor join fellow Phantom alums Soren Jonzzon (Quinnipiac, 2013), Tom Serratore (Minnesota, 2014), Austin Cangelosi (Boston College, 2014) and Quinn Smith (Boston College, 2012, 2014) as the only former Phantoms to make the Frozen Four with Smith owning the lone National Title amongst Phantom alumni (2012).
United States Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2015
- Stampede Blank Bucs for 4th Straight Win - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Phantoms Notebook - Youngstown Phantoms
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