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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook

April 7, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


OVERVIEW: The Youngstown Phantoms clinched home ice advantage throughout the first two rounds of the 2015 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs with a 5-1 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Saturday. Youngstown needs just one point to earn at least a share of the Anderson Cup, presented to the team with the top record in the USHL, and two points to clinch it outright.

SATURDAY: The Youngstown Phantoms (38-14-5) earned a 5-1 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Saturday night. Forward Kyle Connor registered a five-point night (3g, 2a), while forwards Kole Sherwood and Chase Pearson each chipped in lone goals for the Phantoms, who clinch home ice advantage in the first round of the 2015 Clark Cup Playoffs.

The Phantoms drew first blood just 3:20 into the opening period when Connor took a pass from forward Ryan Lomberg and skated over the Muskegon blueline and launched a wrist shot that beat Lumberjacks netminder Eric Schierhorn, putting the Phantoms ahead, 1-0, on Connor's 30th goal of the season.

That lead held up throughout the remainder of the first, and in the second, the Phantoms' offense kicked it into high gear, as just 1:34 into the frame while on the power play, Connor fired another wrister past Schierhorn, extending the Phantoms' lead to 2-0.

That lead became 3-0 midway through the frame, when Kole Sherwood came down on a two-on-one rush with Connor, and slammed it into the net, 10:35 into the frame, with his first career USHL goal.

Youngstown's power play struck again roughly two minutes later, when forward Max Letunov found Pearson wide open on the back door, and he fired it past Schierhorn, giving the Phantoms a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes.

After Muskegon forward Robbie DeMontis put the Lumberjacks on the board 1:11 into the third, Connor capped of his huge night with his third of the game at 6:55 of the frame, when he took a pass from defenseman Kris Myllari and launched it past Schierhorn, sending the Phantoms to a 5-1 win.

UP NEXT: The Phantoms skate in their third school day game of the season, when they travel to Chicago to take on the Steel on Wednesday morning at 11:00m ET. They wrap up the 2014-2015 regular season with a home-and-home series with Team USA's Under-17 program on Friday and Saturday.

REMAINING SCHEDULE

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

4/8

@ Chicago

11:00 am

4/10

@ USA Under 17

7:00 pm

4/11

vs USA Under 17

7:05 pm

HOME PLAYOFF DATES

GAME 2: Friday, April 17th VS TBA- Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH - 7:05pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey

GAME 3: Saturday, April 18th VS TBA - Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH - 7:05pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey

GAME 5: Wednesday, April 22nd VS TBA - Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH - 7:05pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey

*Bold italics indicates game played if necessary

NOTABLES

- The Phantoms set a team record with their 38th win of the season on Saturday night against Muskegon.

- Forward Kole Sherwood scored his first USHL goal in his first USHL game on Saturday

- Forward Kyle Connor tied a career-high with five points (3g, 2a) in Saturday's win

- For his efforts, Connor was named CCM Co-Forward of the Week for the fourth time this season

- Forward Tyler Sheehy is currently riding a four-game point streak, accounting for a goal and four assists in that span

QUOTABLES

-"It was really good to get one here tonight, especially in my first game. It was a special opportunity to play tonight with my brother [Kiefer] tonight. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and those don't come up that often." - Forward Kole Sherwood on scoring his first USHL goal and playing with his brother for on Saturday

- "I thought he was tremendous, and one of the best players out on the ice. Obviously the highlight was him getting the goal, but it was also special for him to play alongside his brother tonight, and I'm sure it was a big night for him and his entire family." - Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen on Kole Sherwood following Saturday's game

-"This could have been a potential first-round matchup, and we really wanted to set the tone early in this one, starting with the first shift. We wanted to come out hard and be tough to play against, and I think we accomplished that." - Forward Kyle Connor following Saturday's big win over Muskegon

Youngstown Phantoms Alumni Update

Pro Alumni Update

Brandon Saad (2008-2009) - Played in 79 games with the Chicago Blackhawks this season, registering 22 goals and 29 assists, along with a plus-seven on-ice rating. Jiri Sekac (2009-11) - Through 68 games with the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim this season, he has accounted for nine goals and 14 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 63 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) this season, recording 13 assists and a minus-seven rating, and 151 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 40 games with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) this season, recording 13 goals and 21 assists along with a plus-12 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 (Frozen Four)

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).

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2015


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