Rockets set for opener

BOARDMAN --The Mahoning Valley Phantom Rockets will play the first of 25 regular-season games Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Ice Zone on McClurg Road.
Dayton will be the opponent when the Continental Elite Hockey League makes its Mahoning Valley debut.
The Ice Zone has added 160 club seats to its rink to bring seating capacity to more than 700. Tickets cost $8 for club seats, $6 for reserved and $4 for children and students.
The Phantom Rockets are owned by Bruce Zoldan and coached by Bob Hawthorne, who has guided 11 amateur and two high school teams to state championships in Pennsylvania. The team is made up of players from across the country and Canada.
Four players from Boardman are Rockets: Tim Cerimele, Dustin Hawthorne, Tyler Miller and Tom Skook.
Opening ceremonies will include Willie O'Reese, representing the NHL A.S.S.I.S.T program, presenting a $10,000 check to the Youngstown Borderhawks Hockey Club prior to the game. The money will be used to increase hockey participation in the Youngstown area.
The Rockets' next home game will be Sunday at 4:30 p.m.