Phantoms Season Comes Full Circle as St. Louis Showdown Looms
April 17, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, Ohio (Thursday, April 17, 2008) - Nearly eight weeks ago, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms were at a turning point in their season. Coming off back-to-back 5-1 losses to the first place St. Louis Bandits and having gone just 3-6-1 in the previous 10 games, the Phantoms were in danger of losing a spot in the playoffs.
"That weekend was a definite wake-up call for us," said Phantoms head coach Bob Mainhardt when asked about the losses. "Knowing that St. Louis is one of the elite teams in the league, and they are probably the favorite to win it all, we know it is going to take a lot more than what we've been giving against them to be able to win the championship."
Flash forward to now, and the team's season seems to have done a 180-degree turn. The Phantoms are 12-2-0 in their last 14 games, have won six in a row, including a three games to none sweep of the third place Alpena Ice Diggers in the first round of the playoffs, and now find themselves right back in St. Louis - with a chance this time to become the North Division playoff champions.
The Bandits, however, look to be headed right back towards the title of Robertson Cup Champions. After beating the Phantoms 8-4 in the title game back on May 6, St. Louis cruised to the North American Hockey League's best regular season record at 47-9-2 this year - 10 points better than their nearest competitor. The Bandits were also 6-2-0 versus the Phantoms in eight games this season.
St. Louis has been led by playmaker Ben Warda and sniper Kyle O'Kane. Warda amassed a team-high 74 points during the regular season, fifth best in the league. O'Kane tallied 40 goals in just 52 games during the year - second in the country.
Warda has continued his scoring onslaught in the post season as well, collecting a league-leading eight points in a three game sweep over the U.S. National Team in the divisional semifinals. Line mates Mike Merrifield and Josh Rabbani have profited as well, notching seven and six points respectively.
The Phantoms' top line of Derek Graham, Grant Blakey and Alden Hirschfeld meanwhile has led the Phantoms in the playoffs thus far. The three have combined for 10 points in just three games. During the regular season, however, the Bandits held the trio to just 4 points in eight games.
"When those three guys are producing points and playing well, then the team is playing well," says Phantoms assistant coach Curtis Carr. "If they get shut down again then our other three lines will have to step up, and that is something I'm confident in. We've shown time and time again that every line can produce for us."
With each team earning a sweep in the first round, each team was also able to earn some much-needed rest. The Bandits have not played a game since their 6-2 series clinching win over the U.S. back on April 6. By the time the two teams face off on Friday, the Phantoms will be eight days removed from their triumphant 3-2 overtime thriller last Thursday in Alpena.
All the time off has helped Phantoms veteran forward Brent Dexter and veteran defenseman Eric Ringel get back up to 100-percent after being sidelined with injuries early in the Alpena series. Ringel was the team's leading scorer among defensemen, while Dexter was fourth on the team in goals scored.
"Both teams are in the same boat as far as (time off between games) is concerned," Mainhardt says. "I think it is more of a positive than a negative because it allows us to lick our wounds a little bit and hopefully get a little bit healthier."
Because St. Louis is hosting the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament April 30-May 4, they get an automatic bid to the event. Furthermore, because the Phantoms face the Bandits in the North Division Finals, the Phantoms have clinched a berth as well. Even with their tickets punched, however, the Phantoms refuse to back down and are adamant that there is still plenty left to play for.
"The North Division playoff champion is on the line, and we are the defending champion in the playoffs and the regular season," says Mainhardt. "They were able to take away our regular season crown, and we want to even the score here and take the North Division playoff championship."
The Bandits host Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-five series on Friday and Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. EDT at the Hardees IcePlex in Chesterfield, Mo. Games 3, and 4, if necessary, are at the Ice Zone in Boardman next Wednesday and Fri. April 25, at 7:15 p.m.
Catch all Phantoms hockey action live on the web at www.mvpphantoms.com. The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company - Phantom Fireworks, located in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2008
- Former Jr. Blue Chase Podsiad wins Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award - Springfield Jr. Blues
- NAHL Announces All-Divisional Teams - NAHL
- Phantoms Season Comes Full Circle as St. Louis Showdown Looms - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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.
