Phantoms travel to Michigan for three
November 2, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
Boardman, Ohio (Wednesday, November 2, 2005) - As the Mahoning Valley Phantoms prepare for a five-game road swing over the next two weekends, Head Coach Bob Mainhardt is quick to point out that the season is still in an infancy stage. He also knows that, though any team may be vulnerable on a given night, his team's record will soon better identify his team's performance.
"It's so early in the season and it (the Phantoms 7-6-0 record) means so little right now. I like to start looking at the 15-game mark," said Mainhardt. Given that, this weekend will reach Mainhardt's barometer. The Phantoms face the U.S. National Under-17 Team in Ann Arbor on Thursday, before heading further north to take on the Alpena Ice Diggers on Friday and Saturday. All three games begin at 7:00pm (broadcast on www.mvpphantoms.com).
For most coaches, the primary focus of their team's start doesn't revolve around wins and losses. Instead, weeks are devoted to conditioning, grasping the team concept, forming chemistry, identifying players' roles and, for some, adjusting to a change of scenery.
Other coaches also set a time to shift more of their focus on results. For U.S. National Under-17 Head Coach Ron Rolston, he looks towards the end of the year. In his case, the Under-17 team is like a first year team each and every year, as 20-25 of the top 16-year old players in the country converge on Ann Arbor every August to play for Team USA.
"You don't see the maturation process until Christmas time. We're still going through those stages. We're still in the process of molding chemistry and getting the team concept," said Rolston.
The U.S., 14-5-3 overall, lost to the Phantoms 7-1 with their Under-17 squad back on October 14. Though the Phantoms dominated the game, both coaches know that much has changed since.
"Whether it's game 4 or game 54, we don't take anyone for granted. It's our job to keep the players grounded and focused," said Mainhardt.
"They dismantled us in our last game, but we're better since then. Each week, we've made steady improvement. We've hit those peaks and valleys, and we're trying to create an identity," said Rolston.
With regards to Alpena, the Phantoms face them in 8 of their next 12 games and can ill afford to consider the Ice Diggers current 4-9-2 record; another point that Mainhardt is quick to address.
"We had a better overall record than them two years ago, but the Ice Diggers had a winning record against us. They're the reason we didn't make the playoffs in 2004," noted Mainhardt. "And then you can look at what the Soo did last year."
The Soo Kewadin Indians started 5-9-2 last season before going 28-9-3 in their final 40 games, en route to the NAHL Championship Tournament.
USA, USA, USA- Phantoms defenseman Doug Leaverton has been selected to play for Team USA at the Four Nations Cup, from November 10-14 in Slovakia.
The round robin format includes the best players, aged 17 and under, from the U.S., Russia, Slovakia, and Switzerland. The U.S. National Under-17 Team, who faces the Phantoms on Thursday, will represent the red, white, and blue as the defending tournament champions next week. With one of their defenseman injured, Rolston had a roster spot to fill. He knew who he wanted to step in.
"Doug's been on our radar for awhile. He's big and strong and is really developing well with the Phantoms," said Rolston. "We wanted him because he makes the right decisions and for his strong positional play."
For Leaverton, a native of Painesville, Ohio, it's an opportunity to prove that he's deserving to represent his country, and that he can skate with the top junior players in the world at his age. Rolston's perception of the 6'4" blue liner was reconfirmed three weeks ago, when Leaverton recorded a goal and a fight in the Phantoms win over Rolston's Under-17 team three weeks ago.
Leaverton, a junior at Youngstown Cardinal Mooney High School, has always felt confident in comparing his talent to those currently on the U.S. squad, and viewed it as a personal challenge to perform well against the U.S. earlier this season. "I think I felt that (pressure) in my first game against them," he said.
Knowing that his opponent on Thursday night will become his teammates for a week, Doug has a simple agenda. "It's hockey; I gotta go all out. I'll be their friends next week," Leaverton added.
In 11 games with the Phantoms, Leaverton has a goal and 11 penalty minutes. "He's worked hard and earned it. It's always nice when guys get recognized individually," said Mainhardt.
ROSTER ADDITIONS- With right wing Matt Quigley out indefinitely with a dislocated shoulder, and left wing Chris Fairbanks (probable) also battling a sore shoulder, the Phantoms have acquired three forwards for this weekend, including Boardman native Zack Skook. The team has also added Pittsburgh natives Dustin Roux and Tyler Murovich to their roster.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 2, 2005
- NAHL names players of the week - NAHL
- Phantoms travel to Michigan for three - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Adds Two Players, Coach For 2005 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament - U.S. National Team
- Dog Pound Weekly - Bozeman Icedogs
- U.S. National Under-18 team prepares for Four Nations Tournament - U.S. National Team
- Bulls set for first ever meeting with Southern Minnesota - Billings Bulls
- Icediggers sponsor Alpena Hockey Association jersey night - Alpena IceDiggers
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