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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Team Usa Starts Strong, Skates Away From Phantoms

December 19, 2009 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Defenseman Adam Clendening netted a pair of goals and former Mahoning Valley Phantom Brandon Saad rung up three assists to lead the way as the US National Team's Under-18 squad outgunned the Youngstown Phantoms 9-3 Saturday night at the Ice Cube.

Austin Czarnik and Jacob Fallon each had a goal and an assist as Team USA dealt the Phantoms their widest margin of defeat on the season through 25 games. Jefferson Dahl scored a goal in his team-high third straight game and Luke Eibler earned a pair of assists for Youngstown.

Saad helped get Team USA off to a good start, finding Jacob Fallon for a power-play goal only 1:23 into the contest. Fallon found room between Phantoms starting goalie Jordan Tibbett and the right post to sneak the icebreaker into the twine.

A quick two-goal burst by Team USA midway through the first frame added to the Phantoms troubles. Defenseman Stephen Johns (11:32) and Bill Arnold (11:55) nailed their first and third of the season, respectively, to make it a 3-0 Red, White & Blue lead.

A slam-dunk set-up from Austin Czarnik to Nick Shore pushed the lead to four goals before the first intermission and caused Phantoms Head Coach/GM Bob Mainhardt to insert Matt Mahalak in net, the first relief appearance by a Youngstown netminder this season.

Mahalak caught a tough break at 2:30 of the second when Czarnik's centering pass from behind the net struck a Phantom defender and bounced in for Team USA's fifth goal. The fluky play marked the first time all season that Youngstown trailed by five.

Dahl saved some face for the visitors when he converted the rebound from former high school teammate Dave Donnellan's power-play drive 5:49 into the middle stanza. It was Dahl's ninth of the campaign, tying him briefly with Brett Gensler and Nick Czinder for the team lead, as well as his third in three games; Jiri Sekac earned the primary assist, his first USHL point.

Blueliner Adam Clendening restored the five-goal Team USA advantage when Fallon sent a cross-rink pass his way for an open-net goal from the left circle at 13:10.

Tom Serratore (power play - 8:11) and Gensler (11:32) added goals for Youngstown in the third, both assisted by defenseman Eibler, but Team USA netted three in the penalty-laden final frame from defensemen Jarred Tinordi (8:35), Derek Forbort (power play - 13:38) and Clendening (power play - 14:50), his second of the game, to close the scoring.

Youngstown outshot Team USA 40-30, but goaltender John Gibson was solid when he had to be, making 37 saves for his second USHL win. The Phantoms converted twice on eight power plays, while the Red, White & Blue went 4-for-11.

The Phantoms return home following the USHL's holiday break for a single game Tuesday, Dec. 29 against the Waterloo Blackhawks at 7:15 p.m. Bring your unwanted holiday gifts to the game in exchange for a half-priced ticket to the game - all collected gifts will be donated to the Salvation Army. Also, enjoy $2 pretzels, hot dogs and pops all night long and take advantage of the Phantoms' Family Four Pack deal - four tickets for just $20 and $5 for any additional tickets.

Follow the Phantoms all season long via Youngstown's ESPN 1240 (www.wbbw.com) and the B2 Networks at www.b2tv.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2009


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