Phantoms get message, send message

Mahoning Valley responded to its coach's challenge with an 11-1 victory.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- Following their victory over the Alpena Ice Diggers Friday night, Mahoning Valley Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt wasn't pleased with what he had just witnessed so he ordered a post-game meeting with his team.
To make sure that his points were driven home, he also had another session with them during their Saturday morning practice.
Evidently, the players took notice, scoring early and often to an 11-1 victory for a sweep of the weekend series.
"We had what you might call a typical family meeting. We're a tight-knit group but I needed them to know that if we expect to be there in the end, then we had better shore up some areas of concern," said Mainhardt. "We needed to revert back to doing the little things right; little things that have helped us win games thus far this season.
"Goals take care of themselves and will come if they just do the things asked of them. To score 11 goals is surely a nice response to our meetings."
Rolling
Two goals by Alden Hirschfeld, Chad Boeckman and Nathan Longpre and a near flawless game in goal by Johnny Morrow in just his second start with Mahoning Valley gave the Phantoms their 10th straight victory overall and their 19th consecutive at the Ice Zone. They remain the only undefeated team at home in the North American Hockey League this season.
"We got Morrow for a reason and you witnessed that reason," said Mainhardt. "We were always impressed with the job that he did against us last year while in goal for the Ice Diggers.
"He was excellent for us tonight while in goal, but his play in the first period most especially set the tone of the game," Mainhardt added. "We were fortunate to get him in late January, that coming just a few days before the league deadline."
Morrow played seven games with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League earlier this season and has also logged time with the Fargo-Moorhead Jets of the NAHL.
"I knew many of the guys already on the team so it just seemed like the logical choice," said Morrow. "Coach [Mainhardt] called me on my cell phone, pretty much laid out all of my options and then proceeded to convince me that this was the right fit for me. He's been a man of his word and that is important to me.
"It was also an especially good feeling tonight to get the win against your old team."
The Phantoms (38-10-1) opened a 15-point lead on the Ice Diggers (30-18-2) for the top spot in the NAHL North. They visit to the USA National U-17 team in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday night, then break for 10 days before their next home game March 2 against the Marquette Rangers.