Phantoms to Get Second Look at Team USA
Published on November 20, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (Thursday, November 20th, 2008) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms welcome the US National Team to Youngstown for the second time this season on Friday, but for the first time at the Chevrolet Centre.
Earlier this season, the Phantoms and the Nationals split a two-game series at the Ice Zone in Boardman, with Team USA winning the first game 4-2 and Mahoning Valley getting even with a 3-2 win in the series finale.
Phantoms Head Coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt expects another tough matchup with the Nationals this weekend.
"They're very highly skilled," says Mainhardt, "so, again, we can't give them too many opportunities. They'll also be more set in their systems and more aware of what coach [John] Hynes is expecting of them. Both teams will be better this time, so I'm expecting a good couple of games."
The Phantoms enter Friday's game, the first half of a home-and-home series with the Nationals, fresh off of a sweep of the top-ranked St. Louis Bandits last weekend at the Chevrolet Centre. Mainhardt says that the sweep showed his team what kind of effort it's going to take to knock off top competition in the league.
"Last Saturday we got a taste of what it takes to produce for a full 60 minutes," says the sixth-year bench boss. "Now it is up to us to figure out how to duplicate that effort night in and night out."
Mainhardt adds that the Phantoms cannot afford to rest on their laurels after knocking off the defending champion Bandits.
"We can't be content," he said. "We have to continue to push ourselves and continue to strive for that 'perfect game.' We know if we aren't getting better, we are getting worse."
The Phantoms are led by eleven point scorers Brandon Saad (7-4-11) and Stefan Salituro (6-5-11) in scoring while Team USA is led by Austin Czarnik, Matthew Nieto and Emerson Etem, each with nine points.
Mahoning Valley's goaltending duo of Jordan Tibbett and Garrett Bartus have combined for a goals against average of 2.53 and a save percentage of 90.5%; Team USA's tandem of Will Yanakeff and Jack Campbell have teamed up for a 2.23 GAA and a 89.8% SV%.
The Phantoms' end of the home-and-home series begins Friday night at 7:15 at the Chevrolet Centre. It will be Puck Night, sponsored by the Better Business Bureau, and Dollar Beer Night for the Phantoms' third game at the Centre.
The series finishes up on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor, MI, as the Nationals welcome the Phantoms to the Ann Arbor Ice Cube at 3:00 PM.
Both games will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin at 7:00 PM on Friday and 2:45 PM on Saturday.
Season tickets and individual game tickets are on sale now at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone in Boardman. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2008
- Jr. Blues Take On The Wichita Wildcats Friday/Saturday Nights - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Phantoms to Get Second Look at Team USA - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Mahoning Valley sweeps weekend series - St. Louis Bandits
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