Phantoms Open Division Finals Play at Team USA
Published on April 15, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
ANN ARBOR, MI (Wednesday, April 15th, 2009) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms open the North Division Finals Thursday against the U.S. National Team for the right to play in the 2009 Robertson Cup Tournament in Mason City, Iowa.
It is the third straight season the Phantoms have made the North Finals/
The Phantoms played their way into the divisional final by edging the Traverse City North Stars 2-1 in Game Five of their best-of-five opening round series; Team USA advanced with a convincing 3-1 series win over the fourth-place Alpena IceDiggers.
It is the second time the Phantoms and Nationals have met up in the North Division Finals; Mahoning Valley swept Team USA three games to none in the 2007 NAHL Playoffs to move on to the Robertson Cup Finals in Fairbanks, AK.
The Phantoms went 5-5-0 against the Nationals during the '08-'09 regular season, tallying a 3-2-0 record at home while going 2-3-0 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, the National Team's home rink.
"We've battled hard against Team USA this year," says Mahoning Valley captain Johnny Meo, "I think the record shows that. We're focused right now on going [to Ann Arbor] and getting two wins and bringing this thing back to Youngstown."
Team USA finished the regular season in first place in the North Division-just two points ahead of the second-place Phantoms-earning themselves home ice advantage in the second round.
The high-flying Nationals led the league in regular season goals, pouring in 230 scores in 58 games.
"They're all good hockey players with great hands," says assistant captain Carl Nielsen, "and if you give them any time or space, they'll bury the puck. So we need to use our size and strength to neutralize that skill."
Offensively, Cole Schneider led the Phantoms in goals against Team USA with three as Mahoning Valley got goals from 16 different players in 10 games against the Nationals.
Goaltender Jordan Tibbett went 3-3-0 against the National Team in seven games played with a 3.89 goals against average.
For the Nationals, Emerson Etem led the scoring charge with five goals and an assist in eight games against Mahoning Valley while newly minted USA starting netminder Brandon Maxwell went 1-1-0 in two starts against the Phantoms with a 2.50 GAA and a .909 SV%.
Game One is Thursday at 7:00 PM at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube with Game Two following at the Nationals' home venue Friday, also at 7:00 PM.
The series will take a five-day hiatus before resuming at the Chevrolet Centre for Game Three on Thursday, April 23rd, at 7:15 PM.
If necessary, Game Four will be at the Centre on Friday, April 24th, also at 7:15 PM.
Should the series go the distance, Game Five is scheduled for a 7:00 PM start on Saturday, April 25th, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.
All Phantom games in the 2009 NAHL Playoffs will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame shows will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of each contest.
All Phantoms merchandise is on sale for 40% off at the Phantoms Team Shop at both the Chevrolet Centre and the Ice Zone while the Phantoms are in the playoffs. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company - Phantom Fireworks, located in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2009
- Phantoms Open Division Finals Play at Team USA - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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