Phantoms prepare for season by sweeping eastern competition
September 16, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
The Youngstown Phantoms rolled into Boston last weekend to take on the perennial powers of eastern junior hockey and rolled out victorious.
Friday night, the Phantoms beat the New England Huskies, 4-0, in a penalty-filled affair. The Phantoms were able to get the job done with goals by Anthony Canzoneri, Brad O'Shell, and rookies Bob Collar and Derek Roehl.
Saturday, the Phantoms faced one of the two powers of the Eastern Junior Hockey League, the Boston Junior Bruins, at historic Boston University.
With both teams displaying tremendous skill, this game was far more fun to watch. Youngstown continued their strong defensive play by shutting out the Bruins, 3-0. Anthony Canzoneri continued to be hot, netting two more goals, while Aaron Rhyner picked up the final goal of the game. Goaltenders Jerry Kuhn and Tom O'Brien were stellar and continued to split time on the shutout.
Sunday, the Phantoms took on the other EJHL power, the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs. It was Youngstown's their third game in as many days.
The Monarchs proved to be as good as their reputation. It took an overtime shootout for the Phantoms to put the Monarchs away.
Kyle Laughlin netted his first of the year at 4:33 of the second period to put the Phantoms up 1-0. Youngstown remained in control until the final minutes of the game when the Phantoms were down to four men as a result of a five minute major penalty. The Monarch's went on the power play and tied the game with 4:27 remaining. After an outstanding performance from Youngstown goaltenders Jerry Kuhn and Tom O'Brien, it was Anthony Ciraulo who put the game away for the Phantoms with his overtime shoot-out goal.
Youngstown walked away from the weekend giving up only one goal against the top junior teams in the east.
"Overall this was a good way to wind up the pre-season," stated Youngstown head coach Bob Mainhardt. "We were able to get our boys phenomenal exposure to the top colleges in the east as well as establish ourselves and the North American Hockey League as being premier organizations"
The Phantoms open the regular season this weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan, against the high powered USA Under-18 team on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 16, 2004
- Youngstown Begins NAHL Play After Impressive Preseason - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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- Voice of the Soo returns for 10th season - Soo Indians
- Bighorns 'Koules' under pressure in weekend series - Helena Bighorns
- IceDogs look to rebound in season opener against Billings - Bozeman Icedogs
- Fraser name U-18 NTDP captain, Gerbe and Jones named assistants - U.S. National Team
- Bandits face off against NHLers to wrap up week in St. Louis - St. Louis Bandits
- Blizzard into pre-season preparation with 14 newcomers in camp - Alexandria Blizzard
- Myro hat trick sparks Jets comeback in first exhibition - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Phantoms prepare for season by sweeping eastern competition - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- NAHL set to open 29th season this weekend - NAHL
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