Phantoms hitting the road

Mahoning Valley embarks on a seven-game road swing beginning tonight.
BOARDMAN -- It's been two months since the Mahoning Valley Phantoms have left the state of Ohio for a road game.
A long bus ride is on the way.
The Phantoms (22-13-3) embark on a seven-game road swing, covering the next three weekends. It starts with their first visit to Traverse City this season to face the North Stars at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday. On Sunday, they head south to Ann Arbor and meet the U.S. National Under-17 Team at 3 p.m.
All three North American Hockey League games can be heard on the team's website, www.mvpphantoms.com.
Current stretch
The Phantoms went 10-4-2 over their last 16 games, 15 of which were at home. They have a 7-7-1 road record this season.
"It's tough when you get comfortable and grow accustomed to playing at home, playing in the same place, for such a long period of time," said leading scorer Marc Menzione. "It's to the point where it stinks to have to go on the road. As players, you have to deal with this type of change head on. For us, this weekend, it's a matter of preparation and adapting to change."
For Traverse City, change is good. The North Stars' last home game was Dec. 18, and they have gone 2-6-1 on the road since, including a 0-4 mark at last week's NAHL North Division Showcase in Boardman.
"It's a relief to get back here," said Traverse City head coach Scott Gardiner. "For any team, that's a long time to be on the road, and it's taken its toll on us, no question. We need to get back in our own building and start getting our confidence back, and good things will happen."
North Stars forward Jared Mullen, who is tied for the team scoring lead with 11 goals and 14 assists, says a long road swing can affect a team's mood.
Road gripe
"Truthfully, it gets kind of depressing getting on and off the bus so often," he said. "After a month and a half, it'll be pretty exciting to be at home with our own fans."
"[The Phantoms] play a very physical game, and they have a line that's as good as any in the NAHL in Ciraulo, Menzione, and [Drew] Satterley," Gardiner said. "Plus, they have a big, stay-at-home group of defensemen that really play well together. We haven't gotten them yet, but we haven't played them at home yet, either."
The first-year North Stars are 12-21-5 overall and 7-5-0 at home. Three years ago, Gardiner was the head coach of the Junior 'B' Traverse City Enforcers of the Continental Elite Hockey League, which included the then-Youngstown Phantom Rockets.