Phantoms Set for Fourth Consecutive Robertson Cup Tournament
Published on April 27, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
MASON CITY, IA - The North Division champion Mahoning Valley Phantoms are back in the Robertson Cup Tournament for the fourth straight year after defeating Team USA three games to two in the 2009 North Division Finals.
"It's really exciting to be here at Nationals again," says Phantoms second-year defenseman and assistant captain Carl Nielsen, "it's what we've worked for all year: coming to Mason City and bringing home a Robertson Cup.
"Everyone's spirits are high and we're ready to get this thing underway."
Joining the Phantoms at the '09 national tournament will be the South Division champion St. Louis Bandits, the Central Division champion Bismarck Bobcats, the West Division champion Wenatchee Wild and the host North Iowa Outlaws.
Mahoning Valley goaltender Jordan Tibbett says that while getting to nationals was a goal the team had, it wasn't the Phantoms' main goal.
"While we're proud of the accomplishment," says Tibbett, "we also realize that we haven't won anything yet. We're here in Mason City to win a championship."
The tournament, representing USA Hockey's Tier II Junior A National Championship, will once again have a round robin format in the preliminary round, with each team playing the other four finalists once between Tuesday and Saturday; the top two finishers in the round robin will advance to Sunday's National Championship contest.
The Phantoms have played in the last two title games-both against St. Louis-falling to the Bandits in Fairbanks, AK, in 2007 by an 8-4 final and then by a 5-2 decision when the Bandits hosted the 2008 tournament in St. Louis.
Ten players from the 2008 national runner up team remain on the 2009 tournament qualifiers.
"The guys that were here last year definitely feel like there's some unfinished business," says Phantoms Head Coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt.
Mahoning Valley forward Brandon Saad says the veteran presence from last year's national finalist team is making a difference for this year's tournament.
"With those guys having the experience of last year, they've been really helpful for the younger guys," says the 2009 NAHL Rookie of the Year recipient, "telling us what we need to do and how we need to be prepared for a championship run; it's helped us a lot."
The Phantoms open the tournament on Tuesday with a 4:00 PM start against the Bobcats, whom they defeated 5-1 on September 20th at the Sherwood NAHL Showcase in Blaine, MN.
In that contest, Cole Schneider had a goal and two assists while Tibbett made 35 saves for the win to give the Phantoms a 3-0-1 record for the first week of the season.
Game two for Mahoning Valley will be an 8:30 PM contest on Wednesday against the host Outlaws, who the Phantoms defeated 4-1 on September 18th-also at the NAHL Showcase; Tibbett made 20 saves in the win.
2008 National Runner-up holdover John Houston doesn't put much stock in the early-season wins over the Phantoms' first two opponents.
"The Showcase was so long ago, so plenty has changed since then for all the teams that were involved," says Houston, "with adds, cuts and trades all factored in, every team has changed quite a bit from what we saw in September. We're expecting totally different games against Bismarck and North Iowa this time around."
Mahoning Valley will close out round robin play on Thursday with a 4:00 PM game against tournament newcomer Wenatchee and a 4:00 PM Friday rematch of the last two National Championship games against the Bandits.
The Phantoms finished 2-2-0 in four games against the Bandits during the regular season.
Should the Phantoms finish with one of the two best records in the round robin, they will advance to Sunday's 3:00 PM title game.
All Phantoms Robertson Cup Tournament games will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. Each contest's pregame show will begin 15 minutes before puck drop.
All Phantoms merchandise is on sale for 40% off at the Phantoms Team Shop at both the Chevrolet Centre and the Ice Zone while the Phantoms are in the playoffs. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
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 27, 2009
- Phantoms Set for Fourth Consecutive Robertson Cup Tournament - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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