Phantoms riding a wonderful wave

Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt spoke about his team's stunning success.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- At the midway point of the season, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms are arguably the toast of the North American Hockey League.
They sit alone atop the North Division with a 24-7-1 mark, their 24 wins and 49 points the high water mark to date among its 17-team league members.
Undefeated at home (they are 11-0 at the Ice Zone) and riding an 18-game win streak, two more straight wins would tie them with the league's modern day mark of 20 straight, set last season by the West Division's Bozeman Ice Dogs.
If you go back to the 1989-90 campaign, you'd find that the Compuware entry that season (which featured the Minnesota Wild's Brian Rolston and Washington Capitals' top-pick, Pat Peake) went 42-0-2 overall, a real road block for opponents either at home or on the road.
Those in the know around the league are already comparing the play of this year's Phantom team to that of the two aforementioned record-setting units.
Mahoning Valley head coach and general manager Bob Mainhardt, guest speaker at Monday's Curbstone Coaches weekly meeting, is the first to tell you that while it is nice to be where they are at the halfway point of the season, they still have a long way to go if they expect to be playing for the Robertson Cup, which will be hosted by the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on May 1-6.
Success not by mistake
"Our success this season isn't by mistake," he said. "Recruiting has been our strength the past several seasons and while the structure this past offseason was already in place, one thing that we really stressed was the personal interview of each and every recruit.
"It's pretty easy to identify the biggest, fastest and best overall athlete that you are recruiting. What we wanted to make sure of, however, was that the interview process would yield for us the best overall fit for our team.
"With many of our players still in school, we also wanted students that excelled in the classroom. Thus far, that formula has definitely worked."
A total of 24 ex-Phantom players under Mainhardt have already moved on, earning scholarships to NCAA, Division I hockey-playing institutions.
Achieving a balance
With a 3.32 cumulative team grade-point average to date, the players have seemingly been able to balance both the books and their practice/game day obligations.
Joined at the luncheon by assistant Curtis Carr, both coaches noted that while the Phantoms have been the focus of their hockey attention, bringing a quality hockey product to the community has also been the push since day one by team owner, Bruce Zoldan.
"Our hockey for health program continues to visit area schools and has really been well-received. We've already spoken to over 2,500 local students and just this morning, we talked and gave instruction to over 525 students at Canfield's C.H. Campbell Elementary School," Carr said. "We are committed to getting the word out to the area about hockey. We also ask our players to be very visible, so by working with area high school teams and their many player hopefuls, we are beginning to realize the fruits of our labor."
Plans on the table
While Junior "A" hockey is a tough money-making proposition, plans are currently on the table to add more seating and locker room space at the Ice Zone.
With 16 club teams ready to invade the Ice Zone this summer for tournament play, it just seems like the right time to talk about upgrading the facilities.
The Curbstoners' weekly luncheons will break for the holidays. When they resume on Jan. 8, the organization will honor the state champion Cardinal Mooney football team, head coach P.J. Fecko and athletic director Don Bucci.
Cost is 8. Parents and friends can join in the celebration by making reservations either with the school or by calling (330)-707-0234.