Phantoms Set to Close Out January with Two-game Road Series
Published on January 29, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
ALPENA, MI (Thursday, January 29th, 2009) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms will wrap up a busy month of January with a two-game road series, starting Friday night, against the Alpena IceDiggers at Northern Lights Arena in northeast Michigan.
In four previous games this season against the IceDiggers, the Phantoms are 3-1-0 including a two-game sweep at the Chevrolet Centre on December 28-29 the last time the two teams met.
In the series, Mahoning Valley forward Cole Schneider racked up four goals as the Phantoms won 6-3 and 4-1 over the visiting IceDiggers.
The Phantoms (24-10-3, 51 pts) enter the weekend with a two-point lead in the North Division over the second-place Traverse City North Stars (22-9-5, 49 pts) and six points ahead of the third-place IceDiggers (20-13-5, 45 pts).
Mahoning Valley Head Coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt says that the tight pack at the top of the division makes this weekend's road set all the bigger.
"We're only up two points on Traverse City right now and they have a game in hand," says Mainhardt, "and with such a slim lead that makes any game important this time of the year."
Schneider has a team-high five points (4-1-5) against Alpena this season, while Doug Clifford has four goals in four games against the IceDiggers. Goaltenders Jordan Tibbett and Garrett Bartus have combined for a 2.75 goals against average against Alpena with a .916 save percentage.
Overall, Jordy Trottier leads the Phantoms with 12 goals and 19 assists, good for 31 points.
On the Alpena side, Sam Cheraso (4-2-6) and Erik Peterson (2-4-6) have had the most success against the Phantoms on the scoresheet; goalie Nick Graves is 1-2-1 against the Phantoms with a 3.96 GAA and a .888 SV%.
Trottier, who played with Graves two weeks ago at the NAHL's Top Prospects Tournament, says that Graves is a big key to Alpena's success this season.
"Nick is a strong goalie and he's coming off of a good showing at Top Prospects," says Trottier, who has scored one goal against Graves this season, "so you know he'll be playing with some confidence. He comes prepared every night and he can win games all by himself."
Peterson is Alpena's top overall scorer, as well, with 13 goals and 22 assists.
Friday and Saturday night's games will begin at 7:00 PM from Northern Lights Arena.
The games will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin at 6:45 PM both nights.
Phantoms season tickets and individual game tickets are now on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone in Boardman. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2009
- Phantoms Set to Close Out January with Two-game Road Series - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Bobcats vs. Albert Lea Thunder - Bismarck Bobcats
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