ICE ZONE Fetzer lifts Phantoms past Ice Diggers, 4-3

Youngstown snapped a five-game winless streak.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- Charley Fetzer's goal with 14 seconds remaining in the second period proved to be the game winner as the Youngstown Phantoms defeated the Toledo Ice Diggers, 4-3, Friday in Junior A/North American Hockey League action Friday at The Ice Zone.
Fetzer, who also had an assist, helped the Phantoms (10-7-5) snap a five-game winless streak.
The Ice Diggers (6-6-13) lost for the fourth time in their last five outings.
"Keep an eye on Charley Fetzer the remainder of the season," Phantom coach Bob Mainhardt said. "He had an outstanding game for us tonight as he set up our first goal at the outset of the game, and capitalized on the opportunity to score the game winner at the end of the second period. That is why he is our captain."
The game was a tale of three different periods with the Phantoms' offense the story of the first 20 minutes, the Ice Diggers' offense taking center stage in the second period and the Phantoms flexing their muscles defensively in the final 20 minutes.
"We outshot them 16-10 in the first period, then struggled by getting off only three shots on goal in the final period," Toledo head coach Mike Mankowski said.
"The first two periods were crazy ones but give the Phantoms credit. They did what they needed to do in order to win," Mankowski. "We're pretty balanced offensively and had three opportunities to either tie or win the game in the final period.
"Bob Kukulka, Lucas DeLorenzo and Joe Federoff each had excellent opportunities with the puck, but it just wasn't to be tonight," Mankowski said.
The Phantoms got on the board first on an Anthony Canzoneri power play goal at 9:12. Canzoneri and Rob Rassey then assisted Jared Katz at 11:24 for a 2-0 Phantoms lead.
When Carson Strang found the net at 18:07, the Phantoms had a 3-0 lead after one period of play.
"Despite Toledo's strong second period, I felt that we were in control throughout the entire game," Mainhardt said. "The real key was that we stuck to our original game plan the entire 60 minutes tonight."
Despite missing their entire second line, the Ice Diggers were able to knot the game at three goals apiece in the second period on goals by Sean Sutphen (8:21), Kukulka (11:42) and Mitch Sabo (17:51).
But with time running out in the period, Fetzer found a seam and the net for the game-winning tally.
"They played really well tonight," Mankowski said about the Phantoms. "Their penalty kill was outstanding and our power play opportunities were brutal."
The Phantoms' Tyler Sims rejected 24 Toledo attempts as Youngstown outshot the Ice Diggers, 39-27, including 29-9 in the final two periods.
The Phantoms conclude their two-game homestand tonight when they play host to the Cleveland Barons at The Ice Zone.