Phantoms open training camp
August 24, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
The 2004-05 edition of the Youngstown Phantoms Jr. A Hockey Club opened training camp Monday August 23, at the Ice Zone in Boardman, Ohio.
The players reported to camp on Sunday and spend the afternoon settling in with their billet families. Monday morning the players underwent a battery of physical evaluations and off-ice testing. The team will took the ice later that day for their first workout of the year.
The Phantoms coaching staff is extremely excited about the potential of this year's club. Head coach Bob Mainhardt stated, "We are really looking forward to getting this year's group together. We feel that we have had a dynamite recruiting year and have a great mix of veterans and top prospect rookies."
Among the returning Phantoms are captains Rob Rassey and Anthony Canzoneri, as well as leading goal scorer Aarron Rhyner. These veterans are expected to have an immediate impact on the club.
The Phantoms off-season acquisitions of veteran forwards Marc Menzione and Kyle Laughlin from the Sioux Falls Stampede and Brad O'Shell from the Sioux City Musketeers create immediate experience up front.
Youngstown has also acquired defensemen Jeremy Smith from the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, and Shane Lennox from Vancouver, British Columbia.
High profile rookie forwards Mike Maltese, Derek Roehl, Owen Meyer, and Bob Collar should draw immediate attention from Division I colleges across the country.
Coach Mainhardt explained, "There is always an adjustment for kids coming out of Midget to Jr. A, but we are expecting these guys to put up points for us this year. With the depth that we have up front, everyone will have an opportunity to show what they can do in this league."
The Phantoms also bring a hard hitting physical presence to the ice this year with rookies like Naaman Moorman and Warren Byrne. Assistant coach Ian Fredricks stated "we watched these kids a bunch this year, but the game they brought to camp made us give these young kids a chance. Both Naaman and Warren play a physical brand of hockey, that's a presence we didn't have last year."
Youngstown opens its preseason with a home-and-home match-up against their regional rivals, the Cleveland Barons. The Phantoms take the pike up to Cleveland on September 4 and return back to Youngstown the next day for a 3:00 p.m. matinee. This game is free of charge at the Ice Zone in Boardman.
The following weekend, the Phantoms wrap up their pre-season up in Boston when they play eastern powers Boston Jr. Bruins and the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
For regular season ticket information please call the Youngstown Phantoms box office at (330) 965-7500 or log onto the Phantoms' official Website.
The Youngstown Phantoms are proud members of parent company Phantom Fireworks, on the web at www.fireworks.com.
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