Phantoms Ring In Holidays With 4-1 Win Over Omaha
Published on December 13, 2025 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
Youngstown Phantoms on game night
(Youngstown Phantoms, Credit: Scott Galvin/Scott Galvin Photography)
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - After going more than seven periods without a goal, the Youngstown Phantoms (19-7-1-1, 40pts) scored twice in the opening four minutes and never looked back as they downed the Omaha Lancers 4-1 Saturday night at the Covelli Centre.
"There's a way you have to play the game, and we certainly didn't do that last night," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "It was a hard day today; we had some honest and hard conversations. I thought the energy the guys came out with was really positive."
It only took the Phantoms 2:13 to dent the scoreboard, snapping their goalless drought at 161:15 when JT Veney 's shot from the right point found its way through traffic and behind Nils Maurins (23 saves). Omaha challenged for goaltender interference on the play, but the goal stood as called. Exactly a minute later, Ryan Rucinski put home a loose puck in front, doubling Youngstown's lead with his team-leading 17th goal of the season. Youngstown dominated the shot counter in the first period for the second night in a row, putting 14 pucks on the Lancer net while Owen Lepak was only called on to make a single save in the first 20 minutes.
Omaha got on the board at 13:33 of the second when Ilya Gromov sneaked a shot past Lepak to the short side for his first USHL goal. The Gromov tally cut the Phantom lead to 2-1, but Youngstown responded in a big way during the third period. With Jack Willson in the locker room after taking a vicious high stick to the mouth, the Phantoms rallied for a pair of power play goals, putting the contest out of reach. Malachi McKinnon broke an 0-for-18 slide on the man advantage for Youngstown when he tipped home a pass from Cooper Simpson at 5:49. With 11 seconds left in the second half of the double minor, Cooper Simpson was left alone in the right circle as a puck battle ensued on the left wall. Rucinski and Jack Hextall combined to win that puck battle, and Rucinski fed a cross-ice pass right into Simpson's wheelhouse. Simpson blasted a one-timer to the twine for his 13th goal of the season, capping off the scoring for the evening.
It was the Phantoms' first win against Omaha in Youngstown since April 2, 2016, although the two teams had only met five times at the Covelli Centre before tonight. Lepak, who stopped 15 on the night, won his third straight start and hasn't lost in regulation since mid-October. 19 wins and 40 points are both team records through the first 28 games of a season.
The Phantoms will enjoy the next 10+ days off before returning right after Christmas for a two-game road trip with stops in Chicago and Madison beginning December 27 before returning home on January 9 to kick off a four-game homestand with a pair of contests against the Des Moines Buccaneers.
By The Numbers
Shots - 27
Saves - 16
Power Play - 2/6
Penalty Kill - 2/2
Goals - McKinnon, Rucinski, Simpson, Veney
Assists - Hextall (2), Huston, Rucinski, Sasaki, Simpson, Svitov, Veney
Images from this story
 Youngstown Phantoms on game night (Scott Galvin/Scott Galvin Photography) |
United States Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2025
- Phantoms Ring In Holidays With 4-1 Win Over Omaha - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stars Fall to Saints, 5-2 - Lincoln Stars
- Stampede Secure Home Win Before Holiday Break - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Tri-City's Pilgrim, Laylin Help Team USA to Gold Medal at 2025 World Junior a Challenge - Tri-City Storm
- Hawks Fall, 4-0, Against Bucs - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Saints Sweep Stars as Barron Makes More History - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Jacks Blanked by Storm, Fall, 3-0, on Saturday Night - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Dahms's Natural Hat Trick, Pradel's Second Straight Shutout Lift Tri-City to 3-0 Win and Series Sweep of Muskegon on Saturday - Tri-City Storm
- Gromov Scores First USHL Goal, Lancers Fall to Phantoms - Omaha Lancers
- Storm, Lumberjacks Tangle on Military Appreciation Night in Kearney - Tri-City Storm
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.
