Saad Blazes to Second Player of the Week Award of 2009
Published on February 2, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
FRISCO, TX (Monday, February 2nd, 2009) - For the second time since New Years, Mahoning Valley Phantoms forward Brandon Saad is the Sherwood NAHL North Division Player of the Week.
Saad picks up the honor following a four goal, three assist weekend as the Phantoms swept the Alpena IceDiggers, outscoring the fourth-place IceDiggers 15-3 in two games last weekend.
The 6'2" 195 pound winger from Gibsonia, PA, opened the two-game set with a goal and an assist in Friday's 6-1 triumph
He followed his Friday performance by scoring the team's first hat trick of the season, spurring the Phantoms to a 9-2 blowout win over the IceDiggers. He also tacked on two assists, giving him five points in one game, a season-high for the Phantoms.
Saad credited his offensive surge to a successful line combination with two veteran Phantoms.
"Our new line with Johnny Meo and Stefan Salituro is working really well together," says Saad. "Things were just clicking out there with those two last weekend."
The four goals against Alpena vaults Saad, who has 19 goals on the season, into second place in the North in goals scored behind Traverse City's Kyle Bonis (22). He is tied for 12th league in the category.
The award caps a spectacular January for the first-year forward, a month in which he was named first-team all-tournament at the World Under-17 Challenge in Canada, scored eight goals and four assists and won another Player of the Week award.
Phantoms Head Coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt sees Saad's nomination as an indicator of overall team progress.
"Brandon put up some good numbers last weekend and was a big part of our success in Alpena," says Mainhardt. "As always, we as coaches view the individual honors as a reflection of the team success, so it's definitely nice to see Brandon receive this award again.'
Saad was joined in the weekly honors by Phantoms goalie Garrett Bartus, whose 34-save performance last Friday earned him honorable mention for the GDI / NAHL Goalie of the Week award. It is the fifth time Bartus has earned the honorable mention this season.
Bartus has won six of his last seven starts, improving his record to 9-5-2 after starting the season 3-4-2.
Saad, Bartus and the rest of the first-place Phantoms resume regular season play on Friday night when they open a three-game series against the second-place Traverse City North Stars at the Ice Zone in Boardman. Friday's game is set to begin at 7:15 PM.
The game will broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, with a 7:00 PM pregame show.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2009
- Red-hot Avalanche streaks into February - NAHL
- RoadRunners Conclude Successful Homestand - Topeka Pilots
- Saad Blazes to Second Player of the Week Award of 2009 - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Outlaws Raise $2,000 for Cancer Society - North Iowa Outlaws
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