Six Phantoms Set For Top Prospects Appearance
January 16, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
ANN ARBOR, MI (Friday, January 16th, 2009) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are set to enjoy their second-to-last off-weekend of the 2008-2009 regular season, but six Phantom players-along with Head Coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt-are getting ready to represent the organization at the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in Ann Arbor, MI.
Johnny Meo, Nick Shkreli, Jordy Trottier, Carl Nielsen, Cullen Lundholm and Jordan Tibbett will all be wearing the North Division's white uniforms starting Sunday at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.
Shkreli was a late addition to the North Division roster, replacing fellow forward Brandon Saad for the three-day event.
Tibbett, a first-time Top Prospects selection in net, says that Mahoning Valley could have had even more than the league-maximum six all-stars this season.
"It's a great honor to be named to the North Division team," says Tibbett. "We've all worked really hard this year and everyone who made the team definitely deserved the honor, but we also got a lot of help from our teammates. You could say that a lot more Phantoms than just the six of us deserve to be there."
This year's tournament marks the second iteration of the event, which began in 2008. At Top Prospects, each of the NAHL's four divisions sends a 20-man roster to compete against eachother and Team USA's Under-17 and Under-18 teams.
The event spans Sunday the 18th until Tuesday the 20th, bringing fans and scouts from across the country. Last year's inaugural event was heavily scouted, and over 20 players who participated went on to earn NCAA Division I scholarships.
Nielsen, the Phantoms' assistant captain, says he won't let all the scouts take him out of his normal game.
"Honestly, I try not to think about them," says Nielsen. "Sure, it's nice to know that there are people there interested in you at the next level, but I just need ignore them and play my way."
The Phantoms earned their six nominations to Top Prospects by finishing in first place in the North Division on December 22nd. As a result of that finish, Mainhardt was also named head coach of the North team; he will be assisted by Traverse City head coach Anthony Palumbo.
The North Division team will play the first game of the entire tournament, a 2:00 PM Sunday matchup with Team USA U-17, a familiar foe to all 20 North representatives.
Trottier, who has a goal and four assists in six games against the U-17's this season, says that it won't be business as usual for either side in the opening game.
"USA is a smart hockey team and they're always tough to play against," says the Phantoms' leading scorer (11-16-27), "so it's nice that we'll be bringing an all-star team to play those guys this time."
On Monday, the North will take on the high-flying offense of Team Central at 8:00 PM.
Team North also plays the last game of the tournament when they take on the well-balanced South Division team.
The Phantoms return to regular season action on Friday, January 23rd, when they host the Motor City Machine for a 7:15 PM divisional contest at the Chevrolet Centre.
The game 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.
Phantoms season tickets and individual game tickets are now on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone in Boardman. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company - Phantom Fireworks, located in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2009
- U.S. Nat'l U17 Team Outlasts Motor City, 4-3 - U.S. National Team
- Six Phantoms Set For Top Prospects Appearance - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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