Phantoms top Team USA
January 15, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Derek Graham and Alden Hirschfeld both had two goals and two assists and Dustin Cloutier chipped in two goals to lead the Mahoning Valley Phantoms to a 7-4 win over the U.S. National Team at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Phantoms broke a 3-3 tie in the third period with power play goals from Cloutier (5:22), Chris Fairbanks (8:21) and Graham (9:32). Graham later added his 15th goal of the season with 4:51 left in regulation for a 7-3 lead.
Jordan Schroeder completing the scoring for the U.S. with 2:58 remaining.
Just 72 seconds into the first period, Team USA was whistled for two penalties to give the Phantoms, 29-10-1, an early five-on-three power play.
With the advantage, Nathan Longpre fed Cloutier at the top of the circles in the slot for a one-timer that beat goaltender Michael Clemente. Cloutier?s 21st goal of the season gave the Phantoms a 1-0 lead at the 2:29 mark.
It became 2-0 following a Phantoms face-off win in the U.S. zone. Off the draw, Graham pushed the puck ahead in the left circle, as Johnny Meo charged in and snapped a shot that Clemente blocked but could not control.
Hirschfeld trailed after the loose puck and roofed the rebound at 10:01.
Team USA, 13-19-3, got on the board in the final minute. Catching the Phantoms on a line change, Colin Moore skated down the left wing on a two-on-two. He centered a pass to a charging Kelen Corkum.
Corkum redirected the puck high over Ryan Zapolski's left glove with 25.4 seconds remaining in the opening period.
U.S. defenseman Sean Lorenz tied the game when he charged in up the middle, took a centering pass from Vinny Saponari and redirected the puck under Zapolski's glove at 6:34 to make it 2-2.
Hirschfeld regained the lead for the Phantoms. Collecting the puck from the right goal line, Hirschfeld skated behind the net, emerged from the left side and wrapped the puck around the left leg of Clemente for his 10th goal of the season with 8:24 remaining.
But Team USA tied it again, this time on a power play. Kevin McCarey shook free in the left circle and snapped a wrist shot under Zapolski's left arm for his fifth goal of the season with 2:58 to go in the period.
The Phantoms out-shot Team USA 40-37. On the power play, the Phantoms finished 4 for 11, while the U.S. National Team was 1 for 7. Zapolski finished with 33 saves as his record improved to 28-7-1. Clemente, matching Zapolski with 33 saves, fell to 3-9-0.
The Phantoms return to the Ice Zone this weekend on Jan. 19-20 to host the Traverse City North Stars. Face-off both nights is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company- Phantom Fireworks, which is headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2007
- Peterson takes player of the week honors - Alpena IceDiggers
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Falls to NAHL-Leading Phantoms, 7-4 - U.S. National Team
- Phantoms top Team USA - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Jets Player Tabbed by NHL Central Scouting - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Jets on Season-High Nine-Game Unbeaten Streak - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Wildcats Earn Three Points Against Fairbanks - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- IceDiggers sweep Phantoms - Alpena IceDiggers
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.
