Phantoms Playing for All-Star Spots
December 16, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, OH (Tuesday, December 16th, 2008) - When the Mahoning Valley Phantoms take the ice this weekend at home against the Marquette Rangers, the NAHL's North Division standings will receive a heavy share of attention.
This spotlight on the standings, despite how relatively early Friday and Saturday's games are in the Phantoms' season, is all thanks to the upcoming NAHL's Top Prospects Tournament, the league's answer to an all-star weekend. On Monday, December 22nd, the standings will lock league-wide and each team will be given a number of all-division selections based on their standing.
The first place team will send six players to the Top Prospects Tournament; the second place team gets five nominations; the third and fourth place teams will each have three players represent them and the fifth place team will send two players.
Based on the Phantoms' (16-6-2, 34 pts) current spot in the standings, they could finish anywhere between first and third place by the end of the weekend.
Phantoms Head Coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt says the looming standings freeze will help to fire up his team against Marquette.
"Being able to play at Top Prospects is all about these players and their futures," says Mainhardt, "so that will definitely be a motivating factor for them this weekend. Having more guys on that roster is certainly to the players' advantage, but we only view [first place on Monday] as a short-term goal."
At the Top Prospects Tournament, each of the NAHL's four divisions will field a 20-man roster and compete against eachother and against both U.S. National Teams at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube January 18-20.
The event draws many scouts from NHL teams and NCAA programs who come to watch the league's best and brightest; last year over 20 players who played in the event went on to earn NCAA Division I scholarships.
Mainhardt says that the tournament's format is perfect for the NAHL's players.
"The league is very intelligent in how they designed this tournament," says Mainhardt. "They take the best players from our league and put them into highly competitive games. These games aren't like a typical all-star game; it's an intense, playoff-like atmosphere, which creates a great brand of hockey for the fans and for the scouts. It's real hockey."
Phantoms Team Up with Toys for Tots
This weekend, Phantom fans will have a chance to make the holiday season brighter for underprivileged children of the Valley as the Phantoms will hold their annual Toys for Tots night on Friday at the Chevrolet Centre.
There will be two different ways for fans to give back to the community when they come through the doors on Friday.
First, fans can bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Chevrolet Centre. There will be a table set up right inside the Centre's lobby where fans can exchange these toys for a coupon for $5.00 off their ticket.
Fans can also purchase a $5.00 teddy bear, available at the Toys for Tots table, which may be exchanged for a $5.00 off coupon.
All supporters of the Phantoms are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or buy a teddy bear to donate on Friday to help make it a special holiday season for all of the Valley's children!
Doors open at 6:00 PM on Friday as the Phantoms open their two-game weekend set with the Marquette Rangers. The two North Division rivals face off at 7:15 PM at the Chevrolet Centre.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2008
- U.S. Nat'l U18 Team Tops MSU, 4-2 - U.S. National Team
- First Ever Bobcat Coaches Show on 1270 - Bismarck Bobcats
- Phantoms Playing for All-Star Spots - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Kissaw Named Goalie of the Week - Marquette Rangers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
