Phantoms Rally Falls Short Against Team USA
Published on February 24, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (Tuesday, February 24th, 2009) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms saw their third period comeback attempt against the US National Team come up empty as the Nationals held off the Phantoms by a final score of 5-3 at the Chevrolet Centre on Tuesday.
In front of an announced 5,013 fans, the largest crowd in Phantoms history, it was Team USA that came out strong, scoring twice in the first period on goals from Jacob Fallon and Emerson Etem to seize a 2-0 lead late in the first.
The Phantoms battled back, cutting the USA lead to 2-1 when Robert Harrison drove a Brandon Saad rebound past Nationals goalie Will Yanakeff on the power play with 34 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
The Nationals, however, responded quickly in the second when Frankie Simonelli roped a power play slap shot past Phantoms keeper Jordan Tibbett to restore the three-goal lead for USA at 3-1 just 1:45 into the period.
Two minutes later, George Saad cut the USA lead back to one when lined a transition wrister past Yanakeff to make it a 3-2 affair.
Nick Shore made it a two-goal game again with 1:35 left in the second, sliding a shot under Tibbett for a 4-2 USA advantage.
Still, Mahoning Valley refused to go away as Nick Kenney lifted a Stefan Salituro centering feed over Yanakeff to cut the lead back to 4-3 1:07 into the third.
Yanakeff and the Nationals shut the door from there on, though, as the Jerome, MI, native stopped the next 10 Phantom shots and Stuart Higgins scored a late insurance goal for the final 5-3 margin.
Jordan Tibbett finished with 15 saves in net for Mahoning Valley.
The game was billed as the Phantoms' "Hockey for Health" game. It was the headlining event of the Phantoms' Hockey for Health program, which brings Mahoning Valley players and coaches to area schools to teach students the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle.
For more information or to bring Hockey for Health to your school this season, contact Phantoms Assistant Coach Curtis Carr at (330) 965-1423.
The Phantoms return to action on Friday when they travel to Wyandotte, MI, to take on Detroit's Motor City Machine at B.F. Yack Arena. The game-the first of two in Detroit-is scheduled for a 7:10 puck drop.
The game will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin at 6:55 PM.
Phantoms individual game tickets are on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2009
- Rangers Tender Four - Marquette Rangers
- Robertson Cup Format Announced - Bismarck Bobcats
- RoadRunners Delivering Free Tickets to National Guards Nickell Armory - Topeka Pilots
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Downs Mahoning Valley, 5-3 - U.S. National Team
- Phantoms Rally Falls Short Against Team USA - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Wildcats Split On the Road - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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.
