Phantoms get flying start against U-17s

Mahoning Valley is now in sole possession of second place in the NAHL North Division.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Phantoms scored early and often Tuesday night, as Grant Blakey and Johnny Meo each tallied a goal and three assists in a 10-2 rout of the U.S. National Under-17 team.

The Phantoms came out firing in the first period, as Brent Dexter opened the scoring just 48 seconds into the game. Power play goals by Derek Graham and Trent Bonnett lifted the Phantoms out to a 3-0 lead.

The Americans finally answered at 14:39 of the first. David Valek beat two Phantoms defensemen at center ice and lifted a backhand over the arm of Mahoning Valley goaltender Garrett Bartus, making the score 3-1.

The Phantoms made that up in a hurry. Scott Moser slotted his ninth of the season, just 28 seconds later to make it 4-1, before Alden Hirschfeld made it 5-1 on a one-timer from Graham to close out the first period scoring.

Miles Winter and Meo joined the party in the second period, pushing the Phantoms lead to 7-1.

Jeremy Morin briefly quelled Mahoning Valley’s momentum with a power play goal at 9:27, to cut the Phantoms lead to five.

Graham then tallied his second goal of the night just six seconds before the second intermission, making it 8-2.

Third period goals by Blakey and Stefan Salituro pushed the final margin to eight.

Mahoning Valley was 5 for 10 on the power play. Garret Bartus turned aside 13 of 15 shots for his fifth win of the year. The Phantoms out shot the U.S. 38-15.

The Phantoms (9-5-1) are now in sole possession of second place in the NAHL North Division as the team prepares for their home opening showdown Friday night against first place St. Louis Bandits at the Ice Zone.