USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Special Teams Take Center Stage for Phantoms in Des Moines

Published on December 13, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


DES MOINES, Iowa - There are host of factors that can be credited for the Youngstown Phantoms' early struggles and subsequent turnaround, but perhaps none more so than special teams play - more specifically, the performance on the power play.

Over their past seven games, the Phantoms (10-13-0, 20 points) have racked up 10 goals on the man-advantage - double their combined total through the first 16 games of the season - while converting at a 30-percent rate.

"When our power play does well, we do well," head coach Anthony Noreen. "That's no big secret around hockey. When your special teams outdoes the other team's, you're typically going to win the game."

That's just what the Phantoms have done to the tune of a 5-2-0 record over the span, and they will look to continue the trend on the road this weekend with a pair of games against the Des Moines Buccaneers.

Noreen attributed much of the team's recent success on the power play to the return of leading scorers Austin Cangelosi from the World Junior A Challenge and John Padulo from a hand injury that kept him out of the lineup for two weeks. But, he doled out just as much credit to assistant coaches Rob Rassey and Brad Patterson for finding the right mix on the man-advantage.

"It's not just about getting the five best guys, personnel-wise, out on the ice, but finding the best spot for them," Noreen said. "They've gotten creative putting some guys in different situations, and that's something you've got to do. You've got to be constantly willing to adapt."

Second-year defenseman Ryan Lowney has been a crucial component as any to the Youngstown power play. The slick-skating blue liner quarterbacks the Phantoms top unit - dictating the play from the point with a crisp pass to an open teammate or by teeing up a slap shot himself and firing it through traffic.

Lowney said that Rassey and Patterson have loosened the reigns on the man-advantage, giving him and his teammates the freedom to move fluidly throughout the offensive zone to find open passing - or shooting - lanes.

"Once we get in zone, we try to take what [the penalty killers] give us and set up off of that," Lowney said. "If they give us time, we'll work with that and if they pressure us, we try to move the puck around, try to get catch them out of position and hopefully get some chances."

But while Lowney, Cangelosi, Padulo and Sam Anas may be floating around the offensive zone, one constant has been a big-bodied forward - usually 6-foot-3, 200-pound Markus McCrea - digging pucks out of the corner and parking in front of the crease to provide a screen or pounce on rebounds.

"It's nice to have that big body to be able to win battles down low," Lowney said. "He covers pretty much the whole net, making it hard for the goalie to see while the rest of us get shots in."

Des Moines (13-11-1, 27 points), however, is every bit as potent on the man-advantage, if not more than the Phantoms. Under first-year head coach Jon Rogger, who spent the past for seasons as an assistant with the Green Bay Gamblers, the Buccaneers have converted on nearly 22 percent of their power plays, good for second in the entire United States Hockey League through 25 games.

With both Youngstown and Des Moines posing such a threat with the extra skater, Noreen said the games this weekend may be decided by which team can be the stingiest on the penalty kill.

"Des Moines is a tough arena so we're going to have to try to remain disciplined and keep out of the box," he said. "And when we do put them on the man-advantage, we're going to need to make sure we're extremely detailed on the penalty kill, because they're a team that will make you pay."

Game Schedule

Friday, Dec. 14: Phantoms at Des Moines at 8:05 p.m. EST - FASTHockey.com

Saturday, Dec. 15: Phantoms at Des Moines at 8:05 p.m. EST - FASTHockey.com

Phantoms Holiday Four-Pack ticket packages are on sale now, but only for a limited time. Packages include four undated ticket vouchers plus a Phantoms T-shirt, a combined $60 value, all for just $29. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve a Holiday Four-Pack. For all the latest news, visit www.YoungstownPhantoms.com, follow the Phantoms on Twitter ( @YtownPhantoms ) and "˜like' them on Facebook ( www.Facebook.com/YoungstownPhantoms ).

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2012


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