Phantoms Prepare for Divisional Showdown
October 29, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, OH (Wednesday, October 29th, 2008) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms head to Traverse City, MI, this weekend to take on the first place Traverse City North Stars in a three-game clash of the top two teams in the North Division.
Traverse City has come out of the gates red-hot, compiling an 11-2-0 record on their way to the top of the divisional standings. The North Stars are currently on an eight-game winning streak, the second-longest active NAHL winning streak behind St. Louis' current 14-game run.
The Phantoms head into this weekend after a split at home with Team USA. One of the hottest Phantoms right now is rookie Doug Clifford. Clifford has four goals in his last four games, including two game-winning goals. Clifford was named North Division Player of the Week for the week of October 13-19 after his three-goal weekend in Alpena.
The Phantoms also have a bit of momentum in the special teams department; they head into the Traverse City series coming off a weekend where the penalty killing unit negated all 15 power plays taken by Team USA while going 2-for-11 on the power play.
Injury Report: Kenney Returns
Second-year Phantom Nick Kenney returned to the lineup after missing the first eight games of the season after suffering a broken thumb in the preseason at Motor City. He played in both games against Team USA, seeing regular shifts on a line with Clifford and Brandon Saad.
Still out for the Phantoms are rookie forwards Brad Smith and Christian Long. Smith is still recovering from a lacerated foot and is expected to miss another 6-10 weeks while recovering.
Long is currently rehabbing a partially torn MCL. No timetable has been given for the Cleveland native, who has one goal and one assist in six games this season.
Two Phantoms Honored
Jordy Trottier and Garrett Bartus were honored by the NAHL for their efforts against Team USA last weekend.
Bartus made 30 saves on his way to a 3-2 win against the Nationals, earning him his third win of the season as well as an Honorable Mention for the GDI / NAHL Goalie of the Week award. This is the third time either Bartus or fellow goaltender Jordan Tibbett have been named Honorable Mention for the league-wide award.
Jordy Trottier did not register a point against Team USA but his faceoff wizardry, including a 6-for-8 faceoff night on Friday, combined with solid efforts at both ends of the ice helped earn him Honorable Mention for the Sherwood NAHL North Division Player of the Week award.
Trottier currently leads the Phantoms with five goals on the season; this is his second Honorable Mention of the year.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2008
- Phantoms Prepare for Divisional Showdown - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Bobcats Set To Host Rival Outlaws - Bismarck Bobcats
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