Trottier enjoys NHL connection

The father and two uncles of the Phantoms’ leading scorer all played in the NHL.

By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — The leading scorer for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms is getting some direct and indirect motivational encouragement from his family and the NHL.

Jordy Trottier of Indianapolis, Ind., whose 17 points on nine goals and eight assists top the Phantoms’ scoring list, enjoys the distinction of having three family members who have played in the NHL — his father, Monty Trottier; and uncles Rocky and Bryan Trottier, Monty’s brothers.

Monty played with the New York Islanders, Rocky with the New Jersey Devils and Bryan with the Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.

And their wealth of experience, tips and advice have been a big asset to Jordy, who has learned a lot from all three and is applying it successfully to his career.

“All three have such great knowledge. It is hard to pass up advice from people like that,” said 20-year-old Jordy (5-11, 180), who used to play one-on-one hockey against his dad and uncles, all natives of Saskatchewan, Canada.

In addition, they all were joined by Bryan’s oldest son, Bryan Jr., to form the Trottier Five team that played exhibition games at a hockey school in Indianapolis.

In fact, even now, Bryan Trottier, an NHL Hall of Fame member who played for 18 seasons for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins from 1975 to 1994 and who now lives in Pittsburgh, attends some of the Phantoms’ games to see Jordy play.

And that has given Jordy a further boost and support in his first season with the Phantoms, after playing the previous two years for the Fargo-Moorehead Jets.

Jordy will lead the Phantoms into a two-game series this weekend against the Marquette Rangers on Friday and Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre at 7:15 p.m. both nights.

The Phantoms, who have won seven of their last nine games, hold second place in the NAHL North Division (16-6-2, 34 points), one point behind Traverse City 15-5-5, 25). Marquette (13-4, 32 points) is in third place only two points behind the Phantoms.

Trottier said he loves to play with his uncle watching him.

“It was good to get some points in front of my uncle,” said Trottier after he scored a shootout goal to give the Phantoms a 3-2 win over Traverse City on Nov. 29 at the Chevrolet Centre. He also scored the Phantoms’ first goal and had an assist on the other. “I play harder when he shows up at the game.”

Trottier said Bryan has seen three games so far this season.

“When he comes up to the game, we usually will go out to dinner afterwards and we will talk about how I played, and he will offer any suggestions for my improvement, sort of like a coach,” said Jordy, who has been tough especially in the clutch with the game on the line.

In fact, he is tied for the lead in the NAHL in game-winning goals with four.

He scored his fourth game-winner last Friday to give the Phantoms a 2-1 win over Team USA in the first of a two-game series at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor. But the Phantoms lost the rematch on Saturday by the same 2-1 score.

Trottier thanked his teammates for their roles in helping him score Friday’s game-winner.

“The play started when Carl Nielsen, who’s playing with a bum hand, made a great play to keep the zone and he got it down to [Doug] Clifford,” said Trottier. “Then ‘Cliff’ threw me a perfect saucer pass and I had what felt like a lot of time to make my move. I sucked in [USA goalie Jack Campbell] and beat him high.”

Trottier has been getting a lot of offensive support from his teammates, especially Brandon Saad who is second on the team in scoring 16 points on 10 goals and six assists.

In addition, Erik Higby, Clifford and Stefan Salituro are tied for third with 14 points. Higby and Clifford each have seven goals and as many assists while Salituro has six goals and eight assists.

Cullen Lundholm is next with two goals an 11 assists for 13 points, followed by Cole Schneider (4-8-12), Nick Shkreli (3-9-12), Alex Lippincott (6-5-11) and Kyle Verbeek (4-7-11).

The Phantoms also have been getting outstanding goaltending from Jordan Tibbett with a 13-2 record, 1.90 GAA, 374 saves and .928 save percentage.

kovach@vindy.com