Green Bay against the Eastern Conference leading Gamblers. âWe have a whole week to continue to get better,â said Ca
For Immediate Release: December 4, 2010
Please Contact: Matthew Metzger Media Relations Coordinator
[email protected] 330-519-7679 Phantoms Win Thriller 4-3 Over Team USA
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Phantoms (9-10-1,19pts) defeated Team USA (6-12-2,14pts) in the most thrilling victory of the first twenty games of the season. Quinn Smith picked up two goals for the Phantoms, one of which was the game winner in the third period. The game was physical at the start as both teams looked to set the tone early. The Phantoms and Team USA each had their chances but neither team could capitalize. Ty Loney and Ryan Belonger both hit posts in the first as the Phantoms came close to taking the early advantage. Not to be outdone, Team USA had their opportunities in the first but all were matched by the play of Phantoms netminder Matt O’Connor as he stopped all eleven shots he faced. The Phantoms could not capitalize on a carryover penalty but at the 16:12 mark, Smith found the back of the net to put the Phantoms up by one goal. Belonger was credited with the lone assist on the Phantoms first goal. Team USA did not take long to respond, as point leader Rocco Grimaldi found the back of the net on Team USA’s first power play of the evening. Team USA would strike again late in the second period as Travis Boyd beat O’Connor with a wrist shot low to the glove side. The 2-1 lead looked as if it would stand going into the intermission, but Loney had other thoughts as he buried a rebound goal with three seconds to play. Loney’s power play goal was assisted by both Jiri Sekac and Nilan Nagy. The Phantoms and Team USA went into the break again tied, but this time at two. The Phantoms held Team USA to nineteen shots through the first two periods. “The guys are really starting to get our systems,” said Head Coach Curtis Carr. “They are not only doing what we want but they understand the systems themselves.” Scoring in the third period did not come until after the midway point as John Fritsche sniped a wrist shot over the glove hand of Matt McNelly to give the Phantoms a 3-2 lead with 9:16 left to play. Just over five minutes later, Ohio native, J.T. Miller took advantage of a poor turnover in the Phantoms zone to tie the game at three. With both teams trading opportunities, it seemed like these two were destined for overtime until a scrum into front of the Team USA net resulted in the Phantoms’ fourth goal. After a number of opportunities right on the door step, Smith buried the game winning goal with just over two minutes to play. “There was a scrum in front and we took advantage,” said Smith. “We worked hard the whole game and we stayed composed after giving up the tying goal. The win helps us come together and gel even better as a unit.” The win gives the Phantoms four in a row and it improves their record to 7-1-1 in games decided by one goal. “It goes back to the way we drafted,” said Carr. “We brought in players from winning programs and it shows in games like these.” The Phantoms will waste little time preparing for next weekend as they head for two road games out in Green Bay against the Eastern Conference leading Gamblers. “We have a whole week to continue to get better,” said Carr. “Playing Green Bay forces us to focus and get right back to work going into next weekend.” To view the complete game sheet click here. Full and partial season tickets, group tickets and flex package tickets for the 2010-11 season are available now. Premium packages start as low as $264 for all 30 home games. As a season ticket holder you receive invites to Season Ticket Holder events, Playoff Ticket Priority, and many other great benefits. For more info, call 330-747-7825. Cont.
For the complete schedule, please visit www.youngstownphantoms.com Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its ninth season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2010-11. With over 200 players this season already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 15 NHL Entry Draft picks on League rosters, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com. It's not just hockey. It's the USHL. -phantoms-
