USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms to Open Season Friday Against Team USA

September 29, 2011 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms open their third season in the United States Hockey League on Friday when they face off against Team USA at 7:00 p.m. EST at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Phantoms look to carry the momentum from a successful preseason in which they went 3-2-0 and racked up an impressive nine goals on the power play.

Friday will mark the regular season debut for first-year Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen, who was promoted this offseason after the departure of former bench boss Curtis Carr. Noreen said he feels his team is prepared after last week's Fall Classic, where the Phantoms went 2-1-0 with impressive wins over Cedar Rapids and Sioux Falls.

"We treated those games at the Fall Classic very similar to how we would treat a regular season game except for maybe some personnel decisions," he said. "Now when we go on to play USA on Friday, it's just another game."

Last year, the Phantoms won the season series with Team USA, going 3-2-1 in six tightly contested games. Five of the six were decided by a one-goal margin and four of those five needed overtime or a shootout to decide a winner. But Noreen said he is not concerned with last season's success, nor a talented young Team USA.

"The attitude going into Friday night is we're not really going to worry about what they do," he said. "We're going to come and play our game and let them adjust to us.

"If a team is going to beat us, they're going to have to outwork us. That's our M.O. We're going to go out and we're going to try to outwork teams and outhit teams. We're going to block shots and try to do all the little things the right way and hopefully that will lead to chances."

Center Mike Ambrosia, who led the Phantoms with five goals in the preseason, echoed Noreen's sentiments.

"USA's a great team, but we've got to worry about what we do best," Ambrosia said. "During the preseason we gained some confidence and chemistry with our team and we want to prove to the league that we're going to be a winning team this season."

The Phantoms have 12 players returning from last season and added two players with USHL experience to the roster in the offseason with the additions of defenseman Mike Gunn and center Richard Zehnal.

Gunn, who was acquired from Chicago just prior to the 2011 USHL Entry Draft, said that the veteran core has made for an easy adjustment so far and that should result in a more polished on-ice product from the onset.

"I think we've got a really good team," he said. "You don't usually see teams get this comfortable around each other this quick, but right now everyone seems like they've known each other for years. I think we're on to something."

The Phantoms fell 7-2 to Team USA in the preseason, but Gunn said the loss is far behind them and heading into the season opener, their focus is singular.

"It's always a tough game playing USA," Gunn said. "But more importantly, they're in our conference, so those are two points we definitely need. We can't let them get that two-point jump on us."

Single game tickets for the 2011-12 season are on sale now. Season ticket and flex plans start at the low price of just $90. Call the Phantoms office today at 330.747.7825 for more information or to make a reservation today! For a complete Phantoms schedule, visit www.youngstownphantoms.com.

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